He's so young, he really doesn't need anything except the breastmilk for now, but I see you're thinking about the next step in a month or two. My second son never took to a bottle at all, he went straight to the sippy cup. But then he was breastfed until 13 months, so he got his milk that way, the cup was mostly used for diluted juice and water. Let us know what works for you.

I went to a breastfeeding support group run by a wonderful lactaction consultant in Greenside - can give you her details if you like. Her suggestion for babies who wouldn't take bottles was that you shouldn't even try to do it beforehand and the mother shouldn't be the one giving the bottle either.

Will a nanny look after your baby? Let whoever will be looking after the baby give her the bottle when you've gone back to work. Breastfed babies often won't take a bottle from their mothers. Her advice was that the baby wouldn't starve itself and will eventually take a bottle from someone other than their mothers.

Hope it helps!

I'm having the same problem with my baby. She's almost 4 months and refuses to take a bottle, she just gags, and then gets hysterical until I give her the breast. I'm going back to work in 2 weeks, so I'm very worried. I tried a sippy cup which she drank from for a few second but at least she didn't gag. Any advise on which sippy cups to use? I've been told the ones with the valves are no good.

Hi
Im having the same problem with my 4 month old baby. I've tried nuk, avent,tommee tippee, sippy cup and the cheaper once, even different formula.She doesnt grip the teat. Im going back to work in about three weeks and i'm starting to stress. Anyone got some advise

I'm having the same problem with my son, he is 7 months as well. He was taking the bottle as i have been back at work since he was 5 months, but recently he had cold and ever since then he does not want formula at all. But i'm worried that him breast feeding in the evenings is not enough. he is already eating and that is going great, and drinking water too. Please help

Yes, breat is best. BUT all of us can't breastfeed for extended periods of time. For various reasons. Going back to work. Milk is drying up. Etc. Etc.

My daughter also refused to take bottle (wanted to start giving water or rooibostea in summer as extra fluid) when se was a baby. I breastfed her up to 10 months, in which time she refused to take a bottle or sip-cup (no matter what brand/ shape etc). Just mummy's milk. In this time I built up a fair collection of bottles/ teats of shapes and brands. And it cost a lot of money too. At 10 months, my milk dried up. So she had to move over to bottle. Finish and klaar. At that young age they still do need to suck. One morning it was it. It was after a night of almost continuous breastfeeding. And the days didn't went even better. No more breast. It was February and it was hot. She fought the bottles. All the shapes and brands. And Mommy's foot is firm down: no more breast. And to be very honest, it was not easy. At that stage my husband was out of town for work too and there's is an older brother who need also attention. Eventually (around noon !! after the last breastfed was at sunrise) she accepted the curity teat (those old fashioned shaped one with the "wings", I used the silicone ones). It was a relieve. Took a while before she drank easily form the bottle. But she learned that quickly. And guess what.....? 2 years later it was a battle of another kind....again in February's heat....... to get rid of the bottle. Got that done and over with too. (Oh, she's turning 6 end of this week)

Goodluck for you who battle to get the little ones to accept the bottle. Just persevere. Don't give up after the first try. Try in a while again...and again. Soon they will realise that liquid coming from the teat will help relieving the hungry and thirst. You are the mom and act in the best interest of your baby. As I said at the start of my post, all of us can't breastfeed for extended periods of time. So, no need for guilt when moving over to bottle. Enjoy your little ones. they grow up far too quickly.