“My baby won’t take a bottle,” are words that have come out of my own mouth, and boy was it stressful. Get 11 incredible tips to help your breastfed baby take a bottle. Plus, the best bottles for breastfed babies.
What to Do When Baby Won’t Take A Bottle!
I can still remember the stress, anxiety, and absolute overwhelm when I was a mother for the first time 7 years ago and I realized: my baby won’t take a bottle.
Before Sam’s arrival, I was both excited and nervous to breastfeed. I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and already knew a thing or two about feeding babies.
But, because I’m type A, I read everything I could from a mother’s perspective to make sure I did everything “right”. I felt like there were endless stories from everyone around me that breastfeeding just didn’t end up working out for them.
That was the last thing I wanted, so with my first child, I followed all the rules and was so relieved when it was obvious very early on that he was going to have no trouble nursing at all. What I didn’t expect was that my sweet little breastfeeding champ would refuse to take a bottle for 12 months, which was the entirety of our nursing relationship.
I’ll admit that, at some point, I stopped trying and lived with crazy work schedules and feeling completely helpless.
I’ve learned a lot since then, I had two more kids that DID take bottles and could switch between being bottle fed and nursing just fine, as long as I wasn’t around.
Combining all my mom experience between these three babies that nursed for a year, and all my pediatric occupational therapy tricks from helping other moms, I’ve got you covered with 11 tips that will serve as your guide for exactly how to get a breastfed baby to take a bottle.
Before we get to that though, you must understand why the heck your baby is refusing a bottle in the first place.
My Baby Won’t Take a Bottle… Why?
I’ll tell you first off that it’s probably not because they are having a hard time latching or because they can’t get the mechanics of the thing. Sucking from a bottle is actually easier than latching onto you. A breastfed baby that is refusing the bottle is doing so because they likely:
- Don’t like the feeling of the artificial nipple in their mouth, it’s just so foreign to them!
- Associate eating so strongly with you that they don’t understand or want the bottle substitute
- Have had a negative experience with taking the bottle (least likely)
And, of course, it could be a combination of all three. I’m big on getting to the “why” of the problem because it often gives you a lot of direction in the “how” to fix the problem, it’s the OT in me. So, let’s talk about a few warning signs for each of the reasons above, while you promise me that you won’t stress too much over figuring this out!
How to get to the bottom of the bottle refusal mystery:
Signs that your baby doesn’t like the feeling of the bottle are that they spit it out the second it touches their mouth or even gag, especially when they do this in the first few months. This can happen with older babies that have learned that you’re trying the bottle AGAIN. In this case, they will immediately communicate to you that they aren’t interested by spitting it out instantly. Babies that are bothered by the bottle texture usually refuse pacifiers too!
Signs that your baby has had a negative experience with taking a bottle are that they were taking the bottle well and then stopped suddenly. While a baby can refuse if a long period of time has lapsed since they were given a bottle, it’s unusual for it to happen overnight. I also want to make sure I clarify, what a negative experience is. Depending on the baby, it can be anything from the flow being too fast, gagging/throwing up while taking a bottle, or taking a bottle from someone that keeps taking it in and out of their mouth.
Signs that your baby just wants you, is basically when you’ve ruled out the other two reasons, and this is probably the MOST common culprit for bottle refusal. I’m quite sure it was with my first son. These babies will often seemingly accept the bottle for a little bit but just won’t latch, they only protest once it becomes obvious that you aren’t going to quit trying.
So, while you may not be able to be sure exactly why your baby won’t take a bottle, it is definitely worth putting some thought into because it will help you decide where to focus your efforts when you read the following list…
11 Tips for the Breastfed Baby Refusing a Bottle
1. Start early
I can bet that for most of you this ship has already sailed. Likely, if you’re here reading, it’s because you’re already in a pickle, but if you happen to be reading this article in advance, I must tell you that I personally think it’s tremendously helpful for parents to start offering a bottle within the second or even first week, if you want to be proactive.
However, I do want to mention that the Le Leche League recommends waiting longer before introducing.
But here’s the thing, and I learned this lesson the hard way, for some babies, the bottle is often so foreign and confusing to a baby that they won’t take to it. I’m fairly certain that is the main reason my oldest never took a bottle. I would suggest that if you do offer the bottle very early on, that you don’t try again until the next day, you do want to keep breastfeeding as the primary means for feeding. Keep a close eye on how much you’re using the bottle in these early days to not jeopardize breastfeeding!
