At my wits end with the bottle battle!!! | ExpatWoman.com
 

At my wits end with the bottle battle!!!

651
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 11:36
MAM bottles are available in Waitrose, Spinneys and I have also seen them in some smaller pharmacies -they also have a great selection of teething products! - FYI its Austrian not Austrailian ;) http://www.mambaby.com/ Thanks for that vixter, and for the correction ;) Am a MAM convert now!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 22:14
I had the same problem and tried everything on the aisle... finally tried Niby, which is available at baby shop. It actually worked for me!!!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 22:10
Thank you for the tip and a belated thank you to kiwispiers for her advice. My boy took some milk from the bottle when he was babysat on Thursday (TT teat), so fingers crossed:)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 21:48
MAM bottles are available in Waitrose, Spinneys and I have also seen them in some smaller pharmacies -they also have a great selection of teething products! - FYI its Austrian not Austrailian ;) http://www.mambaby.com/
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 17:30
Hey Ladies, Thought i would just update this thread with our progress! So after ready many baby forums and blogs and almost emptying the shelves at Mothercare & Boots in the UK - we seem to have some progress with the MAM Bottle :D Its an Australian brand and the Teet is silk, unlike most others which is silicone only! For the past few days, DD has been managing to "latch" and actively drink in the region on 20-25ml of milk from the bottle :) Huge progress, considering where we started! Not sure if you can find MAM in Dubai, but certainly worth a go for others who are trying to wean BF babies onto bottles!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 June 2011 - 10:26
TK I would try a bottle (for milk) because at his age, he is unlikely to drink enough from a cup regardless how how enthusiastic he is and there will usually be a bit of spillage at the start which is a bit gutting with your expressed milk. If you have introduced solids already you could add a little apple juice to the milk the first few times to give him extra motivation to figure it out, if you've ever tasted formula you'll see why a lot of babies won't drink it. Get started with the cup for water though Def figure this out well before you accept a job offer to avoid stress
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 June 2011 - 22:56
I'm have felt a sense of relief reading this thread. My 6 month old DS is exclusively a b00b baby, and has never had a bottle. I have made a few half hearted attempts, with the Aventa and TT teats, with no success. DS can actually hold the handles on the TT cup and bring it to his mouth. Do you think I should try a bottle or could he drink EBM or formula from a cup? I am looking at returning to work but keeping the first and last BF of the day, if I can.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 June 2011 - 19:40
KS - I was always under the impression that apples, pears and carrots are non-constipating!?!? She has had no potatoes and banana's yet as i know these are big constipation culprits! Don't mind giving peaches, apricots and plums a go, but might hold off on the Kiwi Fruit until she is a little but older. And not much diary products yet, she has only had a few spoons of yoghurt every other day. Apple juice and pear juice relieve constipation but the fruit itself is constipating, I can't remember why (apples are part of the BRAT diet for relieving diarrhea) I did a bit of internet research when starting solids after a couple of friends had major constipation issues with apples and carrots. Will try and find the site that explained the whole issue really well but basically some fruits have sorbitol which attracts water as the food goes through the bowel hence softening the stool. Without something to attract the water into the bowel drinking extra water will simply result in extra urine. Def give the peaches a go, (fresh are better because you don't have to worry about additives) they are a daily in our house and I agree wait on the kiwifruit, it is quite acidic like strawberrys so not an ideal first food. The trick with bananas is they have to be very ripe, so that the starch has already basically predigested into sugar, so when you do introduce them make sure they are ripe to the point of brown spots on the very yellow skin and you should be fine. Yoghurt is a culprit for DS but not sure of the science on that one. <em>edited by kiwispiers on 18/06/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 June 2011 - 13:28
Ok plumie will tell you my deep dark secret to getting DD to take bottle ;) I used the ( gasp!) TV. I used to sit her down in her rocker and then put the bottle in, nicely covered her up with a blanket so she was cozy and turned on baby einstein. She was so mesmerized, she started drinking and thats what worked. I found that baby einstein and animal planet worked really well. So I started with one feed which was not a comfort feed. For us it was the afternoon 3 p.m., feed. Once that was established, I keep re-substituting and voila! 2 weeks later, she was only doing night feeds with me. I also agree with what another poster said. Take an "I have all the time in the world" approach and you will be less stressed and she will sense it. The lil ones like pushing buttons too ;) Try to give it when she is hungry. I had everyone else try, but in the end, it worked when I did it and persevered. DD used to do the same too, not complain or cry, just refuse to eat! Also try ticking the upper mouth with the teat to stimulate the sucking response! Good luck! Not easy! ( hugs!) <em>edited by ashc on 18/06/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 16:05
