I would love to breastfeed my 6-month-old girl but she refuses the breast and she loves her bottles so much. Sometimes I express milk but it’s a lot of work for me and it tires me so I give her formula most of the time. She was born with unilateral cleft lip and her palate was intact. The nurses and her pediatrician advised me to bottle-feed until she has had her surgery then I can breastfeed if I want to after she has recovered. She’s now fully recovered since she had her surgery when she was 3 months old but she doesn’t want the breast. My pediatrician advised me to just bottle-feed her if she doesn’t want to breastfeed but I want her to breastfeed. I am tired of washing bottles and boiling water and waking up in the middle of the night to mix formula. Is it too late to start breastfeeding her?
Esther Kimani Staff
Do keep offering the breast to her, however, sometimes the suckling reflex has become weak due to lack of practice and she might find it difficult to figure it out. Be patient with her and I would encourage you to continue expressing for her to take your own milk. Massage her cheeks in a circular motion to stimulate this reflex. All the best as you continue to try.
