refusing bottles at daycare
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Topic: refusing bottles at daycare
Posted By: E&L+1
Subject: refusing bottles at daycare
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 3:23pm
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I breastfeed DD and she has just started on solids in the last week or so. She started daycare on Tuesday she is there 2 days a week (tue and wed) from 8ish to 3.30ish. I feed her when she wakes around 7/7.30 so she shoule be having at least one bottle at daycare of about 200mL. At the moment she is having 100mL plus about 1/2 a jar of babyfood (stage 1) and I am picking her up and she is starving. I have to feed her as soon as I get there or she gets upset. I am a bit worried as when she doesn't eat enough she doesn't sleep enough and there is no way that 100mL of milk in 8 hours is enough!
Before she started she was taking 180-200mL of EBM in a bottle from me once a day to get her used to it so a bottle isn't a new thing. I tried to give her one today and she fought it for ages and then still only had 100mL. Any suggestions to getting her to take the bottle again? I am hating throwing away heaps of expressed milk! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 3:46pm
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What about offering her 100ml bottles more frequently. Does she have to only have the one EBM feed? Can they give her 100mls before her solids, say 11ish, then solids and another bottle of 100mls around 2pm?
I think when DD was around that age she would only take around 100mls of EBM, very occasionally taking 200mls. |
Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 7:44pm
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Jude did the same when he started daycare at the same age. He just didn't want to be drinking something that a stranger was giving him. Was fine taking EBM from a bottle if DP or I or someone he knew was giving it to him. Took a while for him to get comfortable with someone else feeding him. He would rather wait for me than drink from a bottle. Now he is a bit older, he prefers to hold the bottle himself. He never drank 200mls (although I feed him every lunchtime) and I didn't worry about how much he SHOULD be drinking. He still had plenty of wet nappies and is growing like a weed.
Daycare is a big change. So many new things, new people and distractions. Give her time - hopefully she will get used to it 
Oh and I hated throwing away EBM too! Wanted to ask Jude if he knew how much effort I had to go to to get that for him?! Haha.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 7:44pm
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The spliting the bottles sounds like a good idea. But just generally ask the daycare people to be more understanding and try a few more angles.
The people at daycare will have 'seen it all before' and they've probably got some tips on how to get her drinking. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Ella1
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 8:17pm
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I can't talk from experience, as I was lucky enough being able to continue to feed her after I went back to work (and DD has always refused bottles). But I have heard it is not unusual for BF babies to refuse bottles at daycare and then make up for it in the evening (and sometimes nights). Also BF babies tend to drink less EBM than bottle fed babies drink formula. The daughter of someone I know only used to drink about 60mls EBM at daycare.
I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. And if it's possible could you give her a feed at daycare when you pick her up (before you go home)? It's comforting for her as well to have you back. Oh and maybe don't put all your EBM in 1 bottle. Do lots of 60mls or 80mls at the time to avoid waste. If she finishes the bottle, you can always offer more. |
Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 9:14am
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I feed her when I pick her up. I wouldn't be worried but she has had a few dry nappies after being at daycare which is unusual for her. We have tried splitting the bottles but she still isn't interested. I'm hoping that she'll get used to it soon as she is obviously hungry! But she went from 7.30 until 12.30 on Wed with no bottles or solids so she is obviously rather determind!
Stacey that's how I was feeling! I have a manuel pump and although I can get more than enough it's the thought of going to the effort to just throw it away! Issacs mum they had at least 2 people try and get her to take the bottle on Wed both were unsuccessful. They are being understanding and the directors daughter did the same thing when she started so she knows how I'm feeling! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LJsmum
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 4:56pm
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Just a thought as have worked with babies in centres and this is what we did. You may have tried these tips already.
Have the same person offer her the bottle, every time. Do they do primary caregiving where one person feeds/ puts to sleep/ is in charge odf her all day. If so this person will start to bond with baby and after a few days it will get easier. Do you leave a muslin cloth or somrthing with your scent on it. I know it sounds bizarre! but have that as a comfort for her to snuggle into or having the person feeding your daugther have it on her, may help. Smell is important. It's a big change and will take a while to get there. is it the bottle? are they heating it too hot? Just an idea -------------  
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Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 24 April 2010 at 10:15am
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Thanks Milo, she has her little buuny comforter there so I might suggest that they give her that. The same caregiver is there so she is giving her all her bottles.
Unfortunately she has now started refusing ALL bottles no matter who is giving them to her! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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