Bottle-feeding problems

[Katc8910]

My adopted 12 week old DD often "fights" the bottle. She's been on donated breast milk from birth. She'll thrash about, cry, turn beet red, scream... I don't think it's related to the milk b/c she can drink the same batch at different times and be totally calm one time and scream the other. I read somewhere that some babies hate being held in the cradle position. I know she hates that position when I wear her, but loves the snuggle hold. Are there any other positions in which I can hold her to feed her. We are following AP principles and I'm trying so hard to "feed with respect". Is it normal for bottle-fed babies to sometimes "fight the bottle"?
Kat

[JessicaS]

Hello!

I am going to move this to Life With a Babe, it seems like it would fit better there.

[Blueone]

I feed my son facing outwards. His back is against my tummy. He'll roll a bit and sometimes his side will be on my tummy, or he'll crane his head to look at me etc. It's the only position that works for us. A few times I would hold his head in my palms so his feet would be against my belly and that worked well. I liked that one because I could see his face, but he got heavy for that.

[April Dawn]

I don't have any positioning tips since my bottlefed son does well in a cradle position, but I do wonder if you have tried different bottle nipples. We tried 3 or 4 different nipples before finding the right ones for him - he would twist around and fuss beforehand because the flow is too fast on a lot of them (even the ones that are labeled slow flow). Not sure if you've already tried that, but it might help if you haven't tried! Good luck!

[Blueone]

!
My son will only take Dr. Browns now. Before it was playtex, but now he will only take dr. browns slow flow.

[JavaJunkie]

Another vote for trying a different flow nipple. She could need a slower flow, or possibly even a faster flow.

[Katc8910]

Thanks everyone.
We've tried different bottles and different nipples - makes no difference what we use. I read somewhere that all babies sometimes fuss when being bottle-fed, but I don't know if that's true.

[Blueone]

Originally Posted by Katc8910

Thanks everyone.
We've tried different bottles and different nipples - makes no difference what we use. I read somewhere that all babies sometimes fuss when being bottle-fed, but I don't know if that's true.

Some babies fuss in general when being fed regardless of bottle or breast. He's just so active he doesn't always have the patience to sit and eat. He'd rather be squirming on the floor.

[sdm2009]

Hands Free Baby Bottle

"Another vote for trying a different flow nipple. She could need a slower flow, or possibly even a faster flow" - Java Junkie

I agree. what I really need is a hands free baby bottle. There just seems to be to much going on and I could use a little help. lol

[Vegan Princess]

Are you sure your baby doesn't have reflux? Could you supplement at the breast using an sns or lactaid?

Cindy

[JMJ]

I used to work in child care and have had a lot of experience with babies refusing bottles. IME, 90% of the time, it is the temperature of the milk. When you test the milk on your wrist, all the recommendations say that if you don't feel a temperature difference, it's fine. Well, your wrist isn't very sensitive to temperature differences, so a pretty wide range of temperatures can feel fine on your wrist. Most babies, especially younger ones, prefer it to be on the warm side of what will pass the wrist test. If he refuses the bottle, warm it up some more, but be sure to do the wrist test again to make sure that you do the wrist test again to make sure that you don't get it too hot that it will burn your baby.

Beyond that, babies as individuals need different positions and actions to help them feel comfortable, especially when they're already upset. At different times, with different babies, I have found rocking, bouncing on my knee, walking around, swaddling, and alternating with a binkie to be helpful.

[gossamerwindweb]

Originally Posted by Vegan Princess

Could you supplement at the breast using an sns or lactaid?

Cindy

That is what I would try...

[Whistler]

I mostly bottlenurse my (adopted) 10-weeker. He likes the cradle position but you can bottle feed in any position. You can lay her on her side on the bed then lay next to her and bottle feed or set her on your chest facing out or hold her head with your hand so she is facing you.

My son fights the bottle when it is not warm enough. In fact he refuses it altogether and screams and turns all red. So I run the bag of breastmilk under hot water in the sink until it is quite warm, but not burn-y to the touch... I'd say maybe 100 degrees F. I have to be really careful to get it warm enough so he'll take it but not hot enough to burn his mouth.

I also am really careful about how he "latches". If I just shove it in, he gags on it. So I have to tickle the corner of his mouth and let him take it all the way in at his own pace. Eventually he latches well and is happy.

Good luck with that and keep trying different things. You'll figure out something that works.

[GoestoShow]

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Edited by GoestoShow - 1/4/11 at 8:52am

[Katc8910]

Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions.

I think the temp. of the milk may be an issue. I do wrist-test, but sometimes it's a little cool & I still give it to her b/c she's screaming.

I also think that she is sometimes too hungry to eat calmly. She gets really upset then and won't eat. In those times I try to calm her first by bouncing in a hammock (the only thing that works in those times) and try to feed again once she's calm. That usually works.

I'll also try different positions & see if those help.
Thanks!