“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.
Our little guy is 5 months old – we introduced the bottle easily at 3-4 weeks for wanting him to be familiar with it but after that we were not diligent about keeping it in our routine (big mistake). I’ve since been EBF and we are in full bottle refusal mode. Trying the Comotomo bottle today to see if he likes that. What we’ve been doing is giving him just the top of the bottle(s) and letting him explore on his own with it instead of trying to force it. From there, we’re paying attention to what he seems most interested in. He has shown some interest in the Philips Avent Natural Response bottle. Fingers crossed and hugs to the parents struggling, you’re not alone.
Hi Katie!
Absolutely, it can definitely be stressful and many babies simply don’t like bottles. One thing that has helped is starting at the breast and “taking the edge” off hunger for a bit and then swapping for the bottle to warm them up. This works for some kids, along with the tips listed here and finding the nipple they like.
Best of luck!
Laura
Your Kid’s Table team member
My baby is 5 months old the Dr told me he is failure to thrive an to put him on formula he is a breastfed baby but came to learn he isn’t growing because my milk isn’t putting out nutrients for him . I try everyday several times a day I tried the syringe too he only takes formula if it’s by spoon mixed with baby food an rice cereal but that’s not enough formula to help him put on weight it’s only a oz at a time I can’t help but give in an breastfed even tho it’s doing nothing for him but calming him down I’ve tried everything an it’s been a week some days he will drink a bottle or 2 then go 3 days with not wanting anything to do with it an I have to try an forve it on him an feel bad but if I don’t his health is at risk
Hi, momma. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’m super confused tho.. how is your milk not providing nutrients for him? I have never heard of this. How old is baby? What is his weight? Also, have you thought of another medical opinion? Genuinely concerned and praying for you guys!
My 5mo baby has refused a bottle since 8-10 weeks when we initially tried it. I wasn’t too worried because I could bring her to the office with me but it is getting harder as she gets older and will have to go to daycare soon. I’ve tried to leave her but it’s nonstop crying and refusing the bottle. Her dad and our daycare have tried the bottle, I’ve tried different temperatures, 7-8 different bottles, I’ve left before, and she has never taken a binky either. I’m just at a loss at what to do.
Hi Lily! Thanks for reaching out! I know it sounds redundant, but we recommend continuing to try and offer the bottle for feedings while you’re gone. Try using a pacifier throughout the day, to help get her used to the feel of it in her mouth. Also try wrapping the bottle in something that smells like you, if you haven’t already!
Best,
Kalyn
What worked for my 2nd born was actually tip no. 7! Changing the bottle – I switched to Dr. Brown’s wide neck (green straw) and it worked like magic. My preferred choice has always been Medela Calma though. The milk doesn’t drop on it’s own from the bottle, unlike Dr. Brown’s. In Medela it comes only when the baby sucks which I think is great as it is similar to breastfeeding. But for my 2nd born, Dr. Brown’s was a win.
Hi Appy! Thanks for reaching out and sharing your personal experience and feedback! Yes, that Medela Calma one sounds great with that no-drip milk flow, which is very similar to breastfeeding— making baby work for it more! 😉
Best,
Kalyn
Hi,
My EBF daughter is 3.5 months old and absolutely refuses the bottle. I work as a nurse so I’m gone 13+ hours a day, 3xweek. We’ve tried every tip we’ve found online and experimented with different bottles, flows, syringe, and spoons. While she learns, is it better to have her just keep trying or should the care giver try to bring her to the hospital so I can feed her? It’s just not sustainable so I don’t want her to learn she’ll just get the breast if she waits long enough. But it’s so stressful for everyone when she won’t eat.
My MIL had her suck milk out of a clean washcloth and that’s the only way she ate after 10 hours of nothing.
Hi Katie! Thanks for reaching out! I know it sounds redundant, but we recommend continuing to try and offer the bottle for feedings while you’re gone. Try using a pacifier throughout the day, to help get her used to the feel of it in her mouth. Also try wrapping the bottle in something that smells like you, if you haven’t already!
Best,
Kalyn
Hi,
My Ebf 7.5 month old refuses formula out of a cup and a bottle. I’ve switched cups, bottle and formula. And nothing seems to work. She does put the paci in her mouth though
Hi Becky! Will she take bottled breastmilk? Or breastmilk in a cup? Maybe try offering breast milk in a cup first, and then you can try offering formula in a cup. You can also try wrapping a blanket with your scent or a shirt of yours around the cup/bottle to see if she takes to it better that way!
Best,
Kalyn
My son is 6 months old, primarily breastfed but was given 1-2 bottles expressed milk per day because I knew he would need to take a bottle when I went back to work. Always hated a pacifier. At 3 months started adamantly refusing the bottle, major melt downs, tried multiple bottles/nipples. Wound up having to have a standoff with him which lasted 6 hours until he finally took the bottle, it was awful He took a bottle for a little while after that but now is refusing again.
Have tried multiple bottle/nipple types, advanced to higher flow nipples, warming the milk, tried feeding in different positions/seats/high chair, tried letting him self-feed, have tried feeding when he’s not super hungry. My husband tries the bottles with him, I’ve left the house. He screams bloody murder, legit hysterics until he passes out from exhaustion and won’t take the bottle. I’m at a loss. This has been going on for months. I work 3 days a week and he needs to take at least 3 bottles while I’m gone and barely eats and is so distraught. He is hungry and would eat a full meal if he were breastfed. Spoke with pediatrician multiple times, his weight gain is fine so they haven’t been concerned. But this is torture. Pediatrician Said to introduce solids which we have but he isn’t eating much yet, just exploring. I’m trying to straw train him and maybe can ditch the bottles all together but seems like we have a ways to go before that’s an option.
I don’t know what else to do. I feel terrible he’s SO miserable and stressed with bottle feed attempts. Also very concerned about him developing an oral aversion…I feel like we are force feeding him to some degree. Just wanted to see if you had any other thoughts or suggestions. Should I give up on the bottle and try for straws or other cups? Any suggestions for first cups/straw cups to try and transition away from the bottle? Still poor labial seal with anterior loss with cup sip attempts. Trying to pipette liquids via straw into his mouth for practice but mostly spills anteriorly… he still can’t suck liquids up a straw.
Thank you so much! I’m a medical SLP who specializes in dysphagia in adults and I’m struggling not knowing what to do for my baby!
Thank you for your time!
Hey Lauren!
So sorry you are going through this, we know how hard it can be! I think you’re on the right track with attempting a different cup, so that he doesn’t have the same association! For more help on drinking through a straw (although he’s possibly a bit too young to catch on) you can check out our article with suggestions here! You can also look at other transitional “sippy cups” even though they aren’t typically recommended, it might be something to get you through! Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Great article! My baby is 6 weeks and has been mostly nursed. Occasionally, I’ve given her bottles of breast milk during the day which she takes no problem. Before bed, she refuses bottles. She will scream until I let her nurse. My mother, husband, and I have all tried to give her the bedtime bottle at different occasions without success. She also refuses a pacifier. Any advice?
Hi Victoria! Thanks for reaching out! For this, continued practice and consistency is key! Just keep trying and offering. To help, try feeding her in a dark space, try different bottles/nipples, try having someone else feed her, try wrapping the bottle in something that smells like you, and try offering the pacifier throughout the day so that she gets used to the plastic nipple feeling in her mouth. Hope that helps!
Best,
Kalyn
Hi, FTM here and I exclusively breast fed my daughter 13 months now. She’s refused a bottle the entire time from anyone. I wanted to end breastfeeding at 12 months, but she wouldn’t take anything. I’ve tried all sorts of sippy cups, open mouth cups, and straw cups, including the ones designed for low suction issues. Nothing works for my husband or me! I had gotten her down to 2 feeds and have been trying to transition her to something else since a week before she turned 12 months… so going on almost 2 months now. The problem is, I managed to get an infection in an existing piercing somehow (had it for nearly 20 years so it’s crazy town to me). Help, I had kept the two feeds so she wouldn’t get dehydrated and I don’t know what to do. Everything I’ve read says I can’t breastfeed with an infected piercing. I’m desperate and at a loss.
Hi Tab! So sorry to hear about your struggles with transitioning to bottle and weaning from the breast. It can be very difficult! If you have an infection, I would definitely recommend consulting with a physician about treatment for the infection and also about breastfeeding. A doctor would be able to give you the best advice in this situation, especially if antibiotics are given- in which case, it may not be safe to give her any of your breast milk. If this is the case, it may be just be that she weans cold turkey from breastfeeding, which would hopefully only be difficult for a few days, but then she should adjust and be fine. During this time, you could potentially try to offer her water, milk, or solid foods to replace her breast feedings.
Best,
Kalyn
My baby is 4mo l, she is exclusively breastfed, however, has taken a bottle before. We were using tommee tippee bottles, now she won’t take them, she had a negative experience with these, now won’t take any bottles at all from me or dad. We’ve now tried using MAM bottles as they are around the same shape as her pacifier which she has for bedtimes but still not taking either breast milk or formula, I changed the flow from slow to medium and she’s still not happy the minute the tear goes in she knows it’s not the breast.
Hi KatieAnn! Thanks for reaching out! I would try to make sure when you are providing the bottle that you give it to her in the same place that you normally breastfeed. I would make sure that it’s quiet so that she can focus on eating. You might also try wrapping the base of the bottle in something that smells like you and feeding in a darker room to start with. Keep trying other bottles to see if she takes to those better than others. I know it sounds redundant, but just keep trying! Be consistent and persistent, practicing and offering every single day. You can also check out this post for some more tips!
Best,
Kalyn
Hi, my four month old is EBF and is refusing a bottle. A couple of months ago she started doing okay with a dr. Brown’s bottle, so I thought we had finally found something that would work when I went back to work. Admittedly, I took a break for 3 weeks with giving her a bottle and thought it would be fine since she had gotten used to the bottle, but now she refuses it! She will take a paci. If she’s refusing it at 4 months old is it too late to get her back in the habit of it?? Thank you!
