I wanted to introduce myself. I am new to this board but not to SK. Anyway, I'm a seasoned breastfeeder having breastfed my 2nd daughter for 2.5 years and my 3rd daughter for 3.5 years. I am currently nursing my 5.5 month old and everything is going great.

That said, I have a strong desire to teach her to drink from a bottle. I have an ongoing phobia that something is going to happen where I have to be away from her for a long period of time and she cannot eat. When I tell people, I often hear "Oh if she's hungry, she WILL eat from a bottle" but I recently heard a news story of a woman who was jailed and by the time she was released, her exclusively breastfed baby had to be hospitalized for dehydration because he/she refused a bottle. My kiddos are so head strong, I can really see that happening if something were to happen to me.

My other breastfed girls didn't take bottles at all so I have no experience in how to get her to take one. I feel like I've tried everything so far and she will chew on it for a few moments if she's in a good mood - she loves to use the artificial nipple as a teether. If she's hungry then she immediately screams and won't even begin to chew. I've tried breastmilk and water (not wanting to waste my precious storage of milk in the freezer if she wasn't going to even try it) in the bottle.

Anyway, it seems as though others have no problem switching from breast to bottle. Maybe I missed the window on this one?

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