Takes an hour to feed her a bottle...Help us - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Gayle0000 · 12-01-2005, 09:34 AM

Okay, Ava will be 3 months old next week. Wondering if anyone has any ideas to make this go better. About the last month, it has been taking her literally an HOUR to finish her bottle.

She has been exclusively breastfed...but we give her a bottle of EBM about 3 times a week just to make sure she knows/remembers how to use a bottle. We started the bottle when she was 3 weeks old, so this is not a new project for her.

She has taken to any nipple or pacifier shape we give her...she'll suck on anything.

She gets the bottle always at her last feeding of the night. She gets 3 oz of EBM in the bottle. Many times she doesn't even finish it. Last night, my husband spent 30 minutes with her and she only drank ½ oz. She falls asleep right away, or just plays the whole time. She is hungry because there have been a few times I've put her to the breast & she eats like normal.

We are using the newborn nipples. I'm going to go buy some faster flow nipples to see if that helps...just haven't got out of the house yet this week.

The EBM is warmed up from frozen. She seems to be okay with the taste...doesn't show signs she dislikes the flavor. The experience is the same whether it's frozen or fresh.

My husband is always the one to give her the bottle. She won't take it from me.

I'm planning a weekend away in a few weeks, but if the bottle experience keeps going like this, there's no way anyone can bottle feed her through an entire day.

Any thoughts...experiences?
Gayle

babygirl224 · 12-01-2005, 10:06 AM

When i started my DD on bottles, i literally tried all different botthles and nipples. From what I read and what i had been told, it's just trial and error. We ended up playing around to figure what bottle she didnt drink too fast or too slow and didn't give her the most gas. After numerous tries, we ended up feeding her the playtex lates nipples (yellow colored ones). I use the drop in liner as well. Like I said, i tried three different nipples and four differnet bottles.

Each baby is different as you know. I would buy 3 different kinds and see what she likes the best. Let me know how you make out.

Celestine · 12-01-2005, 10:39 AM

I can't give you much for advice since DS is bottle fed but you can make the nipple holes bigger with a pin or wooden toothpick if you can't get out. Also, if falling asleep is the bigger problem maybe you could try it a bit earlier. DS's last bottle of the night is his slowest as well because he can't always stay awake during it. Even if he's awake he's pretty mellow by then so he usually takes his time. Maybe trying the bottle when she's more alert might help.

gel2005 · 12-01-2005, 11:41 AM

My daughter always took a while to finish her bottles, usually 30 minutes or so. The same ammount it would take he to nurse. She started to drink faster when I changed the nipple up a size. You could try it, it won't hurt. Now that she is older she guzzles in down in no time

monim361 · 12-01-2005, 02:05 PM

My DD (bottlefed) has trouble staying awake at all feedings. What works for us holding her away from our body and about every minute or two I have to tap her cheek to get her mouth going again.