Bottle Feeding Consultant?

Is there such thing as a feeding consultant to help with bottle feeding only? I know lactation consultants will sometimes help with bottle feeding when ultimately trying to get baby to breastfeed more, but my son is exclusively bottle fed at this point. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or know of a lactation consultant open to helping with a baby who only takes the bottle? Thanks!

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RE:

I don't have a specific person to recommend, but when our daughter was slow to gain weight, we spoke to a lactation consultant who recommended an occupational therapist to help with bottle feeding.  I'll add that if you're getting pressured by your pediatrician because your baby is not staying on his weight growth curve, you might want to consider getting a second opinion.  Our daughter has been slow to gain weight but (knock on wood) seems to be healthy and hitting her milestones.  Our old pediatrician gave us a hard time about our daughter's weight and referred us to a GI specialist who stressed us out even more, and then we switched to a new pediatrician at Berkeley Pediatrics who thinks our baby is doing well and doesn't need medical intervention.  (Anecdotally, I dropped from the 95th weight percentile at birth to the 3rd percentile at 8 months and there was nothing wrong with me, I just wasn't a big eater.)  Good luck!

RE:

A few months ago I felt like my baby was struggling with both breastfeeding and bottles, and the lactation consultants weren't helping me with my concerns about issues with the bottle.  My pediatrician suggested seeing an occupational therapist at Children's Hospital Oakland (UCSF BCHO); she said they're very experienced with bottle feeding stuff.  I didn't end up making an appointment because the problems we were having got better on their own right around the time the doctor put in the referral.  So I can't actually vouch for this, but it SOUNDS like it it could be what you're looking for!  Oh and she said there are also occupational therapists who work with babies at Alta Bates or Herrick Hospital (I think it was Herrick - anyway it was Sutter), but she strongly recommended Children's Hospital as the best option.  Hang in there!

RE:

Ask you doctor for a referral to an Occupational or Speech Therapist who specializes in feeding!

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You don't mention what the issue is, or how old your baby is, but there are definitely lactation consultants (as well as occupational and speech therapists) who can help with any kind of infant feeding challenges.  Lactation consultants often help get breastfeeding babies to bottle-feed when parents go back to work, so they aren't only familiar with bottle-feeding help when the goal is "getting back to breast."  Call and explain your issue, and they will certainly let you know if they have the skills to help.

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I talked to the lactation support available through Kaiser when my kid wasn't drinking bottles while I was at work all day (but breastfed fine). They were super supportive of helping to figure out different bottle solution.

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Lactation consultants will often have some expertise in bottle feeding.  I'd reach out to a few and ask.  You didn't mention the issue you are facing, but our premature and underweight daughter had may problems drinking from a bottle (starting in the NICU). We were pressured by the NICU medical staff and later our pediatrician to make sure she was getting "enough" formula, which led to her developing a bottle aversion.  If you think your baby might have a bottle aversion (crying at the bottle, refusing to take bottle, turning head away from bottle, not drinking "enough"), then I highly recommend Rowena Bennett's book on the subject (and she lays out a very specific plan to overcome bottle aversion).  

RE:

I recently asked for advice about this (my baby stopped taking a bottle about 6 weeks ago, and it's very annoying).  Friends recommended Serena Meyer: https://www.bayareabreastfeedingsupport.com/  I also got an appointment with a Kaiser LC to discuss it, and I'll know more about how that goes after tomorrow.  Friends also recommend an occupational therapist or speech language pathologist -- I'd see what you can get covered by insurance since it's $$.