bait and switch

yesterday i had an epiphany, or, at least, i think i did.

it doesn't take much of an idea to qualify as an 'epiphany' these days, in the sleep deprived, emotional state i've been in lately.

caleb has never taken a bottle, which is my fault, for being so paranoid of 'nipple confusion' that i waited until he was 6-8 weeks to even try a bottle, and then, when he absolutely rejected it, did not consistently follow up with repeated attempts. sound familiar?

anyway, i was watching caleb trying to eat his stuffed dog (he was very particular, only wanted to try out the brown patches) and thinking about how he is putting everything in his mouth these days.


it occurred to me, that maybe if i just gave him his bottle, empty, to 'play' with, he might get himself used to it, and be more willing to take it for feedings. so, i went and got a bottle. this is the result:

he proceeded to munch on it happily for several minutes, never pushing it away in frustration, never making that look of disgust, and even reaching for it if i took it away. i decided to push the test a step further, and when he was due for his medicine, put it in the tip of the nipple. he drank it right down!

i plan to try this several times before adding the milk, we will have to see then if he rejects it because the idea of milk from the bottle is just too much. but i think this will work.