2. Have someone else give the bottle (not you!)
Sounds simple, but it can make a HUGE difference. I was only able to give my second child a bottle a few times and my third would only take it from others, which was fine. Your baby can smell you and even though they are so tiny, they know that with you around, they can have what they prefer: YOU. This is a great opportunity for your partner or family members to bond feeding the baby. (That’s my husband feeding James in the picture at the top!)
One caveat here though is that while you’re trying to establish your baby taking the bottle, you may want to have someone with a little experience do the job, at least at first. My third son needed the motherly intuition and experience from my own mom to get started, even though my husband had fed our second child, he didn’t know how to troubleshoot a bit to get his new son going. After my mom broke him in on a few bottles and gave him some tips for what was working, my husband and son did great.
3. Quiet please
Going to a quiet, non distracting, and relaxing location can make a huge difference. Before someone attempts to give your baby a bottle, have them go to this location for a few minutes and let them be rocked or swayed for a few minutes so they are nice and relaxed. In a calm and gentle approach, the bottle can be offered. This was a key trick that worked like a charm for my third baby. By the time he arrived, our house was pretty loud and chaotic with two older brothers, it was something I had taken for granted because this loud house was our normal and I thought a little baby wouldn’t be bothered by it.
4. Find the magic, “just hungry enough” window
It may make sense to try and give your baby a bottle when they are starving. Common sense would lead us to believe that they are so desperate to eat at this point that surely they’ll just give in and accept the bottle. This often does NOT work. Taking the bottle is a new experience for your baby, one they need to concentrate on and allow to happen. When they are starving, they just haven’t got the time. A better time to try is when you can see they are hungry, but not starving.
You won’t want to try too early though either, because if they aren’t hungry enough, they won’t be motivated to take it. It may take some experimenting, but finding the “just right” window of being hungry enough, but not too hungry could lead to bottle success.
5. Get them in position
While some babies do really well when they are held the exact same way to take a bottle as when you breastfeed them (and I’d definitely try that first), you will want to try different positions if that doesn’t work. Think outside the box here, you never know what is going to work. My second son would sometimes like to take a bottle while facing outwards away from the bottle giver.
6. Leave the house
Yup, you may need to actually leave the house or at least go to another level of your home or lock yourself in a room for some time – that doesn’t sound so bad, right? I wouldn’t do this until you have had some bottle success. I tried this with my first son and just figured he and dad will figure it out. I came back from shopping 2 hours later to find them both exhausted and defeated. My husband had never given a baby a bottle before and I just left! Keep in mind that your baby hearing, seeing, and smelling you can sabotage anyone’s attempts to give them a bottle.
7. Try different bottles
Notice this is tip number 7! I think this is usually the first thing most moms try, and for good reason, but I would try the other suggestions first, before you spend a small fortune. However, there is something to be said for a bottle that your baby prefers. I’d recommend trying 1-2 bottles at a feeding time, and only purchasing 3-4 different types to use. You can find my favorite bottles for breastfed babies in the next section.
8. Experiment with flow
Sometimes you just need to change the nipple flow. Some babies need a really slow flow to accept a bottle and others may like something faster if you have a strong let down, as a slow flow nipple will just aggravate them. Just be careful of your babies age with a fast flow nipple because while they may prefer it, they may not be able to handle it. It takes a lot of coordination to swallow milk coming in quickly, and if they don’t get it just right, they could aspirate, which is when liquid gets into their lungs – not a good thing.
9. Use a pacifier
I know that pacifiers get a very bad rap, especially in the breastfeeding community, and there are some really valid points, but when your baby is 4 months and under, a pacifier may help them get used to having something different being in their mouth. I wouldn’t use it all the time, but if your baby seems bothered by the feeling of a bottle, a pacifier can help desensitize them when used a couple of times during the day.
10. Keep trying
Seems obvious, but it’s so easy to throw in the towel, like I did with Sam. Using the tips above consistently over time can make a HUGE difference in your baby eventually taking a bottle! If it’s important for your baby to take a bottle, then try once a day!
11. Worse case scenario – use a syringe, cup, or spoon
I will be totally honest and tell you that I have never used this technique, but I know, in some instances, it is necessary. I would only try this if all else fails and you are left with no other choice. Le Leche League has some great recommendations for alternative ways to get your baby fed here.
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Best Bottles for Breastfeeding
There are dozens of bottle options out there, which can get overwhelming fast. Any one of them *may* work, but some tend to get the job done a little better when your baby is refusing. The following list are bottles that have worked in my home and/or some of the families that I’ve worked with.
- Tommee Tipee (shown above) – These bottles designed for breastfeeding babies are my personal favorite and what I used with my second two sons, that actually took a bottle (I never tried this type with my oldest). They are affordable and have a stretchy nipple which replicates yours!