Hi Allison! Definitely not too late! Keep trying and offering! I would try to make sure when you are providing the bottle that you give it to her in the same place that you normally breastfeed. I would make sure that it’s quiet so that she can focus on eating. You can also try to provide a pacifier for her during the day so she can get used to the different feel of the nipple. You can also check out this post for some more tips!
Hope that helps!
Best,
Kalyn
Hm…I’m confused about the bottle recommendations here because I’ve seen a lot of information that says these nipples that aren’t tapered to look more “like a breast” don’t allow baby to latch on widely like they would on a breast (ie take areola and some breast tissue into the mouth). Instead the shapes recommended in this article promote a shallow latch that only takes in the nipple. Interesting because the Your Kids Table article that led me to this guide basically says what I just said https://yourkidstable.com/going-back-to-work-baby-refusing-bottle/. So….which is it? My son is refusing the Lansinoh momma and evenflow balance+ that he used to take….we took a month hiatus from bottles and now he just plays with them. Maybe it’s time to try the ones on this list but I’m afraid he’ll start latching shallowly to my breast. confused 🤔
Hey Alex,
If he’s doing well with breastfeeding you can def try the different bottles and see how he does. Kids can do really well with switching between bottle/breast without concerns. Hope you find one that works!
Best,
Desiree
Your Kids Table Team Member
I have a 17mo old boy. I ‘ll be going back to work on April. Been practicing him to feed on bottle and wean from breastfeeding. Having a hard time coz he always gags. Tried different kinds of nipple and bottle. Breastmilk or formula he doesn’t want to feed. I am so stressed out. Please help.
17 month old could transition straight to sippy cup….that is what happened in my case.
Hi Loren! Thanks for reaching out! Since he’s 17 months, it’s ok to skip the bottle altogether! Try offering and practicing with straw cups and open-mouth cups with his beverages- regular milk or pumped breast milk. He doesn’t need formula anymore at this point (unless doctor instructed him to continue with formula, of course). And with breastfeeding, continue to do so for as long as you feel comfortable. But if you’re wanting to completely stop, start by taking away one feeding at a time and replacing that feeding with a meal or snack, paired with milk in a cup. We have more tips for weaning here!
Best,
Kalyn
My son is 5 months and was taking the occasional bottle since he was about 6 weeks old. He now refuses the bottle from everyone! He’s started daycare they said they had to spoon feed him by breastmilk and when my sister was watching she had to feed him with a syringe. I’ve started working so I can’t just leave and feed him and I fear he’s going hungry all day because he’s refusing every bottle.. I’ve tried 2 new ones and at daycare they said he preferred one of ya today he absolutely refused everything
Hi Coreli! So sorry to hear that your little one is giving you a hard time! Transitioning to a bottle can be rough. When at home, where he’s comfortable, having someone else bottle feed him might help make the transition easier for when he’s at daycare. Try using a pacifier a couple of times a day in order to help him adjust to the feel of a plastic nipple in his mouth. Keep trying other bottles to see if he takes to those better than others. I know it sounds redundant, but just keep trying! Be consistent and persistent, practicing and offering every single day.
Best,
Kalyn
Hi! My baby is 5 months almost 6 months. She’s a exclusively breastfed. She used to be able to take bottles from me or anyone up until the week after Christmas. She refuses the bottle from anyone. She plays with the nipple in her mouth and sometimes she gags. I’ve tried avent, nanobebe and am considering trying tommee tippee. We think that its a negative experience when she was sick and my husband mixed my milk with medicine inn the bottle and she hated it. Is there anyway to get her to accept the bottle again?
Hi Karen! Sorry to hear she is now rejecting the bottle! It could definitely be related to that negative experience with the medicine. Try using a pacifier for a few days in order to desensitize her from the bottle nipple. I would also just be consistent with it, so she continues to get used to the feel in her mouth! Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Hi, thank you for the helpful information. My almost 7 month old has been mostly breastfed. He went to daycare for a short period and struggled taking a bottle but finally got the hang of it after a while. We then had him at home for Christmas break for almost a month and it was easier to just breastfeed him. I made the mistake of not giving him occasional bottles. Now we are back where we started and he is refusing a bottle. He has also never taken a paci. I think he falls under your category of not liking the texture of the bottle nipple. He will not latch, gags, tried to swat the bottle away. We tried Advent bottles and are now using ComoTomo which worked the best when he was taking a bottle. I just order sole Lanisoh to try too. Any other tips??
Hi Samantha! Thanks for reaching out! It can be difficult getting a breastfed baby to take a bottle, but the good news is that he did it before, so he should be able to get back to that again! You mentioned him taking it while at daycare, so having Dad or someone else bottle feed him at home (while you’re gone or in a completely different room) should really help. He may even prefer the different texture of this new bottle you purchased. Just keep being consistent so he continues to adjust and get used to it!
Best,
Kalyn
My little babe is 3 months. In that time, we’ve causally tried to give her a bottle. Each time she will not take it. She is slowly allowing us to have the teat in her mouth. But she will not suck. Doesn’t have a good latch, and looks confused of what to do with her tongue. Any tips? I start back at work in 2 months & it’s giving me anxiety as I am not sure how she is going to be fed!
Hi Laura! Thanks for reaching out! For this, continued practice and consistency is key! Just keep trying and offering. To help, try feeding her in a dark space, try different bottles/nipples, try having someone else feed her, try wrapping the bottle in something that smells like you, and try offering the pacifier throughout the day so that she gets used to the plastic nipple feeling in her mouth. Hope that helps!
Best,
Kalyn
Hi,
My baby is 3 months old and breastfeeds beautifully. I bought the medela calma teat to start to introduce bottle feeding and at first she completely rejected it, however now she’ll play with the teat and chews it. As she chews it milk is coming and she does swallow but it’s dribbling out the side of her mouth as she chews with an open mouth. I’m worried she’s learnt this is how to feed from the bottle as it has been a month. Any tips on helping her to latch and suck?
We’ve had zero problems with latching to the breast. I’ve tried other teats and she refuses them so decided to stick with this teat as she does accept it
Hey Joanna,
Thanks for reaching out! It can be so frustrating! If she’s doing well nursing and seems a bit board with the nipple you’re using, it might be helpful to compare your milk flow to the flow of the nipple on the bottle your using. When babies seem board with a nipple, it may mean that she’s used to a faster flow from you. You can check out a few more suggestions HERE.
Best,
Andrea
Hi! My son is 10 weeks old and is EBF. We’ve been trying to introduce a bottle for weeks but he refuses to latch onto the bottle. He’ll move it around for a while with his tongue but doesn’t ever latch or suck. We’ve tried so many different bottles and teats, had friends try to feed him without me around, but still no luck. He won’t take a pacifier either, he’ll tolerate that in his mouth as well but won’t latch and suck, we just end up holding it in his mouth and he moves his tongue around it/chews it. Do you have any suggestions? I go back to work in 2 weeks so I’m getting nervous!
Hey Liz,
Oh that does sound stressful! Hang in there. This is a tough time, you’re not alone. You might try wrapping the base of the bottle in something that smells like you and feeding in a darker room to start with. Another thought, would be to consider how fast your milk seems to be coming out while you’re nursing. If it’s on the faster side, you might consider trying a faster flow. You can find more suggestions on our Guide for Moms Returning to Work.
Best,
Andrea
My daughter is 9 weeks old and does the same thing. Any recommendations would be very helpful.
Hey Michelle,
I’d definitely check out our other guide to taking a bottle. Trying a faster flow can be helpful if your daughter seems to be board while taking a bottle. Maintaining a similar temperature to breastmilk can also be helpful.
Best,
Andrea
Hi Andrea, just wondering if you had any thoughts on a 9 week old that had been ebf, on taking a bottle happily and calmly at night when he is sleepy and his eyes are closed but in the day won’t latch just plays with it or gags on it. He also won’t take a dummy, usually gags.
Reading through all the options from your great article, I’d say it’s possible to be the feel of it, as I’ve tried calm and dark, catching him sleepy but as soon as he opens his eyes that’s the end of him taking it. I’ve tried other positions and hubby giving bottle but no change.
I havnt tried any other bottles as he is taking it in the night, but I will if you feel that may improve day feeds.
Any tips of thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Hey Cherise,
So sorry you are having trouble! I would continue trying with having your husband try, as she may not be accepting as she’s preferring the breast over the bottle since she is able to take the bottle well at night time when sleepy! It does take time and continued practice!
Best,
Desiree
My daughter is 4 months old and she will take a bottle but not all the time. I’m a single parent and I pump and want her to take a bottle more than every so often. What are some ways to get her into taking a bottle more. She bites the nipples and plays mo5te than eating
Hey Sydney,
So glad you reached out, it can be hard for babies to make that transition. I would try to make sure when you are providing the bottle that you give it to her in the same place that you normally breastfeed. I would make sure that it’s quiet so that she can focus on eating. You can also try to provide a pacifier for her during the day so she can get used to the different feel of the nipple. You can also check out this post for some more tips!
Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Hi
My daughter is 2months old today; she has been taking the bottle since the time she is born( expressed milk) once- twice a day. But off laste since a week she is not taking a bottle at all ; showing reluctance & crying a lot when veryhungry but moving the bottle nipple with her tongue when in some normal mood but she is not ready to take it. I tried giving her through my Mother inlaw; my help at home & myself as well but no luck; i even tried to give her a formula (to change the taste from breast milk) but no luck. Kindly suggest what to do; i am trying everyday do give her atleast once a day but no chance.
