Expert: Sharon Rosen Lopez - 11/6/2009

Question
Hello Doctor,

I cannot get my baby girl to drink anymore. She was breast-fed until she was 8 months, then I weaned her into formula. She has been fighting her bottles and will finally cave in and take it if we're persistent for over 15 minutes. I tried sippy sups but she won't drink too much from them either. I tried incorporating some whole by a little bit into her bottle and sippy cup, but she doesn't seem receptive to that either. I still nurse her but only at night after I get home from work. Is this why she will not do her formula anymore. I'm not sure why she all of sudden is just refusing. Thank you for any answers. Otherwise she is perfectly healthy.

Thank you!
Liz

Answer
Hi Liz,

I am not a specialist in infant feeding, however I do know that many babies have difficulty transitioning from breast to bottle feeding. I've read that some babies will accept the bottle more easily from a father than a mother, as the smell and feeling of a mother may excite the baby's expectations. . You might also want to experiment with different bottle styles and nipple types to see if your daughter might enjoy one over the other. Some nipples will provide a slower flow and others faster, and your baby may have a preference for one type of flow.  It's also recommended that when bottle feeding, you snuggle the baby just as warmly as were you to breastfeed, so baby continues to receive that loving bonding they experience when nursing.

Best of luck with your duaghter!

Sharon Rosen Lopez, MA< CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist
http://www.SpeechSkillsForKids.com
http://www.SpeechArts.com