- Medela – I love these because you can go right from pumping to giving a bottle with little fuss if you have a Medela pump. We had some success with these in my home and I know many other families that have. These nipples have a much smaller base and some babies prefer that to the wider type bottles.
- Mimijumi – The Cadillac of breastfeeding bottles because they closely resemble the look and feel of a breast. I have personally never used these, but some of the families I’ve worked with have loved them.
- Dr. Brown’s Wide Neck – Dr. Brown’s bottles are popular, and for good reason. Their anti-gas system is built in and works great for a lot of colicky babies. I’ve known a lot of breastfeeding babies that accept these bottles and there’s a special line designed for breastfeeding babies.
- Comotomo Natural Feel – These weren’t even on my radar two years ago, but if they had been, I would have given them a try. This nipple and shape also mimics the breast, but they feature this really cool silicone bottom that’s incredibly functional. There’s a cool demo video on Amazon.
When the Time Comes to Stop Breastfeeding
I want to end this post with a resource for you about how to stop breastfeeding when you are ready. I’m not going to tell you when you should do that, but I will say I breastfed all my babies to 12-14 months old and it was a wonderful experience for me. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 12 months of age, but for a variety of reasons, that isn’t always possible. When you and your baby are ready, you’ll want to head over to my Stopping Breastfeeding How-To post. If you’re nowhere ready for that, make sure you pin it for later!
Now that you have a few tricks up your sleeve to get your breastfed champ taking a bottle, too, make sure you stop back and let me know what worked. And if you have any other tips, PLEASE share them, so many people read the comments and you just never know who you will be helping!
Did you pin it?
This is the kind of post you’re probably going to want to reference again, pin it, so you know just where to find it!
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Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 14 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
My little girl is 9 weeks old & hates the bottle and dummies. She’s recently let us put a bottle in her mouth and she chews it but doesn’t drink from it. I got a Nuk bottle the other day & she sucked all the milk out but spat it out rather than drinking it.
Is this still a positive thing, shall I keep going with that bottle? From experience do you think if we percevere she will eventually take it?
I think it is a positive thing! I would keep trying, especially with having someone else give her the bottle!
I had a huge problem giving my son the bottle. What eventually worked was lansinoh bottle and also feeding him while walking and rocking him, which has now turned to giving him some distraction too at the same time. He’s now almost 8 months and it’s hard!!
Thank you so much for sharing this! As you can see so many are struggling with this!
My daughter is going through this and beginning to get frazzled. Her son is 5 months and has been great at breastfeeding but never to take a bottle. She has been drying up for the last month so the doctor agreed that she should probably consider giving him solids. She hasn’t been real serious about this until now. Even with supplements, increased water and old wives tales, she is able to pump maybe 2 ounces in 4 hours and has tried to give this to him but he won’t take it in a bottle. The guilt is beginning to get to her. She is intimidated about going to the doctor, they will only tell her that she needs to increase breastfeeding, take supplements, etc. Or, that they will tell her everything she is reading online.
My question is – nutritionally, what does he need if he isn’t getting breastmilk and won’t take formula? This week he will take solids, but that’s about it. Should she somehow increase water? Juice to maybe coerce him? What do you suggest? She has tried tipped cups and he isn’t real keen on them, but working to enhance this experience.
You are so sweet looking for solutions for your daughter Deidra! These are great questions, but truly are a little out of my area of expertise. I’d ask the doctor and strongly impress that this is an option that isn’t working anymore. As far as I know he does need milk in some form at this age. Will he take it from a spoon, a dropper?
My little girl is 6.5months old and point blank refuses a bottle. I am breastfeeding her but even then she only seems to feed for about 5minutes. My husband has tried different bottle brands, and we are on the second brand of formula. She will happily take a dummy though. I make sure I disappear before the feed so she cannot hear, smell or see me but doesn’t make any difference. Today we even tried milk in a cup but still no success. She still wakes 2-3 times during the night for feeds. I feel like I am at a loose end and don’t know what else to try.
I know it’s really hard Emma! I’d keep trying and I’d also try actually leaving the house for sometime before hand so she knows your not around. I’d also have your husband try when she’s really sleepy- it’s a good sign that she takes a binky!
Hello my girl is 5 month old i breastfeed her . At the start I was going bottles to because my 1st born would not take bottles and I didn’t want the problem again . But she keeper getting belly ake at 2month old so I stoped bottles and just breasted feed . Now she’s 5 month and won’t take bottle . Iv no been in room why been done iv tried 3 diff bottles , she screems for Brest or she just keep terning her head or just bite teet , iv just order minbie bottle was n line I hope the work but hav a feeling they won’t help
It can be so hard Cat, try some of the strategies in the post too!