Hey Lesha,
Thanks for reaching out! Transitioning to a bottle can be such a challenge for little ones. If you typically give her breastmilk, sticking with that when you’re just transitioning to a bottle will be helpful. Formula tastes quite a bit different. Sometimes when babies seem bored at the bottle, the nipple isn’t moving the milk fast enough for them. Looking into a different flow could be helpful. We have some more suggestions coming on the blog soon, so be sure to check back.
Best,
Andrea
Hi, my baby was feeding well between breast and bottles Until he reached 2months. From then on, he hated bottles. (He is now 6months old). I exclusively breastfed him but still offers a bottle to no luck. There was a time when he was 5months that we didnt give him anything (no solids, no breatmilk). He resisted for 2 days! Instead of him giving in to bottle, it was us who gave up and breastfed him since we are afraid that he endures it.
He is now being sent to childcare 3days a week and still not feeding from the bottle. Eventhough he eats solid foods so good, he says no to bottle feeds. He waits for me to come home from work and feeds from my breast. I worry that he is not taking enough milk since the only time he drinks milk is at night when we are at home. Please help. Ive tried a lot of brands , nipples and not working.
Hi Sham! So sorry to hear that your little one is giving you a hard time! Transitioning to a bottle can be rough. Keep having someone else try to feed him, with you in a completely different room. Try using a pacifier a couple of times a day in order to help him adjust to the feel of a plastic nipple in his mouth. Try using a sippy cup to see if he takes to that better than a standard bottle. I know it sounds redundant, but just keep trying! Be consistent and persistent, practicing and offering every single day.
Best,
Kalyn
Hi, i’d love some help/advice please. I have a 7 month old, fully breastfed. I first introduced a bottle at 5 months and my son would not take it at all. Pushed the test to the side and just cried. I have tried pumped breast milk as well as formula and he refuses both. I have also tried many different teats and flows, an open cup (with breast milk) and he spits and refuses all. Although he will take water from the open cup absolutely fine. He will only accept the breast. My husband has tried to feed him from the bottle whilst I’m out of the room and still no luck. I’ve tried day after day. Please help? Any advice welcome! I’m ready to transition to the bottle and stop breastfeeding but he has different ideas.
Hey Nikki,
It can be really frustrating when your little one won’t take a bottle. He is at an age where he’s aware enough to know the difference between the two. Keeping stimulation really low (low lights, tight snuggle, etc) can be helpful. Offering a bottle consistently at the same times every single day can also be helpful. I love that he’s started drinking from an open cup. You could start offering an open cup or a cup with a straw during mealtimes as well to increase his milk intake during other times.
Best,
Andrea
I am about to go back to work in a month and realized my 3mo won’t take a bottle. I sometimes leave her at my MIL to see if it’s just me and I’m told she drinks only 2oz very slowly and then gags…. I’m very stressed because what if she doesn’t take the bottle… would I have to quit?
Hey Izzy!
That can be really stressful. It can be helpful to give at least one bottle a day from here on out, if you’re getting ready to go back to work. Often times they struggle with the different sensations of bottle vs. breast. HERE‘s another post with suggestions of getting little ones to take a bottle. I hope that helps!
Best,
Andrea
Hi, we used to have great success and then overnight she refused at about 8 weeks, straight after her jabs. She’s 14 weeks now and still won’t take it but I need to leave her in the evening in November so need some success to happen. My husband used to be the only one who could get her to take from a bottle but now not even he can. She either cries within seconds of having it in there or she pushes the teat to the sides of her mouth and chews it like teething. Any ideas?
Did you get. Response? I’m in the same boat and am leaving for the night in a couple of weeks.
Hey Katie and Jeanette,
So sorry this was missed! It sounds like you’re keeping lights dim and reducing stimulation during bottle feeds. If your little one if pushing the bottle nipple to the side and chewing on it, that may indicate that they’re bored. That can happen often if the flow isn’t fast enough. You might try to increase the flow of the nipple and see if that helps.
Best,
Andrea
Looking for help with my 5 month old. I work from home so he is mostly breastfed but I have to go into work a couple times a month so I also pump. He was taking the comototo bottle without difficulty and suddenly stopped a few weeks ago. We tried changing the flow, changing to a different bottle because he was acting like he wanted to hold it himself but was struggling because the bottle is soft, different types of nipples, etc. He’s never been a pacifier user. He’s rejected the bottle from multiple people that had no problem before. He is eating some solids but not enough to make up for no milk if I am gone all day. Should we just give up the bottle and move on to cups?
Hey Alecia,
Oh it can be so stressful returning to work when your little one doesn’t take a bottle! He’s a little on the younger side for cups, but you could definitely start to try it. The little disposable plastic medicine cups can be really helpful in teaching drinking from an open cup because they’re so flexible, which helps you control the liquid better. I’d be on the lookout for any coughing with drinking- that’s a red flag and suggests that you may need to wait a while before you try again. It might be helpful to keep trying with the bottle and wrap it in a cloth that smells like you. Babies around this age are becoming more aware- that might be why you’re seeing this change.
Best,
Andrea
Hello! My son is 6 months old and won’t take formula. I can’t pump enough to cover all the bottles he needs when I am working so I need to supplement. He is refusing to take the bottle with formula in it. He will use the comotomo bottle with breastmilk just fine. Not sure if trying a different bottle will help. I’ve tried multiple types of formula but never a different bottle
Hey Cheryl,
That sounds really stressful! Babies often have a really hard time transitioning to formula because it tastes different from breast milk. You might stick with the bottle your son does take, if he takes it well. You could try to transition slowly by doing mostly breast milk + just a little formula and then increase the amount of formula from there. Sometimes this process can go really slowly! You could also try out a couple different brands of formula to see if there is one your son seems to like a little better!
Best,
Andrea
Hi would love some advice. My son is almost 12 weeks. I am ebf but have been expressing and giving bottles since week 5. He would previously take a bottle at any time, from anyone but in the last 3 weeks things have changed. He often cries or rejects the bottle but other times will take it if distracted by watching tv. I have tried changing the teat, getting my husband to give it but it is very hit and miss. The change was sudden and overnight…I don’t know what to do as I would like to introduce a night time formula feed.
Hey Sheena,
That is a really common problem, you’re not alone! 12 weeks is right around the time that babies become a little more alert. If he was previously taking a bottle without a problem, that would be a likely cause of what’s going on! If you just introduced formula vs expressed breast milk, that could also make a difference. Formula tastes a lot different than breast milk and babies around that age will start to notice a difference. If you can, I’d suggest that you have another family member be the one to give the bottles at first- he probably associates you with nursing and will want that. It likely will take a little persistence. You might go ahead and try the nighttime feed with the bottle though, sometimes little ones are more sleepy over night and are more likely to take a bottle during that time.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Andrea
Hi would love some advice. My son is almost 12 weeks. I am ebf but have been expressing and giving bottles since week 5. He would previously take a bottle at any time, from anyone but in the last 3 weeks things have changed. He often cries or rejects the bottle but other times will take it if distracted by watching tv. I have tried changing the teat, getting my husband to give it but it is very hit and miss. The change was sudden and overnight…I don’t know what to do as I would like to introduce a night time formula feed. ⁹
Hello! Thank you for the tips, we have been trying them. My husband broke his wrist when our baby girl was 8 weeks and unable to help with bottles for a while. At 3/4 month she started refusing the bottle. I try to give her one every night at bed but have to trick her to get her to take it (with boob), some days I’m lucky and she’ll go for it but not too often. We try during the day too and she fusses and fights it. I’ve tried to get my husband and mother in law to feed her (with me out of the room/house) and neither of them have had any success. Any additional tips?
Hi Brittany,
It sounds like you guys have had a bit of a complicated start to bottle feeding! I hope your husband’s wrist is on the mend now. To expand on the #8 suggestion a bit (the flow of the nipple), I would pay close attention to the flow of your own nipples while your daughter is eating. Some women’s flow is fast and for some the milk comes out much slower. Since your daughter prefers you, I would try to match the flow of the bottle to yourself as closely as possible.
Babies around 4 months of age also become much more aware! You might try wrapping the base of the bottle with something that smells like you (a shirt, lovey, etc) while someone else feeds your daughter. That way she feels the comfort of mom!
I hope some of those suggestions help!
Best,
Andrea
Your Kids Table Team
Hi my name is melia and my son is 8 months old and its really hard giving him formula and when i try so the tricks of a spoon or syringe its works and then he refuses. Any other ways you can help ?
Hi Melia,
Thanks for reaching out! It can be tricky for some babies who were breast fed to switch over to formula, especially as the get older and can distinguish the difference in taste a little bit more. If your little one isn’t able to take a bottle at all, it may be helpful to try to pump first and encourage the bottle with milk he is more used to, then you can gradually mix in formula into the bottle over the course of a few weeks. It can feel like a process sometimes! It can also be helpful to have someone other than yourself feed him whenever he is taking a bottle, since he associates you with nursing.
I hope that helps!
Best,
Andrea
Im trying to formula feed my grandson as my daughter in law wants to start working again.ive tried for abt 3 weeks but refuses.i give it to him in a cup as I’m feeding him food but only takes a cup of sips
Hey Helen,
Thanks for reaching out to us. How is he drinking formula normally when mom is around? Are you utilizing the same cup/the same feeding place/time. I’d certainly try that and make sure the routine is the same as it can be difficult. Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
I need help my o most 11 month old has only took a bottle her first week of life while in the nicu but haven’t been able to since I had to qui my job because of it I have tired everything even cups nothing works has anyone else gone thru this
Hey Heather,
I’d walk through the steps in the article. Especially having someone else feed her, this can be a really big step in moving forward.
Best,
Desiree
What do you do for a baby that doesn’t like the feel? As soon as she feels it she starts. Spitting it out. Won’t take a paci either like you stated.
