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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I don't know, but I would guess that's it might be too late. You can always try. I waited until Vivian was about 5wks old to introduce the bottle and she looked at me like I was crazy. She NEVER drank out of a bottle, and I spent tons of money buying just about every style of bottle/artificial nipple out there. Even the first time I left her for 4 hours when she was 4mos old she waited until I came back to eat.

What I did find out is that she would drink out of a cup if somebody held it to her lips (I couldn't do it because she KNEW the boobie was right there). A cup with a small diameter so she could sip off the rim. Not the easiest solution, but it made me feel much better if there had been an emergency.

Your DD is just beautiful! WTG on nursing your 3rd!

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Hey thanks! She's actually my 4th but I guess I didn't make that clear. I only breastfed my first daughter for 2 weeks. I wasn't very knowledgeable about the subject and ruined the breastfeeding relationship as fast as it could start - nipple confusion.

Anyway, I tried and tried to introduce her to a pacifier from about 2 weeks on and she'd never take to that either so I don't know where the window could have been missed but gosh, it stinks!

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Hi Carli....and welcome to the BF forum! My name is Shannon and I'm one of those who's baby switched back & forth no problem from early on......

I don't know what to suggest....other than having someone else try....I've heard it's harder for mom than anyone else to get baby to try an artificial nipple. My babies were all introduced to the bottle within their first couple weeks....way too early by EBF standards that's for sure....and I KNOW this was a HUGE part of the reason they weaned so early (4 mths, 6 mths, 8 mths). It's nice if your baby will take one for emergencies, a break or peace of mind......but I wish I'd never started with mine, lol.......

OK sorry, no help I know

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this close to 6 months, i'd probably skip the bottle and let her start getting used to a cup. that way you don't have to wean her from the fake nipple


welcome to the bf board.

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Yes, this was actually my first plan of attack. I got the avent sippy cup with the soft tip and handles but same response. Just chews on the sipper for a bit but won't drink from it. Sadly, I'm not even familiar with sippy cups out there - is there one that a breastfed baby may more easily take to?

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I'm not sure about sippy cups, but my 4mo fought the bottle for a bit as well (although we started introducing it at about 5 weeks because I had to go back to work, so he NEEDED to learn to take the bottle). I also don't know if you missed the window or not, but here are some things I tried:

Try to give a "dream feed" in her sleep with the bottle. Alternately, you can try to give it to her just as she's waking up. She may be more receptive then. If you're giving it to her when she's alert, do so when she's likely to be hungry, but not overly so.

Have someone else give her a bottle, but wrap it in something with your scent. Squeeze a little BM onto the nipple so that it has your smell and taste.

I'm sure you've already tried different bottles to see if there was one she prefers. We've had luck with the Avent bottles.

Keep trying. It took a few weeks of my DH trying to feed him a bottle. Once he took one well, we tried to give him one at least once a week so that he would "remember".

Good luck. I hope you are able to find something that works!

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Jenn (34), Chris (36), Camden (7) and Devin (1.5)

i don't know about the sippy cups, but you could use a plain one, a bathroom cup, a shot glass, or you could use a specialized feeding cup.

sippy cups are more handy for just giving it to the baby- some prefer to be held and cuddled when they drink, and a regular cup works well in many circumstances.


if it came down to an eyedropper, syringe finger feeder etc would work in an emergnecy as well.


the story you heard of the child being hositlaized for dehydration is rare. most will take supplemental feeds if they *have* to.

medela is one palce that makes them..

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