Comfort feeding - will it end?
Hi Girls, Sorry don't get much time to get on the forum at the moment - Aimee is sitting on my lap whilst typing this! We've got a bit of a problem in that we've been trying to introduce a bottle to Aimee in the evenings - we've tried both expressed and formula almost every day for the past week and she just won't take it! She's all upset and cranky and just won't accept anything other than my boob - I really think its a comfort thing as like other babies shes very clingy in the evenings. The problem is me and DH are selfishly trying to organise a night where we can have 3hrs off and go out for dinner - on 10th Oct which is a few weeks away but we are really looking forward to going out for dinner with our friends whilst mother in law baby sits. However if things stay the way we are I don't think we'd be able to - I'd feel terrible leaving her with an incolsolable baby - knowing I'm the only thing that can fix things!! What do you think? Do we just keep persevering - any tips? Should I try to hold off feeding her in the evenings if I know she's only recently had a feed? She tends to feed every 1-2hrs sometimes more from about 4pm - 7pm and then refuses to be put down until she falls asleep at about 8:30 when we sneakily put her down! xxx

Can DH try to give the bottle when you are out of the room so Aimee can't smell your milk? Some babies will refuse a bottle if they know there's a better offer to be had. Maybe try it earlier in the day when she's not already fussy and is feeding less often, she's more likely to drink if she's hungrier and not full of comfort feeds. Then when she's got the hang of a bottle you can try to give her one in the evening. What bottles are you using? It's very much down to the individual baby but Daniel will only drink from tommee tippee closer to nature bottles, he tends to chew other kinds. Maybe keep offering expressed milk at the start as she used to the flavour, once she's drinking well from bottles you can switch to formula? Daniel went through a period of being fussy in the evenings. He grew out of it within a few weeks, hopefully by the 10th Oct Aimee will be more settled in the evening. :goodluck: I hope you get your night out!

Hi Annalice Which bottles are you trying? My DS only had boob feeds up until 12 weeks and totally refused Avent bottles but took to the Tomme Tippee Closer to nature ones almost straight away - they are softer teats and more boob like. Just a thought! Lilistar xx

Hi Just a quick reply as Jessica is screaming! I agree with the others, use expressed milk and let DH/your Mum - whoever, give the bottle to her and try it warm if you aren't already, both mine seem to like it warmed for some reason. Also, if you think she's comfort feeding, could you try a dummy. My personal opinion is that I don't really like dummies (as I know I couldn't be bothered to wean them off it and I'd lose patience!) but we tried with Jessica in the end as she was so cranky. However, she wouldn't take it but they are definitely useful for some babies. HTH Jo

thanks!! dh was trying with the bottle but I've just tried now during middle of the day and she reluctantly took it!! yay!!! our next battle is to get her to accept it in the evenings but i can't see it happening too soon since she's attached to me every nite for about 4 hours!!! Thanks for all your help xxx