Hey Janczi,
Thanks for reaching out. Sounds like it might be the texture that you are referring too. I’d recommend with just starting to get her to touch/engage/play with the foods, this is a really good starting point for working through eating of textures. We do have a free workshop that is helpful as well to help with some strategies and what foods to be trying as you are moving through her feeding journey. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi there my little one is 8 months old and I’ll be going back to work soon and she refuses to take the bottle! I got her used to the bottle shortly after she was born because I was due to have surgery 3 months postpartum and wouldn’t be able to breastfeed or hold her for a few weeks and she did so well with the bottle till then…shortly after 4 months she started having some sleep regression and I found myself having to feed her more often in the night and found myself breastfeeding her more and pumping and bottle feeding her less. Also when we switched over to a medium flow nipple she would take in too much and get overwhelmed….I think that’s what scared her….I used the comotommo bottles. Now she’s gotten so attached to me she won’t take a bottle…I’ve tried a few different ones and nothing…I’ve even tried a sippy cup which she enjoys water from but once she realizes it’s milk she takes a few sips and refuses to take more! Any tips/suggestions….I’m desperate! Thanks!
Hey Adriana,
We understand how hard this transition can be. I’d walk through the strategies in the article (they will take some consistency). It sometimes is really helpful to have someone else try to feed them while you are not in the home, especially if it is more of her being attached. It can be hard, but even if you have a friend come over for a little to try to help.
Best,
Desiree
Try bottlelove.co.uk !
Exactly my story minus the surgery part! He wont take a bottle shortly after he was 4 months! I am so stressed and frustrated! I need help! 😭
Hi I have a 7 week old who previously had no problems taking a bottle of my milk and even would take small amounts of formula, to now over the last couple days will completely refuse. This is both my husband and I trying. Day and night. I’m so exhausted as I’m not getting any help in the night and he wakes a lot and also means I can’t leave the house alone as no one is able to feed him. Please help. We use the tommee tippee bottles which he was fine with.
Hi Chloe! So sorry to hear that feedings have been exhausting lately. We understand and are here to help! Try bottle feeding her in the same place you normally breastfeed, get her cozy and calm with a swaddle/dim lights, and use a pacifier a few times during the day so that she can get used to the different nipple feeling in her mouth. Keep having Dad try to feed her as well! When he does, have him use a blanket or something that smells like you while feeding her. For more tips, check out this post here!
Best,
Kalyn
I cant believe I am actually saying my 5 mon old does not take a bottle! I have helped others feed there babies a bottle as I am a COTA, occupational Therapy Assistant. I also have breast fed all my kids and bottle fed them and this is my fourth child. I knew to start early with the bottle so I would give the bottle once a day or once every other day from birth with my 3 older kids this worked. with my baby now i have tried having my husband give the bottle when I’m not around rocking her, in a quiet room using different bottles trying different positions she will sometimes take the bottle but only like 2 oz and cry. I am going back to work tomorrow and will be away from my baby for 6 hrs. should i just introduce solid foods and if she does not take a bottle with the babysitter it will be ok..?
Hey Margie,
We understand how hard this can be! You being out of the house may be helpful in the transition for getting her used to the bottle with the sitter. I’d see how it goes, but I’d provide sitter with same instructions for a calming quiet environment for her to try feeding.
Best,
Desiree
Hi,
My baby Isabella is 2 months old. I did express milk at first but she was even fussy then and now she refuses to take the bottle. She’s a really hungry baby and will want to be on me every 30 minutes throughout the day, which I’m finding hard to keep up with, I can’t even nip to the shops. I also don’t like breastfeeding in public, so now I’m limited to going out.
I’ve tried 2 different bottles- with different speed teats, they don’t seem to work. Isabella tends to just mess with the bottles in her mouth and then cry and start to eat her hands. I’ve tried to not be around her too to see if this helps. She did used to take 1/2 ounces before crying and now she won’t have any of the formula milk or expressed milk. Do you have any advice?
Thanks
Jade
My baby took the bottle twice within the first month but by the second, refused to take the bottle with the pumped breast milk. I read this article last night and had success with the warming of the nipple. I dipped the head of the nipple in a mug of warm water and fed it to her. She sucked a little at first and cried again. I did it a second time and made it a bit warmer and she drank 3 oz. I did have to turn her body away from me so she wouldn’t be too close to my boobs. 🙂 Also I used the bottle with the nipple shaped like the Tommy Tipee.
Awesome! So glad you shared what worked for you!
Best,
Desiree
Hello se had a baby bottle strike at 6 months. And my fault was i didn5 try again until now that he is 8 months😩. He always used a baby bottle since birth and even i waa out for work. But now that im not working anymore he refused and cry so disperatly. I dont know if is the milk or bottle bcos he use the pacifier. I dont know what to do😭 im so frustrated and feel so guilty for stopping😩
Hey Jane,
Thanks for reaching out to us! I would try to have someone else feed him, if possible. This can be helpful in getting that transition back to the bottle. Also, making sure you are feeding him in a calm/quiet place when he is in a hungry but not too hungry window!
Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Hi! I’m reading your post and it’s funny my baby girl name is Isabella too just turned 3 months a week ago! And I’m having the same trouble, I breast feed her every 2 hours and at.night every 3-4 hours. she refuses to take bottle now that I work 1 day a week and my husband has so much trouble with feeding her at night. She doesn’t like it at all I can tell that she doesn’t like the feel of the bottle in her mouth. Sometimes when she’s just barely waking up I put it in quickly and then after 10 seconds of her drinking perfectly …. she lets go and refuses to drink more once she realizes it’s not the real thing!! I’m like u were just drinking a second ago lol. During the day I’m going to try every 45 min to feed her bottle just when she could be hungry but not starving, and I say every 45 min bcuz I know she won’t want to take it as much so it’ll slowly be feeding her. I feel bad my husband struggles so I need to do this. You should try it. Pump at night or whenever you have the most. That’s what I’m going to do. And as far as her wanting to eat every 30 minutes is not good, I’m guessing shes not getting enough milk from breast. It should be at least about 2 hours, make sure you try both breasts. I would suggest buying some lactation treats to help you produce more, they work wonders !! And after you try those two things I’m sure feeding her won’t be too hard anymore, good luck! Last
Option is to use formula but don’t give up!
13 month old, exclusively breastfed for her entire life so far. Always been an extremely fussy eater to the point where in the past week she’s only started to actually eat food. I have tried bottles many times at different ages with her (she’s my third baby and my other two NEVER had bottles) I’m at my wits end I don’t know what to do. The stress and anxiety of her not taking bottles is literally sending me crazy. I don’t know how to ween a breastfed baby as I’ve never had to ween them. I’ve expressed and tried multiple different types of bottles but refuses, she will however drink water from all bottles but the second theirs milk in one she screams. Srsly help….please I don’t know what to do..
Hi Jess Ella,
Weaning can be really difficult and emotional! We usually suggest dropping one of the middle of the day feedings first (thats typically easiest on baby) and then offering an open cup or strawed cup of milk with meals. 13 months is a great age for her to start cup drinking! We have a post about How to Teach Drinking from a Straw that might be helpful! Reach out if you have any questions!
Best,
Andrea
I helped care for a breastfed baby in a daycare who refused the bottle when her mom went back to work. Another tip is for the caregiver feeding the bottle to place an unwashed article of clothing from the breastfeeding mother between the baby and the caregiver, such as a camisole etc. Make sure the clothing has been worn directly touching the mother’s skin. The idea is that the baby can smell her/his mother’s scent on the clothing and become interested in feeding from the bottle. This seemed to help calm the baby in the daycare.
Hi!
I have a 9 months old baby.At the age of 3 months and a half he had reflux’s issues.So early I began feeding him solids.He won’t breastfeed or take a bottle.he used just to eat fresh home made yogurt freshly made from cows milk with fruits.I am trying hard to insert milk to his diet,but he wouldn’t accept it,only mixed with biscuits.Please help!
Hey Nensi,
I’d try to start introducing a different cup to see how he might do with that. We do like to recommend straw cups and sometimes is really fun for the kids as well. You can read more about how to introduce the STRAW CUP in the article and see if you can make progress with the novelty of this.
Best,
Desiree
My 1 month old is having a hard time with the bottle. I have a month left until I need to go back to work. The only success we had was when my husband tried last week After she cried & is really upset. His theory she’ll eat from the bottle if she’s hungry enough is the opposite of all the tips & advise I’ve read from experts. It’s so hard for me to hear her crying out & not be able to soothe her. But it’s the only time she’s accepted the bottle. Next day she cried again & gags or accepts nipple for 2 sucks then spits out milk & nipple. We tried a diff bottle & diff nipples/flow. I’m wondering if that one time she did accept actually got her to associate bad feelings w. The bottle? I do think I have a strong letdown most times. I’ve tried to get her used to the nipple & just have that in her mouth after I breast feed. To get her used to the texture when she’s calm. I don’t know if it’s helping. Please help! We don’t know what we should do.
Hello,
So sorry you are having trouble with your little one. I’d try to replicate how your husband was able to get her to accept the bottle the first time. You may need to leave the house so that she is not wanting you/your breastmilk and crying for that. I’d also take her to a calm and quiet place that she generally eats in!
Best,
Desiree
Hi! My baby is 5 months. I introduce her bottle wen she was 4 weeks with both bf n formula but Suddenly last month she started refusing it completely wen she is awake. As i tried everything but nothing helped. Plz plz guide me.
Hey Henna,
So sorry you are dealing with this, we know how frustrating it can be. I’d really walk through and focus on all the tips in the article. It can take more than one try to really get some results. I’d also try to have someone else feed her during the day (even a friend to come over) while you are out of the room. I’d also try to think about what may have changed in the environment or anything with her lately to cause this change!