Having a torrid time with our 4.5 month old. Has been an ok breastfeeder but clamps his mouth shut and screams when the bottle goes near him. Doesn’t matter if mum tries to feed him or I do. We’ve tried a few different bottles, different flows, pumped breast milk and formula, its no use. We’ve been trying for 2 weeks with very little process, and mum is due back to work in a few weeks….
We won’t take a pacifier either (he is usually a VERY smiley baby who sits and giggles, but give him a pacifier and he chews for 3 seconds, then spits it out and sucks on something else instead).
I wouldn’t worry about the paci, some babies don’t take to it. As for the bottle I know it can be really hard. Have you guys tried all the steps in the post? Or, having her leave the house when it’s coming time to feed?
What do you do during the night my baby will often wake every 2.5 hours to feed. What do I do???
Can someone else go in and give him a bottle?
Hi there, I need advice. I’m so frustrated because my mom always calls me back when I leave her and my 4 month old with a bottle when I leave. My mom waits until she’s screaming to give her the bottle. I’m frustrated at her too, because she doesn’t know what to do. I’m so frustrated because I need to go out for 2 hours after dealing with my baby all day. I feel bad that she’s starving so I cave and always give her my breast. I’ve been trying different nipples, nothing seems to be working. Am I too late to get her on bottles? I feel like I am. I want to know that she’s going to be okay with bottles when I go back to work. That is a big concern for me and how do I work with my mom to get my daughter on bottles?
Hey Katie,
We understand how hard this must be for you! I’d really try to get to the bottom of why she is refusing as discussed in the article. I’d try to offer her a pacifier to see if she can get used to having something “foreign” in her mouth to help with the transition (you only have to do this for a short time). But it also sounds like checking out tip number 4 in the article may be super helpful for you and your mom in looking at the right feeding “window” of time when she is hungry. Hope these tips help!
Best,
Desiree
Thanks for your response. I always try it with my baby, but whenever I leave her with my mom, she wants me to leave once she’s asleep and only feeds her when she wakes up really hungry, past that window. My mom doesn’t have the patience to do what I do. She loses her nerve. She spits the paci out most times when she doesn’t want it.
his is an amazing blog that you have here. I really like the way that you have thought through all the possibilities of how we are and how we were. I really liked the one about the panniers.
i going to have baby in next 10 day .
Well congratulations! Bookmark Your Kid’s Table, lots of guides you’ll be able to use here:)
we started my daughter on the bottle after 5 weeks and it was going great. she would eat from bottle or breast. then we lapsed for 2 weeks around 3 months when our babysitters (the grandparents) were on vacation and when they returned she refused to take a bottle again. lesson learned.
feeding attempt with a bottle has been a horrible, heartbreaking fight every time. she’s curious about the it at first, then it goes downhill fast.
We’ve been more successful with a spoon, but that only gets her ~.5oz, then the hunger sets in. i’m ordering a few alternative bottles just in case, but will also try your suggestions before trying them.
I have about 3 weeks to get my daughter back on the bottle before we have an event where she’ll be staying with the grandparents for the evening.
I know its so hard jaan, but it sounds like you’re on the right track! Good luck!
Jaan, I’m wondering what actually worked for you. I’m in the same situation except I work 12 hour night shift and baby is refusing to eat until I get home. We have tried everything on the list. He took it fine when I first introduced it around 6 weeks. Waited a few weeks, which I totally regret and then reintroduced at 10 weeks. Now at 12 weeks, he will only drink from me. Screams and crys until he passes out. Tried Dr brown and avent natural bottles. I’ve left the house and had dad try. He does not take pacifier at all, so I’m thinking it’s a texture thing. Any suggestions??
my reply is above. not sure why it didn’t appear here
I am in the exact same situation. 10wk old took bottle ok initially at about 6 weeks, but we probably weren’t as consistent as we should have been. As of two nights ago, baby wont take bottle at all and screams until she gets the breast. I go back to work (12 hour shifts) in two weeks and freaking out.
Hi Kate, after 3 weeks of sleepless hungry nights, he finally took the Nuk simply natural!! Dad had to walk with him as he fed him that first night but It worked and hes been taking it ever since even from me!! I also work 12 hour night shift, and it was awful for all of us. I feel for you and hope this works for your baby.
I have tried different nipples but no luck with my 3 months old. Please advise
It may not be the nipples, that’s only one factor. I’d use the other tips in this post too, such as having someone else consistently try to give a bottle:)
I have literally tried all of this for a 4 month old baby in my daycare and she still will not suck on a bottle. No matter how I try to feed her, bottle, drip method, spoon, sippy cup or siringe she cries horribly, chokes and gags. I have not gotten her to suck on anything, even my finger. I am desperate and the parents have all but given up and left her for me to deal with. HELP!
