How to get a breastfed baby to take a bottle

Have you tried getting someone else to feed her with you not around? She may be able to smell you. My LB takes a bottle so much better from others x

I've tried that. She took it a couple of times with someone else, and then all of a sudden, she stopped. I've only tried her with expressed Milk so far do you think she might take formula better? X

Shes 14 weeks if that helps any. X

What bottles are you trying? Sometimes it’s worth using different teats, MAM are meant to be best for combi feeding but there are different shapes and sizes/flows x

I’d love some tips too as I’m also struggling. We have tried 3 different tests and everything else I can possibly think of and still no luck

I am currently using the mam ones with size 2 teats because they were the ones that said for 2+ months but I didn't know about different shape ones aswell. Thank you I will look into it x

@Naomi You could maybe try a slower teat as when babies are breastfeeding they have to work for the milk (suck quite hard) whereas if the bottle is more free flowing it may be hard for them as it’s not the same? Not sure as I only bottle feed but a couple of friends combi feed so just passing on some tips 😊 X

We combi feed and only use the size 1 teat on our MAM bottles so might be worth a try.

@Naomi I was told to use the size 0 teats as this means baby has more control over how much they’re taking, like they do when on the boob xx

Mam size 0 teats are best for breastmilk. No higher as its too fast and BM is so thin. X

Thank you all for your advice. I will try and slower teat tomorrow and hope it works 🤞 wish me luck x

I find that going a bit warmer with the milk helps. With both babies I've been adamant that they'll take bottles so started from week six.

I'd try the lansinoh bottle. I've found it the most like the boob and my son will drink from that... most days anyway

I’ve tried slower teats and faster teats still not working. My LO screams so much immediately the bottle touches her mouth

I think I even tried feeding with a spoon and she still refuses to take it. I’ll appreciate any advice as well.

MAM bottle size 0. We have no issue but have been using them since birth too. My son won’t take a bottle off me though. Xx

Haha I’m going to see Shania Twain on Tuesday and currently pumping like a maniac to leave enough bottles for my husband to look after him!

Thank you. I have ordered different teats for the mam bottles and some tommee tippee bottles aswell. Just incase its the bottles somehow. I'm praying I get to see her. I've loved her since I was little and I annoyingly ordered the tickets about 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant 🤣 x

@Ashleigh haha me too. My poor mum is looking after her though because I used my partners birthday as a perfect excuse to buy the tickets last year even though they were clearly for me 🤣🤣 felt like I could justify that much money if its a present 🤣 x

https://www.rachelobrienibclc.com/blog/what-to-do-when-your-breastfed-baby-wont-take-a-bottle-introducing-a-bottle-part-3/ We found this guide really helpful and took it back to basics. We’ve used a lanisoh bottle with the slow flow teat. About a week of going through the steps in this guide he started taking the bottle with breast milk. I’m now slowly diluting it with formula to get him used to it. After about 3-4 weeks with the lanisoh and also starting on a dummy, he is now taking the mam bottle too.

The lanisoh was recommended to me when my LO suddenly stopped taking a bottle (I’m EBF but pump once a day for husband to give the bottle to him), we did continue with the tommee tippee though. The advice I was given was a) if they are hungry enough they will take the bottle - perhaps get someone to try different holds including facing away from you so they calm enough to take it and b) they may not need a big feed in the evening if they have breastfed during the day, so don’t worry! Good luck!