Best,
Desiree
Try wrapping a sterile gauze around the bottle’s nipple and feeding your child. Worked for my 10 week old daughter.
I got the idea while trying to clean her tongue with a sterile gauze. She would suck on it peacefully for a long time. Even if she got a little frustrated, she would pacify herself on the gauze and suck vigorously (probably waiting for a letdown).
She just hates the feel of a plastic nipple in her mouth, and doesn’t suck properly. She doesn’t take a pacifier either. This trick might work for you if your child has the same problem.
I tried this with the Medela Calma nipple, but I hope it will work for her with other basic nipples as well.
Hope this helps someone!
Thank u for this! I feel so validated and less like a failure reading everyone’s comments. I have a five month old and have been back at work for past 3 weeks. She took a bottle maybe twice when she was around 6-7 weeks old. Otherwise only breastfed. Now she’s refusing the bottle. I’m out of the house for ten hours daily and sometimes she goes even longer than that without eating depending on when she last fed before I leave since I leave early morning while she sleeps). I’ve tried comotomo and nanobebe and different flow rates and ordered some other bottles to try. She’s miserable and so are we. I’m concerned because I feel like my supply is dwindling and I won’t have enough but still can’t supplement if she won’t take bottle. and this also means she nurses throughout the evening and night which doesn’t give me any time to get anything done. Should I try holding out and not nursing her when I get home even tho she’s desperate to nurse then? I don’t want to torture her.
Hey Dora,
So sorry you are dealing with this. I would make sure that while you’re not home whoever is feeding her is trying some of these other suggestions in the post as well, positioning, quiet, etc. If she’s not drinking anything at all, I’d reach out to your pediatrician as well, as you don’t want her to have an ill effects from it. they may be able to help provide you a referral for someone to come provide suggestions 🙂
Best,
Desiree
I have a 9 and a half month old I’m trying to get him off the boob because I want to get back in shape and it puts a lot of stress on me being a single mom to be the only one that can feed him.
So I have the tommee tippee bottle and I have the Gentlease Enfamil A+ formula because I think he has
A bit of a cow’s milk allergy nothing serious just gets really gassy and cranky cramps in his belly.
Now the problem though is that usually it’s only me around to get them on that bottle so I don’t know how I’m supposed to make it happen because I go to work soon and I need to get him off my breast.
Hey Sara,
We get how hard this can be! I’d use the tips in the article and BE CONSISTENT! If you are able to have someone come over while you leave also to try to get him going with taking the bottle that could be an option for you, but I know it’s hard! Finding that just right positioning for him, quiet place and just right window of being hungry!
Best,
Desiree
Hi…kindly help me…my baby shes 12months and I have weaned her off, now the problem is shes rejecting the formula and I dont know what I can do to make her take the formula. Please help me.
Hey Faith,
We recommend mixing of the milk to slowly transition to what you are working towards, as it can take them a little bit to adjust to different tastes. Start with 50/50, then after accepting work towards 75/25, and working your way up to all formula/milk (whatever you are looking to transition to).
Hope that helps,
Desiree
Hello. I have a 2 month old baby girl who is refusing the bottle completely. We were able to get her to drink out of it until about 1 month, then took two weeks off due to travel & now she is completely refusing.!
I’ve tried the recommendations above in your article and having my husband try to feed her. She just wails and cries, and I don’t want her to starve by not breastfeeding her all together. What should we do? Not give her a breast right after she has been refusing the bottle? Try giving it to her during a night feed? Keep trying 3x a day?
I am supposed to go back to work in a month and nervous this is going to prevent me from doing that. Help!
Hey Liz,
We understand how stressful this can be! When you are having your husband feed her make sure that you are not present as if you are near they can smell your milk and want that instead. I’d also try to find the “just right” time to feed her when she’s hungry but not overly starving so that she is calm. This may be during a night time feeding. Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Hi Desiree, call me a skeptic but how can the baby actually smell the milk/mom? I don’t think I have particularly good smell in that case…
Hey Deborah,
Yes, babies have a naturally strong sense of smell and can smell the scent of mom and their breast milk. It is what gets them to turn their head during feedings as they smell and turn. Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Its call instinct. Just like our boobs start hurting and milk coming out while the baby its hungry( even if we are miles away
Sounds like you don’t a good sense of smell. I can smell my own milk if I tip my head down.
Hi our second child has decided to not take the bottle literally two weeks before my wife is about to go back to work on night shift. He is mainly breast feed but was taking some expressed milk in a bottle here and there. For what ever reason we stopped and now he won’t take it at all. We have tried 3 different types of bottles, different positions, different places, different times and different people. We are at a loss. My wife is getting anxiety about going back to work and leaving him and I’m worried I won’t be able to give him what he wants / needs. Have you got any other ideas that we may try? We even tried a bit of custard on the teet!
Hey Adam,
I get how hard this can be. I’d really try to focus on having him in the same positioning as he would if he was breastfeeding, making sure your wife is not near and have someone else feeding him (if she’s near they can still smell her and would want her). Making sure to find that just hungry window can play a huge factor as well!
Best,
Desiree
My daughter is quite a bit older, she has just turned 9 months old. She has been both breast & bottle-fed since she was around 12 weeks old and started full-time daycare. She would take bottles of expressed breast milk no problem while she was at daycare all day and also had no problem at home for my husband or occasional sitter. Since this virus pandemic, we’ve all been home and … I have been exclusively breastfeeding, all day. Now, maybe it’s my own fault for creating this problem since being lazy and not pumping or using bottles for this past month+ that we’ve been home but we’ve just started trying to get her to take a bottle again and she is absolutely refusing. We’re (hopefully) eventually going back to work and daycare after this virus situation is over and she will need to go back to taking a bottle. I still have a lot of expressed frozen milk to use so I’d like to get ready to start slowly start weaning if we can get her comfortable to take a bottle again during the day. I definitely have enough milk saved to last beyond her first birthday. Anyway, we’ve already tried several tips including distancing myself on a different level of the house. My husband has tried being the only one getting her up in the morning so she wouldn’t see/hear/smell me. She just flat-out refuses the bottle to the point of screaming. We’re using the same bottles she used to take and warming them up exactly the same. Since she is older now, we’ve also tried introducing a new soft spout sippy cup while seated in her high chair. I thought that was going to be our save because she seemed really interested and actually started drinking it but she ended up only taking about 1 oz from it and then pushed it away. After giving it back, she kept throwing it off the tray and kept turning her head away refusing to try again. Should I try cold milk in the sippy? Do we just keep trying these things and keep trying to re-introduce her bottle? Any other ideas to try for an older baby?
I was really shocked that you had just posted this! We are in the exact same boat as you. My baby is five months old and I have been home with him for the last month due to the virus pandemic. Last week I was out and about and my husband went to feed our baby a bottle and he refused it. I wasn’t even home and he had no problem taking bottles prior to the virus keeping us at home. We just tried today again and this was our third attempt trying to feed him from a bottle. It was freshly expressed milk and he will not take it. In fact we tried three different bottles. He just cried himself to sleep. I wasn’t home for two tries and I was home for this try. Any advice is excepted, I will try anything! The last time we did get him to drink some of the bottle by plain white noise from a cell phone.That did not work this time.
Hey Michaela,
So sorry you are dealing with this in these uncertain times. I’d try to be consistent. It sounds like you are trying some great things, making sure you are not near, having them utilize the same place/sound/time as they used to do. I’d pick a time during the day that you are able to be consistent with what you are trying and keep it the same each day. It will take some time to get your child back on their routines as I’m sure they are loving the mommy time. You’re doing great!
Best,
Desiree
Hey Becky,
So sorry you are dealing with this. It does sound like you are doing all the right things, making sure you are distancing yourself when having your husband feed her. I’d keep trying and be consistent with what is happening. If he is able to pick at least 1 time a day to “feed her” continue with that. And you can try it cold just for a change and see how she responds to that as well. Keep working, you’re doing great!
Best,
Desiree
My baby is 3.5 month old. My feed is almost nothing. From the start she’s on bottle. I also give mine. But now she refused bottle and only want my feed but my feed is almost nothing. She remain starve for about 7 hours but don’t take bottle always weep. I know she’s Hungary but no use. I have tried different formula but she refused all. Kindly tell me what to do
Hey Fatima,
So sorry you are dealing with this, we know how hard it can be when your child is not getting enough food. I’d make sure that you reach out to your doctors so that they can help make sure that your baby is not getting dehydrated from not drinking enough. I’d also try to have someone else feed him, while you are not near this can be very helpful. You can read more tips HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hello. This may read strangely but I am typing with one hand and holding my baby boy. This is my third child and both my wife and I work alternating night shifts at a hospital. My boy is 4 months and my wife has breastfed this entire time.
My wife went back to work last night for the first time since giving birth so it was my turn to have the kids all night. My boy refuses to take the bottle at all and has not eaten all night. It is now 8 am and after taking the other two kids to school he still refuses the bottle.
We had no problem switching the other two kids to the bottle so we naively thought Oliver would be the same. I thought he would eventually get hungry enough to accept the bottle but that is not the case.
Should I resort to trying to feed with a syringe? I am a loss here and very worried. If my wife breastfeeds when she gets home that just resets the entire problem.
Hey Mark,
Thanks for reaching out! You are doing a great job at making sure mom is not home while trying to bottle feed, as this can make all the difference. You can definitely try a syringe if you need to, to get some liquid in him. You can also try a different bottle (we do recommend trying at least 2 different bottles) since they are all different. Makes sure you are feeding him in the same position as he normally breastfeeds in. Make sure you are continuing to bottle feed at least 1 X a day even if your wife ends up breast feeding again. I’d read over the other tips in the article and see what you may be able to change up!
Best,
Desiree
I will try a new bottle and try propping him on his side like when he is breastfed. I got about 40 cc of milk into him last night with a syringe. The only way I can get the bottle into his mouth is when he is wailing from hunger and frustration and even them most of it just rolls out ( I make sure that he doesn’t aspirate).
