Arghhh my baby won't take a bottle!!

I mentioned in my previous post that I would be returning to work soon and that Eben wouldn't take a bottle. Well the Mam bottle we had most success with now he won't accept at all! So I've switched to a cup! I've decided to completely abandon bottles and as Eben is nearly 6 months I no longer have to worry about sterilising do that's another plus. I guess I should count my blessing that he loves booby so much it saves me time as I don't have to sterilise anything and I know he's getting nutrition especially designed just for him. And I do love the cuddles that come with breastfeeding. Also if I go straight to cups I don't have to try to wean off the bottle at a year! I still at the back of my mind think I would feel more at ease with him going to nursery taking a bottle but I suppose we will have to see what happens. I've googled lots of things relating to my situation such as 'my baby will only breastfeed but I have to return to work' and 'how to get my baby to take a bottle'  and generally it seems that some babies just don't do bottles. Someone also wrote that their baby would drink all morning and evening but wouldn't drink a drop all day at nursery but was happy and content. That gives me some hope as in the last couple of days that I've been giving my son a cup I have managed to get him to take an ounce or two but it does take a long time! What I have found that's worked is sitting him in his bouncy chair so he's lying back slightly and giving him cold milk straight from the fridge. I think the milk coming from a cup so it's completely unlike a breast and serving the milk cold again unlike breast milk has made him accept the cup as just something random and new to try. To start with I was basically pouring some in his mouth and he would drink it! He has now started sucking it but as it's free flowing so it does come out more quickly than he's used to so we've had a few splutters. He also likes holding the handles so I'm trying to make it a game. Next week he'll have his first settling in session, which lasts 2 hours I'll send a cup of milk with him and see if they have any more success!

follow me on instagram here

on facebook here

Returning to Work - End of Maternity Leave

It's getting closer and closer to my return to work date. And now I've finally sorted out with work what role I'll be returning to I'm feeling quite excited about it! I have worked for the company (a well known food on the go retailer) for 9 years! And for I think 5 of those years I have been a shop manager. I really love my shop and colleagues and the job it's self, I love the interaction with regular customers and feeling like a part of a community. I'm going to step down on my return to a senior sales role and only work 16 hours a week. I used to do 37 hours a week so I think it will seem quite strange going back and working so few. I'm hoping that less hours and less responsibility will mean life is less stressful. Our income will be significantly lower but hopefully our quality of life will be better! My boys will be a nursery for 2 days in the week and at my lovely mums for one day. So hopefully as I'm not working so many hours I'll have some time to myself after I've done my housewife duties! It's a bit sad but I'm actually looking forward to being able to give the house a good clean and tidy! At the moment I have to wait until Eben wakes from a nap and is happy so I can leave him on a play May to play whilst I wash up or put the washing on the line! I can't do anything whilst he sleeps as he feeds from me to sleep and then usually wakes if I move! - I really need to break this habit! I'm hoping that a new routine will emerge once I'm back at work that will enable a better nap routine and bedtime routine. I think my only worry about returning to work is Eben not taking a bottle! I've tried every bottle we've had most success with the Mam bottles but he's very inconsistent and usually drinks less than an ounce! Hopefully he'll take a bottle from one of the nursery nurses!