I know you are shocked at your baby’s development of screaming and getting angry whenever you want to breastfeed her but will dance and rejoice on seeing a feeding bottle.
Yeah, it does happen and that shouldn’t make you worried, let’s talk about how to make your baby get back to sucking directly from the breast instead of a bottle.
Why do babies prefer bottles to suck directly from the breast?
One of the reasons your baby prefers feeding from a bottle to the breast is that feeding from the bottle is easier compared to the breast which will require a good latch for breast milk to start flowing.
Who loves stress? Absolutely nobody including Babies so they will settle for what they think is easier to suck and deliver the joy and satisfaction they deserve without stress.
some of the reasons for bottle preference among babies include :
1. bottle design
A bottle nipple’s firmness and shape may be preferred by a certain baby over the other for reasons best known to them so feeding from the bottle might be more pleasurable than from the breast.
2. Early introduction of bottle feeding
If you have introduced bottle feeding early to your baby and you wish to return to feeding directly from the breast, your baby may just need to relearn how to effectively breastfeed and that’s one of the reasons he will have to remain for what he has been used to.
Read also: Differences between a good latch and a bad latch during breastfeeding.
3. Easy let down of milk by the bottle
Breasts typically have a faster intermittent flow than bottles.
Your baby can suckle more passively while still receiving milk because they don’t have to wait for the milk to let down for a few minutes unlike sucking directly from the Breast.
4. Baby’s condition
When your baby is in distress, bottles are simpler to handle. Your infant may find it challenging to latch and do the other tasks necessary for breastfeeding if they are irritable and fussing.
Bottle feeding is considerably easier for them to accomplish when they are cranky since it requires less effort.
what to do when your baby refuses to feed directly from the breast.
1. Check your baby’s health statue
Try to figure out what’s wrong with your baby.
It can be reassuring to understand what is going on and know there is a solution. Knowing the cause can also help with a plan. Consider the following:
Do they have a cold or an infection?
Was there anything that could have contributed to their unwillingness to eat?
Knowing your baby’s health statutes will help determine what is wrong health wise and solutions will be presented immediately.
2. Switch between bottle and breast
Some mothers have found success switching from a bottle to the breast mid-feed by rapidly shifting the baby to the breast before they notice and slipping the bottle teat out of their mouth.
A little soft rocking or movement can nudge a baby to continue latching if they balk at the sensation of skin in their mouth.
Read also: How do I prepare for pregnancy?
3. Be playful and lively
For older babies, try turning breastfeeding into something fun and playful rather than a more serious activity that’s full of tension and fear.
You can try changing positions to a more playful one and changing locations to places like the kitchen, garden, playground or even walking around.
Doing all of these may help rekindle the desire to be breastfed instead of bottle-fed by the baby.
4. Avoid using a pacifier or dummy
A dummy or pacifier stimulates a different suck than what is necessary for a secure latch on the breast and also serves as the baby’s primary comforter in place of the breast.
Try to wean your baby off of the dummy by providing skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding as a substitute for comfort. A newborn can be introduced to the sensation of skin in their mouth as a comforter by sucking on a clean finger instead of a dummy teat.
5. Ensure you maintain skin-to-skin contact
Babies have a strong innate desire to breastfeed, and when they are held close to the breast in skin-to-skin contact, this desire is usually at its peak.
To keep this desire burning, always hold your baby adjacent to your bare breast without applying any pressure to get them to latch.
This will promote a better desire for feeding directly from the breast than bottle feeding.
6. Avoid giving part or all feeds from a bottle.
Reducing a baby’s dependency on a bottle teat to make room for another feeding technique is one way to encourage them to nurse.
If a baby associates food with artificial teats, alternatives like cup feeding or finger feeding can support breastfeeding by dispelling that relationship.
7. Take baby to the breast when he or she is drowsy
Many babies first accept the breast again while dozing off or otherwise relaxed and sleepy.
Consider putting them on the breast while they sleep.
Try different feeding positions to find the one your baby prefers.
Start placing your infant’s stomach down on your body in a semi-reclined position to best utilize their natural feeding instincts. Allow the baby to slumber on your breast while you lean back.
This will promote babies’ desire to be breastfed.
Read also: Nursing basket: 24 items that must be included in it.
8. Pump your breast milk before giving it to the baby
To give your infant milk that he won’t have to struggle for, pump before you provide your breast.
You might also try manually applying some milk to the baby’s lips first.
Ask a helper to trickle expressed milk on the breast or into the corner of the mouth of the baby if the infant attempts to latch on but doesn’t remain there.
Your milk will cause you to suckle, which will cause you to swallow.
If the baby spits down the breast milk, try again after offering more expressed milk.
In conclusion
It can be challenging and perhaps upsetting to watch your infant go on a breastfeeding strike.
You must make time for more cuddling between you and your kid, spend more time with them, and, if your baby is older, take a bath together to manage this tension.
Seeking support from your mother, other family members, and women who have gone through similar experiences is another way to manage the emotion.
This will help you feel better by reducing your fear, anxiety, and worry.
Last but not least, your baby’s instincts and behavior may change overnight toward breastfeeding directly from the breast.
To get the best breastfeeding results, you’ll need both patience and time.