If u get anything which helped u Pls let me knw my situation is the same
Hi there. I am an OT Assistant and was happy to find your article, as I am now in a hard place of an 11 week old baby that refuses the bottle. She is a fantastic nurser and while I believe she isn’t a fan of anything artificial in her mouth I believe it is mostly she prefers me. I have been exposing her to pacifiers and bottles from grandparents and husband. She HAD been taking a bottle about once a week and then it had been about 2 weeks lapse of having one and now she refuses. We have tried distraction, positioning, environment changes, etc….with little success. She will maybe take half an oz with being very upset. If I try she starts rooting on me, makes eye contact with me and becomes very upset. I don’t want her to have a negative experience with the bottle and want to preserve our nursing relationship….but she starts daycare in 2 weeks as I return to work. Should I be the one to keep trying and stop nursing her during the day? It breaks my heart.
Hey Staci, I’d have other people try NOT you. Let dad and grandparents try when you leave the house. Trust me I’ve been there, I know its heart breaking, but consistency will get you a long way with other’s trying when she’s really hungry!
My baby is 6 months old and Im am desperate at the moment. Weve been trying on and off for months now but this time we are into it. Its been 3days since i didn’t give bub my breast.. she takes the bottle like 3 times during these times but never without a big fight. I am exhausted and so is bub.. she is never the same. She doesn’t smile a lot, doesn’t look me in the eye as well as her dad and gives us a poker face. She takes the bottle only when she is too hungry and drowsy. But as soon as she notices its a rubber she wakes up and fights. This breaks my heart everytime but i need to go back to work. Should i still continue? ?
How’s it going now? Its a couple of days later… honestly Tracey, if you don’t have a choice it sounds like you’ll have to. Maybe you’ll be able to do both, and nurse her when you’re at home- that might be a good balance for her?
Hi! I am currently dealing with the same thing. My daughter is 6 months and has never really been given the bottle. She’s been strictly breastfed and given gerber food as well. She refuses the bottle and will only take it if she is absolutely starving. I have to go back to work soon so I’m trying to break the cycle now. I was wondering how did it work out for you? Is your baby taking the bottle now?
Hi! I am back to work since baby is almost 3 months. The same case is happening to me until now that my baby is turning 7. And the saddest part is that, he gets sick and won’t really even take a bottle. He only takes in about 9oz a day with hubby or nanny forcing him to bottlefed.
This is absolutely worth pinning. I initially had trouble in a transition from breast to bottle. For me, a mother has to go back to work soon, a good bottle can become a “savior.” From my experiences, here are some of the best bottles for breastfed babies in town. Don’t hesitate to come and see, and let me know your thoughts. Thank you!
i going to have baby in next mouth
Hi I have a one year old and he has been breastfeeding almost of the time. I would have to pump milk as he refuse all types of formula. He eats though and recently he only likes Lala liquid yogurt apart from breast milk and it’s d only thing he would take that in bottle. However with this situation stores are out of yogurt and breast doesn’t produce so much again. I have been trying ensure strawberry flavoured formula among others but he still refuses them. Pls give me your best advice.
Hey Anna,
So sorry these are challenging times I’d try to work on a transition. If you are able to get some from the breast and mix it with other milk that you’d like to try and transition too. Making it larger amount of breast and then decreasing over time to work on the transition can be helpful. Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Hii.
Thanks for this amazing article.
My daughter is 4.5 months old. Initially, I did not have sufficient breast milk, so had to give her formula milk along with breastmilk. She had no trouble with the bottle. But from past week, she has suddenly stopped taking the bottle altogether. She tightly shuts her mouth and refuses it outright even if it is my expressed breastmilk. I have also tried different bottle and teat flow. Can you please suggest something.
Regards,
A new mommy
Hey Kirti,
So sorry you are dealing with this! Even though she was taking it before, I’d still recommend the suggestions in the article. Also, trying to get someone else to feed her, may be helpful!
Best,
Desiree
Hie..Im just wondering how you tackled this situation because I’m facing the exact same problem with my 4month old son… We’ve been bottlefeeding since he was 3 days but for a week now he wont take the bottle at all…Ive had to do relactation but that’s not going too well,I dread each feeding session because its just so sore..
Hey Norma,
Oh you’re not alone with this! Bottle feeding can be so stressful for many families. We have another bottle feeding guide with some more suggestions. You can find that HERE.
Best,
Andrea