We have tried all times of the day! Everyone who has come into our house has even been handed the task of trying! And i have evacuated the scene, so not to create confusion! I even tried sneaking in the teat when i was doing the dream feed, but she soon realized the difference and started playing around with the teat in her mouth! Its not that she refuses, she opens her mouth wide, wraps her hands around the bottle, accepts the teat but has no clue what to do with it :\: She seems so close, yet so far! And so eager too...am even beginning to feel sorry for her :( HK - the straws might be an option, so will have her play around with it for a bit!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 15:54
Plumie DD was exactly the same, wouldnt take a bottle, wouldnt take a dummy (infact still doesnt but i dont mind that, as she uses her thumb and can self soothe pretty well). I was panicking so much because i was going back to work and i wasnt getting on with pumping at all, so i desperately wanted her to combination feed. I did the 500 different bottles/teats thing, even ordered from the internet. Tried different formulas etc. In the end, what worked for us what a change in attitude from me. I spent so long making it into a fight, whereby i tried the bottle, she refused the bottle, she'd scream, id give up and offer her boob. (rinse and repeat times a billion). In the end, one day i decided, right, thats it. 4pm feed is bottle, or nothing, and if you dont like it, theres nothing till the next feed. Rather than guilting myself into giving in and giving her boob (shes starving, etc - she wasnt, she was just p1ssed off!!) i just left it. FIRST DAY she drank 15ml, second day 45ml. third 80ml and by the end of the week a full feed. Infact, within two weeks, i moved her completely to bottles because i couldnt keep my supply up with how hungry she had become! (i didnt mind, it was 5 months, i was introducing solids and going back to work too, so was happy to tail off the BF) Are you feeding her the bottle when she is truly hungry? It worked out beautifully for us (in the end!) , and id made it into such a struggle! Fingers crossed you find something that works for you soon!!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 15:54
My wise old MiL said that the best way to get a baby to take the bottle - if they were being "difficult" about it, was for the mum to hand over the task to someone else and basically not be around at feeding time. If mum's doing the bottle and bubs is used to her getting lurvely warm milky cuddles, then of course bubs is going to refuse! DD actually never took to a bottle. We just used the TT sippy cups for water at mealtimes. You could always try a straw though - children of all ages seem to want to drink anything through a straw!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 15:32
Are you sure all her foods are non constipating? potatoes, cereal, rice, bananas, carrots, apples, corn, pumpkin anything starchy in general can be constipating, as can too large an amount of any solids in general. ? Apricots, peaches, plums, kiwifruit, all good for relieving constipation as is pear or apple juice (and prune juice of course) DS has stewed peaches and figs with his breakfast and it certainly keeps him regular ;). Try not to give her dairy products and see if that helps. KS - I was always under the impression that apples, pears and carrots are non-constipating!?!? She has had no potatoes and banana's yet as i know these are big constipation culprits! Don't mind giving peaches, apricots and plums a go, but might hold off on the Kiwi Fruit until she is a little but older. And not much diary products yet, she has only had a few spoons of yoghurt every other day.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 15:16
Are you sure all her foods are non constipating? potatoes, cereal, rice, bananas, carrots, apples, corn, pumpkin anything starchy in general can be constipating, as can too large an amount of any solids in general. ? Apricots, peaches, plums, kiwifruit, all good for relieving constipation as is pear or apple juice (and prune juice of course) DS has stewed peaches and figs with his breakfast and it certainly keeps him regular ;). Try not to give her dairy products and see if that helps. With the cup, she will only be able to take a very small amount at a time, being breastfed she doesn't understand that it will keep flowing even though she is not sucking, you need to fill it to the brim, tip it for a microsecond then take away again so she has a chance to swallow what is in her mouth, it takes time. Drinking directly from a small bottle of evian etc is even easier for their little mouths than a cup. My guy just chews on sippy bottles and despite everyone saying that BF babies do better with the kind that have a straw he can't really figure those out either but he does well with a regular cup (have been giving it since 6 months and he is now 10 months). Of course I have to hold it for him. In the meantime you can increase her water intake by adding more water to her foods, with drinking from a cup more of a long term goal. And do be pleased she doesn't take the dummy, taking it away again is a nightmare :(
651
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 15:14
Oh dear plumie! My DD is the same age as yours and not only is she refusing the bottle, but also any type of solids!! So that means she wants to nurse every 2 hours!! I feel like I am going to go crazy! Hugs to you and good luck! Could our babies have been separated at birth?!?! No issues with the solids *now*...it was a challenge in the beginning though, BUT the bottle is doing my head in - aaarrrggghhh :/: **Off to purchase some more patience**
