Hunger strike | helping baby learn to take pumped breast milk or formula from a bottle

What do you do when you have to go back to work and your baby refuses to take a bottle? First, most of us cry.  Every cell in our body wants to meet our baby's needs and when they won't eat, it sparks something primal in all of us.  After all, our job is to make sure we care for this baby, and help them grow and develop, which they can't do without nourishment.

If you're trying to get your baby to take a bottle and they refuse, by all means contact your pediatric health care professional and/or a lactation consultant.  Get expert advice you trust from someone you know.  Persistence and unlimited patience is key when helping a baby learn to take pumped breast milk or formula from a bottle.  First of all, if possible, introduce one bottle each day starting at 3 weeks. It's important to offer a bottle each and every day so that your baby becomes flexible and will be happy from any source, mom or bottle.

If you weren't able to introduce a bottle before 8 weeks and you need to return to work, then you have to start trying ASAP.  Use pumped milk, and start with 1 ounce.  Try using the bottle when the baby is happy and alert and a little bit hungry, not when they are screaming for food right this minute.  If they refuse, gently rock  them and gently squirt a few drops from the bottle into their mouths, then let them try the nipple.  Talk, sing or coo while doing this to keep you both calm (remember, babies smell fear and anxiety and it gets them all worked up too).

Be happy if they swallow just a few sips.  You've made a great first step.  Don't be upset if they don't take all of it.  Baby steps are best.

If they won't take any, then you can dip a clean and washed finger into the milk and let them suck your finger.

If a baby continues to refuse to take a bottle, they will usually last about 8 hours before they give up and give in.  This is not for the faint of heart, so get support from professionals, or as they say on TV, don't try this at home without first consulting a professional.

Their innate drive to eat and to survive will override their preference for mom only.