I need some advice about helping my breastfed 4 month old taking a bottle. (Hi to everyone, haven't posted in a while, my little girl was born the day after Christmas, and I've been on the run with child #4 ever since!!)
Long story short, my baby won't take a bottle. I didn't have this problem with my other kids, they would always switch from breast to bottle without any difficulty. Miss Kate here thinks that she only can take the breast, and my concern is that I will be starting a new job in about 4 weeks. I will have 3 full days of classroom orientation, and then be working 12 hours shifts 3 out of 4 weekends a month. We have tried introducing the bottle (with formula or breastmilk) many times and she just gets hysterical. She's not as bad now as she was earlier, she at least gnaws on the nipple now rather than right out rejecting it, but my concern is that she'll dehydrate if I go back to work because she won't take enough milk. Also, she seems to only be comforted by me.....doesn't seem to like her daddy too much :chuckle. ( I think I'm just having new mom jitters about leaving her).
Everyone tells me that when she gets hungry enough, she will take the bottle and not to worry about it....that she won't let herself starve. Is this true? Any advice on how I can get her to accept the bottle? I've tried every type of bottle and nipple.....and I need to go back to work for monetary reasons, I cannot afford to take any more time off. I guess I just need reassurance that she won't dehydrate or anything like that, and if anyone has some advice I'd appreciate it so much!
Thanks everyone!
Jennifer