My Breastfed Daughter Does Not Want to Take a Bottle, HELP!

My son never took a bottle or formula. But, he drank water or juice from a sippy cup. My daughter also won't take formula from a bottle, just breast milk. However, she'll take formula from a sippy cup. They have the soft spout sippy cups. Give it a try & good luck to you.
Just an added suggestion: When we went to Disney, we put a sticker on the back of our son everyday that had our cell phone # on it. Just in case he got lost in the crowd. Have fun.

This situation is just as tough as a baby that won't take the breast and only wants the bottle. But here's my suggestion: there are bottles that come with very slow flowing nipples. Try those, it will help eliminate the choking part of the problem. It's a lot easier to get milk/formula from a bottle than a breast and she is used to having to work for her food. Next I would try to pump and mix some breast milk with the formula for a few days until she gets used to the taste of formula. It is different...different tastes as well as different texture. I would also try using powder formula. The ready to use stuff is often thicker than the powder and breast milk is fairly thin, so the closer you can get the formula to be like the breast milk the better. And try to give her the bottle. If she won't take it from you, try having your husband feed her. She will not starve. She may be stubborn at first but eventually she will be hungry enough to eat the formula...even if it's not what she wants. Good luck!

Hi L., my daughter had some similar issues- I tried to be sure the flow on the nipple was the lowest so she has to work just as hard for aprox. the same amount of milk. Also it may be the shape of the nipple. Try to find ones that are similar to your shape. The other thing I was told was not to expect them to transition righ away. I had to do a little of both at first (breast first so she was not starving, then a little bottle) then alternate feedings, then she was ready for just the bottle. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Have you tried pumping in the morning? That's when i have the most success (had, actually). And you won't pump as much as she will take when she's nursing. Babies are way more efficient than pumps. You can also "mix batches" of breastmilk, and add to bottles for a few days. pumping IS a pain, but with support and perserverence it can be done successfully.

Hi L.,
I had the same problem. I breastfed my son exclusively for 6 months and he wouldn't take to the bottle at all. We finally had success with me pumping for him. It is a pain, but I started to get more milk the more I pumped. Make sure you are pumping in a calm, quiet place with something to remind you of your daughter. And drink lots and lots of water. Also, we found that my son took to the bottle if I was no where to be found. We waited until he was hungry, but not starving, and had someone else give him a bottle. There was one meal on day #2 that I had to feed him myself, but other then that, he was completely switched in 3 days. After that he would switch between me and the bottle. Good luck. I know how hard this transition really is.

K.