baby won't take bottle of pumped milk

[blithespirit]

My baby is 7 weeks old. She has not yet taken to a bottle and this coming weekend we are supposed to go to a wedding. My friend has told me that the baby cannot come because it is an adult only affair. I'm really sad and a bit upset. I don't know what to do. I've been friends with this person for 20 years. I also know she is upset with me. I don't feel comfortable leaving my baby for a couple hours when she doesn't take a bottle. She eats very often and is really hugnry in the evenings. She has only nibbled at the bottle. Does anyone have any suggestions for helping her take to the bottle. Sorry to vent but I'm so upset about this situation. Thanks in advance for your help.

[pumpkin]

We had trouble with DD. She was a little older so we were trying a sippy cup and she just wouldn't drink it. She could. She just wouldn't.

The biggest thing that helped was that I left. DH kept DD and I went to the coffee shop on the corner. I could be home in 5 minutes. The plan was to stay away until she took the cup or until he decided the experiment was over. It took a few tries, but it eventually worked.

I hope your friend will come to understand if you can't make it. x

[MeepyCat]

We had an awful time getting DS to take a bottle - it took hours, and a lot of crying, and he never would take one if I was in the house. I had to go out and stay out until DH called to say the coast was clear. And I was pretty inevitably leaky every time.

This can be done, but it is a lot to go through for a one-evening deal. I might send a nice gift with my regrets.

I understand why people choose to have adults-only events. It's their party and their call. I don't understand, however, why people who choose to have adults-only events then feel they have the standing to be annoyed when people with small children politely decline to attend.

[pbjmama]

Could you attend the wedding, which is typically less than 30 mins and not attend the reception? I guess you have told your friend that your baby won't take a bottle? If so she is being unreasonable and expecting you to care more about her than a tiny infant. She needs to get over herself.

Agree with pp's suggestions about the bottle, get out of the house! Have you tried other methods like syringe or cup feeding?

[groovynaturemama]

BOTH of my children did not take a bottle of ebm until well after 7 months old. we introduced a bottle on a consistent basis in the beginning, but neither would have anything to do with it (pacifiers too, for that matter). it's frustrating, i know. i'm sorry your friend is upset with you. and i'm sorry your baby is not allowed to go to the wedding. it'd be nice if your friend understood that she's putting you in a tough position; leave your baby knowing that she won't take a bottle, or stay home and miss the wedding. i hope it all works out.

[PatioGardener]

My baby is almost 7 weeks old now, and the only way I'd go to a wedding would be if someone I trusted came along and stayed with DS outside the wedding venue for the ceremony (30 min max). As a PP said, I'd skip the reception.

[featherstory]

If you want her to continue breastfeeding I would wait much longer before introducing a bottle, especially if she doesn't want it. It seems pretty common a lot of babies will not take a bottle, even if you leave. If you really want to go I would try all the other possible ways of feeding your baby, and like a pp stated, let someone else do it when you are not around, but close by. Try a feeding syringe, spoon feeding, cup feeding, eye dropper... these methods will not compromise your ability to later breastfeed because the patterns of feeding with these tools don't conflict with nursing techniques. If you try a cup or a bowl, don't pour milk down the babies mouth, put a bit up to the edge of the cup or bowl and tilt it so the baby can lap up the milk at it's own pace and on it's own, you may need to encourage baby by putting a little on the lip or tongue.

[karika]

Originally Posted by featherstory

If you want her to continue breastfeeding I would wait much longer before introducing a bottle, especially if she doesn't want it. It seems pretty common a lot of babies will not take a bottle, even if you leave. If you really want to go I would try all the other possible ways of feeding your baby, and like a pp stated, let someone else do it when you are not around, but close by. Try a feeding syringe, spoon feeding, cup feeding, eye dropper... these methods will not compromise your ability to later breastfeed because the patterns of feeding with these tools don't conflict with nursing techniques. If you try a cup or a bowl, don't pour milk down the babies mouth, put a bit up to the edge of the cup or bowl and tilt it so the baby can lap up the milk at it's own pace and on it's own, you may need to encourage baby by putting a little on the lip or tongue.

dd1 would drink my milk from a glass only. And she was 6 mo before we tried. I did not do things the same with dd2. She has not been away from me except when I went grocery shopping, which I usually do when she was asleep (she stayed with dd1's father), until she was over a year old. I would respectfully decline the wedding. Your child is more important than a wedding IMO.

[annettemarie]

Moving out to the general forum.

[jillmamma]

DD is 4 months and was not too keen on taking a bottle (of pumped milkl) when I tried with her a few weeks ago. What eventually worked for me was a tip I got from Dr. Sears The Baby Book that a dad in his practice used to fixi the position I tried to feed her in. She is used to laying on her side and facing me while bf, so I found if I held the bottle between my arm and chest (almost in my armpit) and angled her sideways like a nursing position, she would latch on and take it. She just did not like laying on her back to take it. Don't know if it would work for you or not, but might be worth a try.