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 14:58
Oh dear plumie! My DD is the same age as yours and not only is she refusing the bottle, but also any type of solids!! So that means she wants to nurse every 2 hours!! I feel like I am going to go crazy! Hugs to you and good luck!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 14:27
It's sort of flat - not round like a normal bottle. See this: http://www.thinkbabybottles.com/ Thanks for the link Guinness! **SIGH** Looks like i will be giving that a go too!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 14:22
You may not want to try another bottle, but the only bottle my daughter ever like was the one from Just Kidding - its orange and called Thinkbaby. The nipple is really different than any other bottle, and it was the only thing my daughter would ever use. Guinness - what is the shape of the teat? Will have a look at it when i am back in Dubai in a few weeks time! 2Blossom - good to know that someone else feels my pain! Was beginning to think DD is from another planet ;) It's sort of flat - not round like a normal bottle. See this: http://www.thinkbabybottles.com/
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 14:13
You may not want to try another bottle, but the only bottle my daughter ever like was the one from Just Kidding - its orange and called Thinkbaby. The nipple is really different than any other bottle, and it was the only thing my daughter would ever use. Guinness - what is the shape of the teat? Will have a look at it when i am back in Dubai in a few weeks time! 2Blossom - good to know that someone else feels my pain! Was beginning to think DD is from another planet ;)
651
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 14:10
Is she having solids? Give her prune juice by spoon or mix it in with her food. It isn't normal for an EBF (no solids) baby to be truly constipated, if she has started solids I would look at what you are giving her rather than thinking it is a dehydration thing. Try a regular plastic cup rather than a sippy it easier. She has just moved on to 3 "meals" a day. I started weaning her at 5 months and ever since then it has been "stop-go-stop-go" as she always ends up being constipated after about 3 days... And it does not matter what i give her, i even cut out all foods or fruit which is linked to constipation, but she still ends up struggling to pass bowels :( Most of her foods are "bowel friendly", however it has made no difference. I thought about mixing the prune juice in with her food but cant keep doing this either!? When i give her the sippy cup, i take off the teat and use it as a normal cup, but again - it just spills and runs everywhere! Am really beginning to think she has a digestive problem or she has been traumatized by a bottle and syringe :\: And she has never ever taken to a pacifier either! This i have no qualms with, as it could be a blessing in disguise, but again just one of her ways of accepting nothing other than Mummy's boob in her mouth!
1238
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 13:57
You may not want to try another bottle, but the only bottle my daughter ever like was the one from Just Kidding - its orange and called Thinkbaby. The nipple is really different than any other bottle, and it was the only thing my daughter would ever use.
2782
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 13:48
Is she having solids? Give her prune juice by spoon or mix it in with her food. It isn't normal for an EBF (no solids) baby to be truly constipated, if she has started solids I would look at what you are giving her rather than thinking it is a dehydration thing. Try a regular plastic cup rather than a sippy it easier.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 13:35
I share your frustration! I've been trying to get DS (5 months) onto a bottle for months now. He was having one bottle of EBM up until 6 weeks when I gave up on it. Now he won't take one whether it's EMB or formula. We've tried it all, different bottles, teats, my sister feeding him, grannie, DH - all with me out of the room. Nothing works. Tried sippy cups as well which he will drink sips of water, but nothing else. DS also just seems to bite the teats and more plays around with it than anything else.
651
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 June 2011 - 13:30
Tommee Tippee, Avent, NUK, Nuby, Mag Mag, Dr Browns, Dr Wheils - you name it, I have tried them all - DD still battles to suck from a bottle! She has been EBF and is now 6 months old and I desperately want to move her on to a bottle to drink water or even EBM, but no luck :( She has made progress though, before she would purse her lips at the sight of a bottle, now she willingly opens her mouth, reaches out with her hands, but once the teet is in her mouth she does not suck?! I'm using the free-flowing teats the water or juice just flows out of her mouth. With the other teats, she bites them! It's almost as if she has an aversion to anything other than the boob :\: Am really starting to pull my hair out now as she is constantly constipated and it becomes such a battle trying to get her to drink water, prune juice or OJ from the bottle! I've resorted to syringe feeding her liquids but this just ends up I a screaming match :/: No luck with sippy cups either! If anyone has some tips or tricks - please, please share them with me as my brain has hit a brick wall as i can't be spending all her college fund money on bottles and teats anymore :/:
 
 

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