starting bottle baby question

Alice In TX/MO · #1 03/16/11, 02:55 PM

I'm *having* to bottle feed part of Cassie's quintuplet litter. They will be two weeks old on Friday. They suck fine after I get the nipple in their mouths, but almost time, I have to pry their tiny mouths open and stick the Pritchard nipple in each mouth, one at a time.

Is there something to this that I don't know? How to you get them to realize they have to open their mouth and take the nipple on their own?

LoneStrChic23 · #2 03/16/11, 03:03 PM

Sam was like this as he only had the occasional bottle at the breeders and then was with mom. After he came home, had no mom, we still had to pry his mouth open.... took about 9 days of regular feedings and me opening his mouth to take the bottle before he finally started grabbing it in his own.

Oat Bucket Farm · #3 03/16/11, 03:03 PM

They usually figure it out after some time. Just keep opening their mouths and putting the nipple in their mouth. Sometimes it helps if you put your hand on their chest (so they can't just keep walking forward) and hold the nipple so they have to reach up for it.

DWH Farm · #4 03/16/11, 03:05 PM

I give my dam raised kids bottles sometimes, just as a treat and to bond with them. Unlike bottle babies from birth, they do seem confused about "latching on".. I always assumed that it was because of the different feel and size of the nipples - kind of "nipple confusion"..I have to manually put it in their mouth, but then they latch on and are fine. I also assumed that if I had to switch from dam to bottle exclusively that they would "get it" after a few feedings so maybe that will happen.. Also, (though I prefer the pritchard nipples) the old style lamb nipples might make for an easier switch? Size wise it seems like it would be a lot closer to what she is used to nursing. Just a thought..

motdaugrnds · #5 03/16/11, 03:18 PM

Sometimes it is simply easier for them to be "all feelings" and "no thinking" at that age. Once they realize "they" are the ones who need to search/reach for that food, they will be more willing to open their mouths.

I usually keep opening their mouths for them, pushing in the nipple and holding both sides of their mouths so they can quicker learn where their tongues go until they are healthy enough to experience some hunger pains. Then I let them "tell" me when they want the food; and that is when they start "searching" and are more willing to open their own mouths.