The wife is helping me by not breastfeeding. Hopefully by tonight he will be so hungry that he will be willing to just take the bottle.
Okay, keep us posted! You can also try utilizing a binky throughout the day so he can get used to having something similar to bottle in his mouth and for comfort!
Best,
Desiree
hello Desiree,
I hope you can help.
We have a 14w old baby girl and she is refusing the bottle.
However, this happened over night.
Before it was no problem to give her the bottle for night feed and once in a while during the day too.
But in past two days she is having none of it.
We tried to switch back to slow teat, to no avail.
What could she not like???
Hey Daniela,
I know how hard it can be to pinpoint. I’d try the tips in the article and especially having someone else be trying to feed her, as she could be making a preference. I’d also make sure she is in the “just hungry” phase.
Best,
Desiree
Hi i started weaning my baby and she is 20 months old now but she doesn’t like to drink any kind of milk. Im worried because she did not drink milk for 3 days but shes eating solid foods.
Hey Irene,
It can take some time to adjust to the new milk, as it does taste different. I’d try mixing breastmilk with what you are trying to switch to, and slowly make the transition. You can read more about weaning HERE.
Best,
Desiree
Hi
My 10 m. O baby stopped eating solids. She opens her mouth but does not swallow for a long time. It lasts about 20 min. At last i will take out with my fingers.
She is breastfed baby. No formula. No bottle though i am trying for bottle.
Can u pls help me in this regard?
I have tried different colour texture and flavors of food.
She was a good eater. She is not teething now . Has got 2 upper n 2 lower incisors.
Its been 10 days. I am worried now
Hello,
Teething can have a tremendous impact on feeding skills, so I’d try to match up to see if this is when she stopped eating solids. I’d also be having her do play in the foods you can do this outside of mealtimes to get her used to the textures as this is the first step in eating. You can watch our free workshop for more ideas at this age to work on getting her accepting to table foods again if you do not think it is from teething. Save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
We are in the same fix with my grand daughter. My teenage daughter has a 4 months old now. She has been b/feeding and at times uses the pacifier. Just a few days to four months we have introduced the bottle and she has completely refused to use it. In December we tried and she happily fed but now that she is four months it seems her brains tells her otherwise. We have tried freshly expressed breast milk and formula milk too. We have Dr. browns nipple and Venti plus just an ordinary nipple. All seems not to work with her.
Kindly help; coz my daughter needs to briefly step up, may be just for some fresh air or visit the salon.
Hey Lydia,
I’d try the recommendations in the article. I’d also focus on having someone else try to bottle feed her, but making sure mom is not around (or she will know). Finding the right time to try this so that she is hungry but not over hungry can be key!
Best,
Desiree
My 4.5 month old will only take about 1 ounce of expressed breastmilk from the bottle. I’ve tried the tips above. It seems like he is having gas or getting air. If i work with him, i can get him to take 2 more ounces after calming down. My questions are
1. Can i calm him down with a minute of breastfeeding (it works) and then back to bottle or is that too confusing?
2. Is he refusing or just uncomfortable from air?
3. is one feeding from bottle enough a day or should i try a whole day since i’m going back to work in a month.
I’m going back to work soon, so i need help!
Hey Joanna,
So glad you are reaching out and figuring out what may work for your son! You are doing a great job with trying some different things and noticing his reaction. Back and forth can become too confusing for him, if he is just refusing and wanting the breast then he may think that is how it will always happen. I’d look at who will be feeding him when you go back to work or is there someone else to try to feed him and see if he is having the same reactions (with you not in the room). The bottle is a different suck that they need, so you do want to explore if he is getting air. Feeding one bottle is fine, I’d just work up to more, but if you still plan to breast feed after going back to work i’d make sure that you are still doing that as well, so that you still have that relationship.
Best,
Desiree
Hi
Currently my 3.5 months old is still not willing to take a bottle. She had taken it twice previously, but we took a long break. I have tried for 3 weeks now – different bottles, different level of nipples, sang to her, swayed, walked around with her, put her in a mobi wrap facing towards me and outward. My husband, sister, mother, mother in law, sister in laws have all tried too when I have been out of the home. When I put my finger in her mouth, she does not suck either. She does not use the pacifier at all. What other recommendations do you have?
Have you tried giving her the bottle with pumped milk during the night, just before she wakes up for her night feed? My baby is exactly the same, the only thing that worked was this. He’s also 3,5 months now. Good luck!
I have tried a bottle twice during a night feed from pumped milk earlier in the day. Got 2 sucks from the bottle, then she would wake up from this realizing it is a bottle.
How many tries did it take until you baby took the bottle?
Good Day Please help, i have just stop breasfeeding my 13 Months baby girl, at night she does not want bottle milk, bottle drink what can i do, and my breast are swollen and very painful im using Pyridoxine pills, its been 3 days ive stop her
Hi,
Thanks for reaching out! There are some really great tips in the article. I’d really try to have someone else feed her milk in a bottle during the night. If you are doing it she will be looking for the breast, but with someone else and you not in the room it can be really helpful!
Best,
Desiree
My baby is 3months old I have been trying to bottle feed him for like 2months now and he never wanted to take the bottle. If he is hungry and I’m not around he will drink 2ounces and then wait till I come back to breastfeed. He just started daycare and he only drank 2oz and didn’t want anything else til I picked him up from daycare. I have tried all bottles and everyone trying to feed him he doesn’t want it neither he wants the pacifier. I even tried putting a bit of honey on the nipple for him to try it and nothing. Any advice? I really want to keep breastfeeding and I don’t want him to lose any weight either.
Hey!
We totally understand how hard this transition can be! It can take awhile for them to be accepting of someone else feeding them. Also having the milk from the bottle is a different experience and utilized different muscles than the breast. If you have been trying the suggestions in the post without any success you can reach out for a feeding evaluation to provide specified tips for you. If you are in the US you can receive an Early Intervention evaluation. You can read more about your options HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi Alisha, thanks for writing this article. My 2 months old daughter has been taking the bottle once a day (at night), given by her dad. Rest of the time, I nurse her, unless I or we need to step out. She’s been using the Avent Natural bottle so far, but we have a set of another brand which we would like to switch to. We tried the new bottle tonight, she refused it. Is there a way to get her to drink from the new bottle?
Thanks for reaching out! Kids can sometimes take to one bottle over the other as they all seem to have little differences. I’d have your husband try it again, but make sure everything else stays the same as far as location, timing and her environment.
Best,
Desiree
My 5.5 month old mainly bf baby girl was taking a bottle from me about once a day just fine. But, then she had a bad experience when my husband tried to feed her (milk too hot maybe?? Bad body position maybe??) and now she completely refuses. I was able to get her to take the bottle one time after about an hour of cajoling, but then I had to go to work for a 10- hr day and hubs had to bottle feed her and now she just sees the bottle and starts crying. Any additional tips on how to undo a bad experience??
Hey April,
So sorry you are going through this. I’d make sure you are changing up her environment. If there is a usual chair where she is feeding, I’d try somewhere else. You can also try a different bottle (different color, etc). So that she does not make the same connection.
Best,
Desiree
Hello my baby is 3 months I have been giving her the bottle but there was this one time I gave her the bottle and she was over feeded because I came back and breastfeeding her but now she is refusing to take the bottle and I need to go to work in 1 week
Thanks for reaching out. I’d recommend trying these tips in the article and really review the suggestion on finding the “just right” window for looking for the best time to be offering her a bottle when she is hungry but not too hungry. Also, having someone else feed her when you are not around can be a huge help!
Best,
Desiree
Hi Alisha,
You said your eldest wouldn’t take a bottle, and breastfed for 12 months. I’m curious to know what you did post the 12 months to wean him off of breastfeeding? Did you continue to give him breastmilk at that point? My goal is 12 months (at 7.5 now), but my baby relies so much on BFing at night etc., I’m just wondering what your transition looked like. Thanks so much in advance for sharing your experience!
Due to supply issues Ive combined bottle feeding and breastfeeding for 6 months without issue. Last week my baby girl was ill with fever, for one day i only breastfed as she was too ill for a bottle. After her fever went, she continued to take her bottle as normal for 2 day. Then after that she flat out refused, there was no warning and she had happily had a bottle the night before. Its been 5 days now and she is still on strike, ive tried different positions, walking, rooms, environments, teats, bottles and persons but she flings back and protests outraged!. Shes not teething either and is happily munching on foods. Im totally clueless! Been through bottle strike with my first daughter so have been through this before but always found something would work to break the strike. Fortunately my supply is okay but ideally would like to continue bottle and breastfeeding as im in a position of not being able to leave her with someone now. Do u have any ideas im at a loss! I tried holding out on the breast in hope shes hungry enough for a bottle but it doesnt work. Thanks ill be interested i hearing your opinion on this one ! X
Hey Rebecca,
We know how frustrating this can be! It seems like you are doing and trying some great things. I’d keep making sure to try to change the environment. This may be a good one for you if you are unable to get someone else to try to feed her. Remember that consistency will play a factor here, so just trying it once you may not see results, but keep at it.
Best,
Desiree
My baby is currently 7 months and from birth she has had extreme problems feeding. She couldn’t latch on the breast and I would have to pump and feed her with a bottle. After a couple weeks I was finally able to get her to latch onto my breast using a nipple shield but most of the milk would leak out and she wasn’t gaining enough weight. Finally around 3-4 months old I was able to get her to latch onto the breast and she gained weight rapidly. All has been great until 6 months old when she started getting teeth. She is 7 months old now with a mouth full of teeth! And she bites. I’m in so much pain, my poor nipples are cut and bruised but no matter what I do she will not take a bottle. She won’t even allow it to go into her mouth. I’m using freshly pumped milk but the moment the milk touches her lips she acts like it’s disgusting. She also will not take any food in any form. I’ve tried a bunch of different baby foods, cereals, everything. She won’t eat anything. All she wants is me and I don’t know how much longer I can physically take the pain. I just have no idea what to do.
