Gracie Vs. The Bottle

As some of you know, we have been trying to get Gracie to take a bottle. She is not a fan. We are leaving for Colorado at the end of July for four days and we need her to be able to take a bottle. We also would like to do something for our anniversary in early July, which gives us until the end of this month. We’ve tried pretty much every nipple out there, but nothing seems to work. We are out of ideas, so I did some research and found a doula’s blog outlining a way to get a reluctant (or in my case, adamant) baby to take a bottle. It is called “the Stand off”, so we gave it a try. The gist: no nursing, only bottles, with some suggestions thrown in. This is how yesterday went down. Thank you to all who prayed for us.

6:30AM - last time to nurse

8:00AM – slept in her swing

10:15 AM - gave her the bottle in her swing, only took 1 ounce, but took it great (seemed to be pleasantly distracted by momma and daddy singing to her and praising her for taking the bottle)

Score: Bottle – 1 Gracie - 0

10:32 AM – changed her diaper, did some good “talking” on her changing table; dressed her in her uniform for the Stand-Off today (headband, wristband, tall socks - tell me she's not ready for battle!)

10:45AM – tried the bottle again; didn’t scream, but didn’t take it either, just chewed on it awhile (we’ll give this round to Gracie)

Score: Bottle – 1 Gracie - 1

11:00AM – got her down, slept until 12:15

12:20PM – tried the bottle again, she sucked down 3 ounces with no complaints! Way to go Gracie (but too bad about the score)

Score: Bottle - 2 Gracie – 1

1:20PM – went down for another nap

3:20PM – woke up ready to play. Played with momma and daddy for awhile, got bored, played with white bear and sleep sheep for awhile, got bored, played on activity mat for awhile, got bored, then got fussy (probably from hunger considering she only took 4 ounces since this morning)

4:00PM – got really fussy, tried the bottle several more times, cried harder, cried even harder, passed the point of no return. Passed out from exhaustion in daddy’s arms, momma shed some tears, prayed a lot.

*Don’t cave! Don’t cave!

(Gracie wins this one by a mile!)

Score: Bottle – 2 Gracie – 2 (all tied up, this is a close one!)

5:00PM – in a better mood; tried the bottle again; chewed on it awhile; continued to try it; finally took it, ate 4 ounces great and then, in apparent frustration over the bottle’s success, pooped the biggest poopy diaper ever!

Score: Bottle - 3 Gracie – 2 (the bottle is leading, but I will say, Gracie let him have it with the monstrous poo!)

6:00PM – Really fussy; got her down, slept on me; I watched an episode of Friends (needed to laugh); woke up after Friends, she got CRAZY, screamed and cried for the next 1 ½ hours, I cried too, didn’t know what to do; texted Jonathan at game night “Im going to cave”, stuck it out; went outside, we both calmed down

7:45PM – Put her in her swing; tried the bottle; she took 1 ½ ounces great; dad came home; melt down again; she went to sleep exhausted on Daddy, guilt set in (am I a horrible mother for doing this?), reminded myself she will not remember this, not comforted

Score: Bottle – 3 Gracie – 3

8:00PM – I ate dinner (8 hours since eating anything)

10:00PM – She woke up, I caved, I nursed her, decided nighttime doesn’t count in the “stand off”, happy again

Winner: Gracie