Won't take a bottle.

[willow5]

Has anyone got any tips on how to encourage a 3 month old exclusively BF bub take a bottle of EBM?

I tried a friend offering it and DP when I knew she was hungry but she just wouldn't take it.
I also tried two different teats but it didn't make a difference.

I have a friend due to birth her first baby in a few weeks and she has asked me to be her support person. If it is long I really need to have DD fed while I'm at the hospital. I'd also love the odd nap or sleep in too

Any tips will be very much appreciated

[HotI]

my mum has some success feeding ebm from a spoon.

I have heard try different temperatures, different positions (for baby), different bottles/teats ... give a t shirt with your scent...
, warm the teat ...

none of it worked with my DD, but it did with DS.

if you can't get bub to take a bottle or cup, could they be brought to you? dont forget your pump, you might need it for you if you are there awhile

[Joeve]

My DD was transitioning from breast to bottle every Friday while I was at work from when she was 2 weeks old til 13 weeks she then just stopped. Point blank refused! We have tried everything and she has to be brought to me now to be fed.
Is that an option? Not ideal I know

[MLR1901]

Try dipping the tip of the teat in BM and then as introducing the teat, try to squeeze it so that bubs gets it comes out. Worked for us.
LC also mention longer teats but skinny teats rather than breast shaped ones. Apparently they can suck it better and it's what they should be doing with the nipple.

[Starfish]

Lots of good suggestions already.
The only thing I can add is that sometimes a baby just needs to be really hungry and then they will take a bottle. I compare it to an adult - e.g. you want to eat dinner, but there are only leftovers, so you think "no, I don't want that". An hour later, however, those leftovers look more appetising. Sometimes babies can be the same, i.e. they know that if they refuse the bottle they will get the breast. However, when the breast still doesn't come after a while, they will take the bottle.
Also - I have found andecdotally that babies are super smart and they kind of know when the bottle is the only option vs when they know that mum is close by...

[Razzberry]

I tried so many teats and then I googled and found "mam" teats and it worked! they also fit in avent wide neck bottles

[willow5]

Thanks everyone! She knew there was milk in there we squeezed some out but she still wasn't playing lol I will try all of your suggestions too, off to google 'mam' teats now

Worse comes to worse I'll have to have bought in to feed, but yes not idea, and a break in flow for my friend too if I keep ducking out to feed.But if that's how it needs to be then that's what we'll do.

[willow5]

Razzberry did you buy the teats online or can you get them in shops?

Oh I think Target may have them
It says they are super soft, that's what I was thinking, that the softer the better. So here's hoping a soft warm Mam teat with EBM on it does the trick ... I might go out for a while too so she knows I'm not around with the real deal

[Razzberry]

I have bought them at target and also at chemists. It was seriously amazing as I had literally tried every teat including the ones that are meant to be "most like a breast" and she still refused, didnt matter who gave her the bottle but as soon as I gave her a mam teat she drank!!!