Hey Emalee,
So sorry you are going through this, I know how hard breastfeeding can be! I’d really try to have someone else feed her the bottle (there are tips on this in the article). I’d make sure you are not around when this happens though, And making sure that you are hitting that just hungry window.
Best,
Desiree
Hey Mari,
Great question! Alisha has another post that covers stopping breastfeeding (when you’re ready). Both of these breastfeeding articles are what she utilized in her home with her kids! You can read all about it HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi.I m going through hard situation.from the birth my elder son takes bottle as well as breadfeed but as he reach at his 1st birthday suddenly he refused to take bottle.now my daughter is going to 12 months she is not taking bottle anymore just want breast.what can I do
Hey Mona,
You are doing a great job! I know it can be hard. I’d try to work on transitioning to a sippy cup during the day in place of when they would have a bottle! It may take a little work, but you will get there!
Best,
Desiree
My daughter is almost 3 months and I’m back at work now 3 days a week. She will not take the bottle from my husband. She takes it from the lady who cares for her, my mom, and my mother in law. Everytime my husband tries to give a bottle she just screams. Are there any tips for him to be able to feed her? I know he gets so frustrated not being able to feed her.
Hey Holly,
We can understand how frustrating this must be for your husband. I would try to take a look at the setting that he is trying to feed her in, distractions, etc. A lot of times everyone has their own way/space so I’d try to replicate where others feed her and try to make it as calming as possible. Also, looking to try to get his anxiety away from attempting to feed her, as this may be showing through because he does not want her to scream. I hope these help, but please keep us posted!
Best,
Desiree
I’m a nursing mom of a 3 month old little girl also have a 2 year old daughter who was also breastfeed. Neither one them took to a pacifier. My older daughter took to a bottle but didn’t use I often. My 3 month old won’t take it at all. I’ve tried 2 different bottles and she just spits it out or plays with it in her mouth. She won’t even take it for my mother or mother in law. Now I don’t want her to take it all the time however when I’m not around she would need to take it so she can eat. Can you please give me some advice on what to do. I did read this article and will be doing most of the steps.
Hey Robin,
I know this can be hard. I’d really work through those steps provided for you in the article and see what may be working for you in your situation. Let us know how it goes afterwards!
Best,
Desiree
Hi all just thought I’d share. I have a 3 month old little boy and we struggle right off the get go to get him to nurse. All he wanted was the bottle at that time. We did get him nursing and he loves it now. Perhaps a bit to much. I have just returned to work 1-2 days a week and now all of a sudden he doesn’t want to take a bottle. He was taking them up until about a week ago although you could tell he didn’t love them. Yesterday he flat out refused to eat for Dad. Today we tried to trick him into taking a bottle. I started to nurse him and then slipped the bottle in and pulled the boob out once he got going. It seamed to work so far, hopefully it will continue to and he’ll get more used to the bottle.
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us!
Best,
Desiree
Hi I have a 3 month old daughter she took a formula bottle when she was a week old from her dad and after that she wouldn’t take a bottle at all. I didn’t give her a bottle again until she was 2 months she’s gagged ever time I did and vomits. I stop trying and restated a week ago. She chews on it and sucks it a little and gets fussy no matter how hungry she is. I even tried giving it to her when she’s not very hungry I switched bottles and I think the one I’m using now is good because she doesn’t gag from it
Please help I’m desperate
HI Fathi,
So happy you reached out, I know how hard this transition can be. I’d try the bottle that you are using that you said does not make her gag and work on having her Dad try to be feeding her that bottle without you in the room to see if she will show some more interest when you know she is hungry. Since it is you trying it may make it harder for her to want to try to work for the milk. Make sure to read through the other tips in the article!
Best,
Desiree
My little boy. 5 weeks old. He has previously taken 2 bottles from my husband. He has now decided he doesn’t want to take a bottle. I am trying him twice a day to get him to take a bottle. Is this too much or should I be trying him more? How long should it take for him to start taking it? I don’t want to just keep trying. I have spoken to my health visitor and they said to let them know if he won’t take it but didn’t say how long to try for. How often should I try to change to a different bottle? I do have a couple of options in but didn’t want to keep swapping them about.
I understand this can be a tough transition, but hang in there 🙂 You have said that you are trying to give him a bottle but, has your husband tried to provide him a bottle since he has taken the first two? Your son could be refusing from you, as he is used to nursing, but still continue to take a bottle from someone else!! I would stick with the same bottle as he originally was able to drink from and try having someone else feed him!!
Hi my son is going to turn 11 months next week. i’m trying to wean him off breastfeeding since I have a lot of pumped milked stored and I want to start using it. Also am sick of breastfeeding since I also have a 3 yr old to take care of. He’s always had a bottle a day since he was 1 month old but last month I was too busy and he exclusively breastfed. Long story short he wont take the bottle any more. Gets mad even if I bring it close to him. I have tried most of the above things except a different bottle. I did try sippy cups and open cups. he drinks water or juice from everything but would not touch the breastmilk. Pls Help I have big vacation coming up and i’m too stressed.
I’m so sorry, he probably has weaned himself from the bottle, that can happen at this age. I’d focus on those sippy cups and just keep offering it to him, while also using the steps from the post:)
hi
my LG is 20 weeks old. she is exclusively breastfeed. she refused to take the bottle or dummy since birth in the hospital already. I tried leaving the house, different bottles, pacifier, cuppy, etc. I tried it all to no avail. I started working a week ago and I noticed that she lost weight :(. Do you think she will ever take the bottle now?
She might! I know it’s so stressful, my oldest wouldn’t take a bottle either. I’d keep trying and using the steps from the post.
Hi,
My daughter is going to turn 3 months next week. I use to do a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding until she decided not to take the bottle anymore.
This happened when she was 7 weeks old.
I don’t know what to do in order to make her taking the bottle again 🙁
Hey Irsi,
We know how hard and frustrating this can be! I’d really be diving into this article to see if you can pinpoint what you think is going on with your baby. I’d also try having someone else feed her, in a quite room, where you are not present (making sure you are in that just hungry enough window). All of these tips are in detail in this article! I’d try these and see how it goes!
Best,
Desiree
How did it go? Hope well
Hi Alisha,
My daughter is 11 weeks and was taking a bottle; however it wasn’t consistent and the last she drank from it like a pro was when she was 4 weeks. I have tried the NUK bottle again with expressed breastmilk and she either spits the milk out or used her tongue like a barricade. I then tried the snookums bottle from my pump and after fussy I gave her some breast then tried the bottle and she took it until I stopped giving her, then she fussed again. There was times she was move the bottle to the sides and bite on it to drink the milk. She’s just not sucking it for long. I’m being advised to try formula, as that will make her drink from it though I’m not sold on formula just yet. Any advise please ?
I’ve never heard that formula could be more successful, but you could try if you’re comfortable with that. I’d try some of the steps from above like having someone else feed them a bottle when you’re not around for instance 🙂
My son is 4 months old and has never taken a bottle. He will have the teat in his mouth but just chews it. Does that sound more like he just wants to feed from me or he just doesn’t like the texture?
I don’t have anyone else who can try and give him a bottle on a regular basis so it’s got to be me. I absolutely love breastfeeding but I need some freedom every now and again.
X
I hear you, it’s probably more that the texture is confusing to him, he doesn’t know what to do with it! He also may prefer to snuggle with you.
hi! my baby is turning 4 months old and been refusing bottle too. may i know if your baby has taken a bottle now? if yes, how did you do it? thank you so much in advance!
Hi, I am having difficulties in feeding my baby through bottle, there’s nothing cmming out of my breast anymore. I have tried different kinds of bottles but it didn’t work, but if I let him drink water from the bottle he would take it. What should i do?
In this case, I’d definitely check with your dr, and I’d also keep offering water all the time! I’d focus on formula, depending on his age as well. Having somebody else give it to him may be helpful.
Hi! My 5 week old is constipated and gaining weight very slowly. Our GP prescribed Movicol to be given but my daughter is refusing the bottle. I have tried all of your tips and am not having much luck (I think part of the issue is the Movicol alters the taste of my milk because she has taken an occasional bottle before but now suddenly won’t).
I’m worried about her getting ill and we’re not seeing her Paediatrician for 3 more days.
Do you please have anything you could suggest for getting powdered medicine into a breastfed baby?
Thanks in advance x
Hey Jo,
So sorry you are going through this. If she is refusing the bottle and is not drinking any fluids, I’d reach out to your pediatrician sooner. You may need to work up to adding the medicine slowly (increasing amounts up to what she needs) if it is altering the taste to much, but this would need to be discussed with your pediatrician and follow their advice.
Best,
Desiree
hi my baby is been on NG feeds since he was 4 month old and got breathing problem now he well and healthy 10 month old.he is not taking any bottle because before tube he is always been breastfed.transition is very hard i obviosly dont want him to lose any weight i have tried almost everything ,he’s still not taking it.he’s weaning very well and gaining weight[ thanks to ur higt calories plan]but still they have to have lots of milk plzzzz help
Hi Sarah, I replied to Jessie but it may help you too. Try a bottle called Minbie, it worked for us. My daughter was also breastfed exclusively. She was 4months when we finally heard about it and she’s now 5months we’re still using it and have bought other nipples for future as well. Look into it, hope it helps! Worked for us on first try, very happy.
