How do I teach my baby to drink from a bottle?

[blackfluent]

I have an 8 1/2 month old baby and I'm trying to get her off the breast. By the time she was 2 months old she was drinking from the bottle with no problem, however my breast pump broke so for the next 6 months I didn't give her any bottles. Now she would drink from the breast and eat puree foods, but after I stop giving her the breast she didn't want to eat anymore. I'm trying to get her on a feeding schedule where she drinks Cereal and formula in a bottle 3 times day plus puree foods, but she doesn't drink the bottle anymore. She doesn't even suck on pacifiers anymore. What should I do? I've been giving her gripe water and mint tea for gas. I really need her to drink from a bottle again because I will be going back to work soon.

[hstris]

Ok..my son was taking a sippy cup no problems by 8 months so give that a shot. Also, do not give the cereal in a bottle give it to her by spoon.

[Kelley J]

Is it that you have offered her the bottle and she doesn't like it? I would suggest trying a nipple that simulates more of the mother's natural shape and feel. I would also suggest trying giving her a sippy cup the spill proof kind it similates that sucking motion as well.

[caramel_delight]

Drinking from the bottle has to be relearned. However I think she is a bit too old to have cereal in the bottle. You can feed her the cereal with pureed food from the spoon. She can even have the baby food solids like the little chopped meats. But the bottle, she will have to learn again, but you have to be persistent with it.

[starlight]

You are going to have to "cold turkey" her off the breast and onto the bottle. Your daughter realizes that their is a choice because you are introducing the bottle while still offering the breast during the same day. She prefers the breast obviously. When I did this to my son at 6 months of age, I offered him the bottle every 3 hours per his normal feeding schedule starting at 7am. He refused the bottle completely, eating absolutlely nothing at 7am and 10am. By the time we got to the 1am feeding, he was ready to eat and devoured the entire bottle. He never refused the bottle again. (Besides, once they get the hang of the bottle, they figure out that they don't have to suck as hard and it is actually easier for them). I would recommend that you do this on a day that you will be home all day and have a lot of patience to deal with your child being upset and cranky. But it only took me one day!

[baldie]

i know this might sound weird coming from a man, but what about starting your baby on a sippy cup first, then go to the bottle, then after he/she gets older, use a plastic glass.

[Syd]

I baby sit a 9mth old who is going through the same stage, but the only thing different is that the mom has never breast fed he just doesn't want the bottle. I would give her a bottle at meal time she understands thrist and will start reaching for it. And just before nap or bed and that is really all you can do is fill her up.