9 month old not taking bottle

[Dreamalittledream]

My children were breast fed so I have little experience with formula fed babies. I have a 9 month old little one who I have had for about 9 days total she comes 3 days a week & there was 2 weeks vacay in the middle. So, this little girl's parents tell me that she has, on average 4 bottles a day (she gets one each time she wakes: AM, after each nap & 1 before bed at night). 1st week she took the bottles no problem. Since then she refuses (she bites the end only, doesn't even taste it). She's eating very well & I've resorted to getting the bottle (formula) in her by having her sip it from a cup (I know with some the sucking action hurts while teething). Frustrating because she still takes the bottle no problem at home. Having her sip it all from a cup is painstakingly slow, messy & is one thing I will do, but honestly don't have time for the 1/2 hour + it takes. I am also mixing the formula mixture that she doesn't sip into her food, so it doesn't go to waste & she's still getting the nutritional benefit. Any ideas?

[Bookworm]

I would keep offering her the bottle. She is probably still adjusting.
If she doesnt take it after a couple of weeks, then maybe discuss with the parents what they would like you to do. If she is eating well, maybe she needs fewer bottles, but up the amount she gets at each feeding.
Good luck.

[Dreamalittledream]

Thanks Bookworm! Re: Food; her parents do say that she eats like a bird at home. Here she eats really well...the same as my toddlers (I keep feeding her until she refuses anymore).

[Dreamalittledream]

She is a very active little one...even hates laying down long enough for a bum change. I think all of the external stimuli probably is a factor too (she's an only child at home).

[Mamma_Mia]

My daughter did this too once in daycare - I really think it was because she was watching the older children. I would give it to her in a sippy cup and she'd down it...in a bottle she'd refuse. She wanted to be a "big" girl.....maybe try out of a sippy cup?

((BTW just making a statement, it irks me to no end that people automatically think bottle = formula. Breast Milk can come from a bottle too if mom pumped, no? I hated when the IDIOTS would smugly say "a bottle...oh no, I give my child b.milk" to where I'd respond with "not that its any of YOUR business and I don't remember asking YOU stranger for your advice or comments, but this IS breast milk." sorry, hits a nerve))

[Momof4]

Dream & ladies in the same boat, thank you thank you for letting me know I'm not the only one!

I've had a little girl with me who is now 19 months and started at 11 months. She had a bottle at home in the morning, would not take one from me all day, then has another one when she gets home. I finally have her drinking lots of water and juice from a sippy cup but she will NOT drink milk from a sippy. I've been stumped, but she is growing and eats very well so I've stopped worrying.

Also, I bf all my children and my youngest was a stubborn one. She nursed in the morning then nothing again until I picked her up 8 1/2 hours later. This was back in the days of babysitters and 16 weeks mat leave so she was 4 months old. I had to find a new babysitter weekly until I found one who managed to get milk into her with a sippy cup.

These little stubborn children!

[Dreamalittledream]

My daughter did this too once in daycare - I really think it was because she was watching the older children. I would give it to her in a sippy cup and she'd down it...in a bottle she'd refuse. She wanted to be a "big" girl.....maybe try out of a sippy cup?

((BTW just making a statement, it irks me to no end that people automatically think bottle = formula. Breast Milk can come from a bottle too if mom pumped, no? I hated when the IDIOTS would smugly say "a bottle...oh no, I give my child b.milk" to where I'd respond with "not that its any of YOUR business and I don't remember asking YOU stranger for your advice or comments, but this IS breast milk." sorry, hits a nerve))
Oh I hope my post wasn't offensive to you in any way?

[Dreamalittledream]

Parents had provided me with sippy cups, but this week have sent the same bottle they use at home. No luck with that either. But you have all reassured me; thanks so much!

[Crayola kiddies]

So she won't take it from a sippy cup either? .... Maybe she's just getting used to you and it will take a bit more time. .... Try giving her milk in the sippy cup cause if she is eating well then maybe she is full and just wants a drink. Once babies are eating all four food groups and eating well they don't need formula.

[Inspired by Reggio]

This is normal for sure ~ what goes into their mouth is the one thing they can 'control' at daycare and as Mamma Mia mentioned if they are the 'only one' with the bottle in the group sometimes they resist ... just figure out what 'works' and sticks with that .... nothing wrong with the kid drinking water from a cup and hiding the 'milk source' be it formula or breast milk in their food source if they prefer to 'eat' for you .... I always make their 'cereal' with their milk source at that age ... so if I make up some oatmeal or quinoa for morning snack I add their stuff to it as extra protein and filler over 'water' and the same when I puree their meat and so forth.

[Mamma_Mia]

Oh I hope my post wasn't offensive to you in any way?

No, no not you!! I know what YOU meant... :p <SORRY> it's a nerve hitter for me LOL
Sorry again....been one of those days and I think I typed with my mood not my head..

[playfelt]

Many babies this age are reluctant to take a bottle from anyone other than mom or dad and in many cases they associate milk with mom and even some dads have trouble getting the child to drink the bottle if mom is present. If mom goes out they eventually take it from dad but there was a learning curve there. It will take time for you to give it to her.

I had a 9 month old for the last couple weeks - sibling to another child in care while they were doing the packing and loading for their move. He is a mom or nothing and dad only if mom isn't around kind of kid. It took him all of the first week to take anything other than solids from me. The second week I had some success if I did it after naps and sat him on my lap and held the bottle up for him rather than tried to cuddle him to feed but at least he took most of the milk.

As with most things with babies they come to us with learned habits we have to help them unlearn in many cases.