Please HELP! I am a mother of 2 boy and one girl. My daughter just truned 1 years old this month. She has never took to the bottle. It was very stressful for this whole year. She always had to have me around her. I have tried everything and i have done everything. She just never accepted it. Well now that she is 1 years old i am slowly trying to wean her. Yet again i am in the same situation! She will not take my brestmilk in a sippy cup or whole milk. Here is the crazy part! She will drink water only from her cup. Help! I feel like i am going to be breastfeeding forever!!!
Oh, it’s so hard! Are you wanting to avoid cow’s milk (I totally get it if you are), but if not, you may want to offer that since it’s a totally different taste!
She will not drink whole milk she gags every time. The only thing she will drink out of her cup is water. She won’t even drink my breastmilk. Of course I want her to get her milk though so I’m continuing to breastfeed at night and early mornings.
That’s okay, I’d check with your dr for nutritional concerns and if she needs to fill in any gaps with other forms of dairy as you wean. You could try mixing it with almond or cashew milk if those nuts have already been introduced to her diet.
Hi, I started googling how to get infant to drink from bottle since a co-worker mom confided to me today. I read your comment and this is not only for you but for others. When my daughter was born, she had a very hard time drinking any milk, formulas, etc. I put her on goat’s milk. We went to a farm who had goats. I sterilized bottles, nipples, etc., I strained the goats milk just in case of any goat hairs(the farm did this prior) but I wanted to make sure. I also let the doctor know so he could prescribe certain vitamins to add to the goats milk. Goat’s milk is the second best thing to breast milk. Hope this helps! When my daughter was over a year, I did put her on carnation formula. Hope this helps and good luck! Also, you can buy goat’s milk powder in a health food store (Meyers) you add baby water and pour into ice cube trays to freeze. While your at work, defrost a few cubes to add up to the ounces your baby needs. Make sure you add vitamins and blend before freezing. My daughter is now in her twenties and has a degree in biology..just saying. 🙂 Plus buy the nipples recommended from others.
Hi Jessie, I am a mom myself with a 10yesr old a new 5month. I had same issue. I had given my daughter a bottle when she was born when I went out but then stayed at home a while without going out and about a month went by. Long story short she didn’t want to take the bottle any more. I tried many things, nipples, other bottles. My cousins mon gave me a tip to get a bottle called “Minbie” … I purchased it and my daughter took it on first try (she was 4months) I was saved and so happy. Try it, hopefully it helps! I didn’t find any referrals to it online in my searches so now I make sure if u see people struggling that I mention.
This is a very good article. I just wish I could pay someone to come make my baby take the bottle!!🤦🏻♀️ We are at 3 1/2 months old and have taken then bottle around 1 month old and then I stopped offering it just because nursing is much simpler. I could kick myself for doing this because now she will NOT take it. And we have tried everything! Multiple bottles, my mom trying for a few days, I have left the house several times, we even let her go for awhile without me nursing her to see if she would get hungry enough to take it. I start back to work in 2 weeks and am so scared she’s not going to get it! What do I do? Do you offer the bottle all day or just once? ANY suggestions would be appreciated!! At my wits end here….
Exactly in the same situation! 2.5 months old, used to take bottle before and i just forgot the bottle for a couple of weeks and now she WONT take it :(. I have to go back to work in 2 weeks too. Good luck!
Oh I’ve been there Anna! I know it’s so hard. I’d offer the bottle at regular intervals, every 2 hours or so. I’d also experiment with different bottles, especially the ones that are designed for breastfeeding babies.
Anna, I had the same issue. Try a bottle called Minbie, worked like a charm for us. Look I to it!
Hi Nadia,
Do they ship yo the US? it doesnt seem like it 🙁 and im desperate. My 4 month old will not take a bottle, ive spent so much money and she just wont take any that ive bought.
Hi I am a mom of five beautiful kids breastfed all and my youngest is now 4 1/2 months older and I have returned to work. He took the bottle before now screams all day till I get there after 4 in the afternoon too nurse. I feel like such a failure as a mom. He is white as a sheet when I get there. Nose and eyes bloodshot from crying😓
Oh no, I’m so sorry! First of all you’re not a failure!!! Don’t tell yourself that story because it is not true. He needs some help! Have the daycare workers tried feeding him from a sippy cup or even a spoon? I’d definitely consult your doctor and see if they have lactation consultants to help you troubleshoot!
My daughter has just turnt 4 months. I breast feed all of my 3 children, up until I dried out around 6months. My 3rd is point blank refusing to take to the bottle at all. I’ve tried everything! I can’t get her to take to a dummy but that’s fine by me, my 1st born never had a dummy. I’ve spent a small fortune on bottles, she doesn’t like the texture or the teats. I’ve tried formula milk and breast milk and she just spits it out.
Exclusively breastfed until 2 months old (I started work again) then my husband fed her pumped milk bottles on my work days. Now she drinks both breastfed & bottle no problem. I feel like my saving grace was giving her a pacifier when she was about 5 days old. I didn’t want to because of recommendations, but she latched on very well breastfeeding I felt comfortable she figured it out. During the first week meltdown I think the pacifier was the only thing that stopped the insane amount of crying as a newborn just out of the hospital. I used MAM pacifiers & bottle/nipples. Now I will supplement a bottle of formula every so often if he runs out of my milk (Gerber Good Start Gentle Step 1). No issues so far. I read everything but at the end of the day i relied on my instincts on what my baby could or couldn’t do.
Hi! This was a very great article. My baby is 4 months old and took almost a month to get to take the bottle at daycare. Wish I’d read this sooner. Any tips on daycare vs home bottle feeding? My baby is now taking the bottle from the daycare provider, but refuses it still at home? Why would she do this?
So frustrating, but she probably prefers to nurse and when you’re around it may be her way of demanding it!
This is really helpful article specially the new mom. I am waiting for my first one. When i will face this kind of problem i will must follow your tips. Thanks for the sharing and keep posting like this helpful article.
This website was helpful for me as I tried to get my 3 month old to re-learn how to drink from the bottle. Using the distraction method of going outside, having him look at he fan or tv, bouncing him as we walked around the house, etc worked to get him comfortable with the bottle in his mouth. He wasn’t figuring out how to suck correctly until we tried the Gerber Latex faster flow nipples. The latex was softer than other silicone nipples were and the faster flow better mimicked my letdown that he’s used to while breastfeeding. I think the slow flow wasn’t enough for him to know that he needed to suck to get the milk out. These nipples were the best option and would be worth a try! We tried a lot of different bottles and these were the ones that finally worked!!
Hi Alisha,
I first gave my baby a bottle at 4 weeks with breast milk to practice for a road trip we were about to go on in a week. Like your baby she took really well to breastfeeding early on. She took the bottle when she was hungry. Everything was fine. Once in a while she would have pumped milk. But my mother in law kept encouraging me to give her formula once she turned 3 months. And since she is the one that watches her when I have to go out for quick errands I gave in. She hated formula from the first time she tried it and never drank more than an ounce of it out of desperation. So this happened occasionally for about two months. I finally decided to start pumping and leaving some milk for her when I am out. My baby is 5 1/2 months now and she won’t take that either! My mother in law tried giving it to her when she was watching her and she fell asleep without drinking anything. I feel so defeated. Especially because I have an operation coming up and I won’t be able to nurse her for 6 hours.
I feel like this is the negative association you were talking about and I’m upset at myself for going with the formula when I know she doesn’t like it.
Do not beat yourself up, this is such a learning experience and every baby is unique. You are doing such a great job! Is she starting to eat baby foods soon? It might work to just feed her cereal with your breast milk when you are gone for short errands. As for your operation, I’d definitely have milk pumped and I would keep trying beforehand and after the surgery. She also may be able to take it from a spoon while she’s sitting in her height chair. Wishing you the best!
1st time dad and my wife just went back to work as a nurse. so she works fri-sun all 12 hour days leaving me to care of our girl for the weekends. my first day on was last sunday and in the nicest way possible. it did not go well. the entire morning was her crying and screaming but she just would not take the bottle. i did eventually find some success when we walked around outside (very nice day out). but as its going to be cold here this weekend, i cant exactly try the same strategy . i felt very discouraged by the end of the day and am worried about 2 days in a row of not being able to get her to eat.
Sorry I am just getting to this now, I hope everything went well over the weekend. Sometimes you have to just keep trying different things and using the strategies in the article.
Hello Jackie,
Sorry to hear you’re going through it too. It’s really rough. We tried everything possible and the only bottle our daughter would occasionally tolerate there was the comotomo, (it was actually sort of soft, unlike all the rest we tried) and only if she was not hungry already.
best approach i found was 1) to not trick her, but rather to let her play with it. touch the outside, feel how it’s different than mom. she wants to put everything in her mouth anyway. one of the points in the article was to put her in another position and mom not be in the house. that helped. 2) since she wouldn’t always suck on it, i ended squirting it in her mouth until she sucked on it and she actually drank more that way! probably not a mom-approved method but sometimes she’d drink 3oz or so
she adapted to the spoon quickly, but only got an ounce and took forever
it was enough to get her by until mom would get home. it just forced us to move onto solid foods sooner. Lesson learned next kid..
My son is 5 weeks old and I have started giving him bottle since yesterday, he took it instantly the first time, finished 1 oz in 1 min! but he is playing with the milk or spitting part of it out while sucking (am giving the newborn flow Philips Avent 1 hole teat still I feel the flow is fast for him and that maybe the reason he is spitting milk out). But 4 out of 5 times, he takes the bottle only for 30 seconds and the starts crying and turns his head to look for my nipple, or else he just clamps his mouth shut, and if I still make him feed, he vomits the milk out. Please help. I dont want to stop breastfeeding but I do want an option to bottle feed when I am tired or busy or when I need to feed him the expressed milk
Oh I know this is so hard! I wouldn’t force it, and would check with your doctor about the flow they recommend. But, I’d try to have someone else give it to him. It will take time, but consistency is key.
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