Update on the bottle rejection situation!

Last night, DH tried the bottle again - but DS (12 weeks old today) was having none of it.  He has no problem taking his vitamin D via a medicine dropper, so I had the idea that he might possibly take breastmilk from a medicine spoon (we're using the one that comes in the Safety 1st baby kit, along with a nasal aspirator, nail clippers, etc.).....Anyway, it WORKED!!  DS took 3 ozs. from DH that way - and I didn't have to rush in there to soothe and feed DS!  

It's obviously not ideal since it takes longer and is a bit more awkward for DH since he has to keep refilling the spoon, but it does make for a nice break for me....and gives me peace of mind :-)

We'll keep trying the bottle....but for now this is a good solution, I think!

[BradyAm]

im glad you guys found something that works for you. i guess its just practice for the future when he starts solids lol

[Super_sally888]

Another idea is to get a really big sringe and fill that with milk. Maybe a little easier for DH than the dropper.

Great that you've got something that works!  At least you're not going to have any issues between breast and bottle confusion. :)

[Limonada]

Thanks :-)  Oh, it's not a dropper:  it's a spoon....but one intended for giving a little one medicine, so it holds a couple of mls.

[DoulaSummer]

There is no need for your baby to be taking vitamins if you are exclusively breastfeeding.  It is old school thinking that can lead to toxicity.

[Limonada]

Actually....there are plenty of resources which contradict this, for example:

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/prenatal/nutrition-eng.php

Until my son starts solids at 6 months of age, I will continue to give him a Vitamin D drop each day.

[DoulaSummer]

My comments were not meant to judge your parenting.  As a doula, I do my best to keep up with all new information and studies coming out to share information with clients.  Unless you are keeping your child in a black box, he/she will get enough vitamin D from car rides, walks, etc.  Breastmilk also contains come vitamin D, but not enough to get a daily need, so nursing babies and toddlers need at least 30 minutes of unprotected sunlight a day.

Check out some studies, not government websites.  Government websites are often VERY slow on uptake of new information.  It took the AAP over 15 years to finally start recommending children continue to rearface beyond 1 year.  The government still has not begun to recommend it or put it into law.

[tiredbuthappy]

While DoulaSummer is correct about the sun providing enough vitamin D, it would be irresponsible of the government to recommend that amount of unprotected sunlight daily. Most babies and young children would burn under those conditions. My girls seem to tan well, and I still would never allow that kind of sun exposure past March. The government needs to provide the safest recommendations in the form of general blanket statements, and for most babies in most parts of the country, exposed skin is dangerous, both short-term and long term. Not to say that I don't try to get my baby short clips of unprotected sun here and there- outside in the evenings, lounging in the sun coming through the window, etc... but if they made a statement saying 30 minutes unprotected sun, the results would be bad. Instead, they recommend sun screen and staying out of the sun and vitamin drops instead.

[Estee_Marie]

The first time I gave my baby the bottle it took her 3 hours to drink 3 oz!  She was refusing it big time!  She even fell asleep hungry!  She was going to daycare the week after so I had to keep trying.  Eventually, she took it.  She's been in daycare for 4 weeks now and takes the bottle just fine from them.  Still gives me a hard time sometimes, but eventually takes it.  Of course, she'd rather have the breast,  but sometimes (like during long trips) she has to take the bottle.  So far, she's doing so good!  My advice would be to keep trying!  And go as far as possible when baby is taking the bottle that way he can't smell or sense you.
Good luck!

[Limonada]

No worries.  My post wasn't to inquire about Vitamin D supplementation, though - if you have any suggestions/advice regarding ways to "combat" bottle rejection, I'd appreciate hearing them :-)

[Limonada]

ANOTHER update....

DS decided he didn't really like the sippy cup, either :-(  He seems to tolerate a new feeding method for a session or two, and then just becomes frustrated.  Last night, we tried formula for the first time, in a bottle, thinking that it might bother DS less since he wouldn't be associating it with me and my milk......DS was taking the nipple and sucking on it a couple of times, but then got upset.  DH was letting it drip into his mouth and he was swallowing....but then he ended up spitting up basically everything he'd eaten all over DH!!  We're at a loss here......!!!

[DoulaSummer]

I would avoid the formula if you are wishing to continue breastfeeding because it can harm your supply.

What type of sippy cup are you using?  What types of nipples have you tried?  What flows?  What about introducing cup feeding?

[Limonada]

Thanks for your response!

We've tried Avent nipples.....Playtex (both silicone and latex).  A Little Wonders sippy cup, but it has a hard plastic drinking spout - I want to find one that's got a more "rubbery" one.  Are there special infant feeding cups?  I haven't really been looking, but I don't recall seeing any.  

I was planning on breastfeeding for the first 6 months, starting to supplement with formula and wean gradually until the 6 month mark because that's what I did with my first son - but you know what they say about plans ;-)  DS no. 2 just seems so much more attached to the breast and is more strong willed than his brother, too, it appears.  

[DoulaSummer]

Dr. Sears offers some great tips on his askdrsears website.  I hate that we cannot post direct links, sorry.  You may need to try many nipples before you are able to find one that works for your baby.  I hear many people have success with Tommee Tippee and Adiri, but they are a little pricey for my wallet.  I guess if it works though, it would be worth it if bottle feeding is a must.

Nuby is a great soft tip sippy cup and they have some slow flow ones that are great for younger children.  They even have a bottle called "non drip" that seems to be a mix between a bottle and a sippy cup.  Check them out (I have never used them, but just saw them on their site).  Cup feeding simply means putting your expressed milk into a normal cup and feeding/sipping slowly, like you do when you drink from a cup.  I want to emphasize SLOW because cup feeding can lead to choking and aspiration if rushed, but can be a safe alternative to bottle feeding when caution is used.

I would suggest you breastfeed as long as possible, but thats because its what I personally advocate for (definitely not something anyone HAS to do, but the benefits are there).  Is there a reason for introducing formula?  Would you consider pumping breastmilk and feeding it via a bottle or sippy cup?  A GREAT pump will costs you $300 in a one time shot, while formula will cost you that for a 1-2 month supply.  Formula and breastfeeding are recommended to continue until at least the age of 2 by the World Health Organization and many other health associations.  Of course, your decision should be yours, I am just offering you some information.

[Limonada]

Thanks for the great advice!

I do have a pump - a manual one because I've only really been pumping 4ozs. every other day for DH to give our son before bedtime every other day.  We tried expressed breastmilk first.  Last night, DH tried formula again (started with a bottle then moved to a sippy cup and had more success - DS was crying (but there was a difference in his cry....he was complaining, but wasn't as frantic or upset).  He took 1oz. from my husband that way - and then I finished him off.

I have come to realize that I'll be breastfeeding for longer than 6 months, and that's fine.  My first son and I were on the "same page" with it - both he and I were done at the 6 month mark and that was that.  I'm in Canada and don't need to return to work until next February, so there's no urgency in weaning DS....it's more of a personal preference, I guess.  If DS would eventually take expressed milk via a bottle or some sort of cup, then I don't think I'll mind doing it for a longer period of time.  Either way, I do hope to be done with breastfeeding by the 1 year mark to facilitate my return to work and DS' adjustment to daycare.