“My baby won’t take a bottle,” are words that have come out of my own mouth, and boy was it stressful. Get 11 incredible tips to help your breastfed baby take a bottle. Plus, the best bottles for breastfed babies.
What to Do When Baby Won’t Take A Bottle!
I can still remember the stress, anxiety, and absolute overwhelm when I was a mother for the first time 7 years ago and I realized: my baby won’t take a bottle.
Before Sam’s arrival, I was both excited and nervous to breastfeed. I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and already knew a thing or two about feeding babies.
But, because I’m type A, I read everything I could from a mother’s perspective to make sure I did everything “right”. I felt like there were endless stories from everyone around me that breastfeeding just didn’t end up working out for them.
That was the last thing I wanted, so with my first child, I followed all the rules and was so relieved when it was obvious very early on that he was going to have no trouble nursing at all. What I didn’t expect was that my sweet little breastfeeding champ would refuse to take a bottle for 12 months, which was the entirety of our nursing relationship.
I’ll admit that, at some point, I stopped trying and lived with crazy work schedules and feeling completely helpless.
I’ve learned a lot since then, I had two more kids that DID take bottles and could switch between being bottle fed and nursing just fine, as long as I wasn’t around.
Combining all my mom experience between these three babies that nursed for a year, and all my pediatric occupational therapy tricks from helping other moms, I’ve got you covered with 11 tips that will serve as your guide for exactly how to get a breastfed baby to take a bottle.
Before we get to that though, you must understand why the heck your baby is refusing a bottle in the first place.
My Baby Won’t Take a Bottle… Why?
I’ll tell you first off that it’s probably not because they are having a hard time latching or because they can’t get the mechanics of the thing. Sucking from a bottle is actually easier than latching onto you. A breastfed baby that is refusing the bottle is doing so because they likely:
- Don’t like the feeling of the artificial nipple in their mouth, it’s just so foreign to them!
- Associate eating so strongly with you that they don’t understand or want the bottle substitute
- Have had a negative experience with taking the bottle (least likely)
And, of course, it could be a combination of all three. I’m big on getting to the “why” of the problem because it often gives you a lot of direction in the “how” to fix the problem, it’s the OT in me. So, let’s talk about a few warning signs for each of the reasons above, while you promise me that you won’t stress too much over figuring this out!
How to get to the bottom of the bottle refusal mystery:
Signs that your baby doesn’t like the feeling of the bottle are that they spit it out the second it touches their mouth or even gag, especially when they do this in the first few months. This can happen with older babies that have learned that you’re trying the bottle AGAIN. In this case, they will immediately communicate to you that they aren’t interested by spitting it out instantly. Babies that are bothered by the bottle texture usually refuse pacifiers too!
Signs that your baby has had a negative experience with taking a bottle are that they were taking the bottle well and then stopped suddenly. While a baby can refuse if a long period of time has lapsed since they were given a bottle, it’s unusual for it to happen overnight. I also want to make sure I clarify, what a negative experience is. Depending on the baby, it can be anything from the flow being too fast, gagging/throwing up while taking a bottle, or taking a bottle from someone that keeps taking it in and out of their mouth.
Signs that your baby just wants you, is basically when you’ve ruled out the other two reasons, and this is probably the MOST common culprit for bottle refusal. I’m quite sure it was with my first son. These babies will often seemingly accept the bottle for a little bit but just won’t latch, they only protest once it becomes obvious that you aren’t going to quit trying.
So, while you may not be able to be sure exactly why your baby won’t take a bottle, it is definitely worth putting some thought into because it will help you decide where to focus your efforts when you read the following list…
11 Tips for the Breastfed Baby Refusing a Bottle
1. Start early
I can bet that for most of you this ship has already sailed. Likely, if you’re here reading, it’s because you’re already in a pickle, but if you happen to be reading this article in advance, I must tell you that I personally think it’s tremendously helpful for parents to start offering a bottle within the second or even first week, if you want to be proactive.
However, I do want to mention that the Le Leche League recommends waiting longer before introducing.
But here’s the thing, and I learned this lesson the hard way, for some babies, the bottle is often so foreign and confusing to a baby that they won’t take to it. I’m fairly certain that is the main reason my oldest never took a bottle. I would suggest that if you do offer the bottle very early on, that you don’t try again until the next day, you do want to keep breastfeeding as the primary means for feeding. Keep a close eye on how much you’re using the bottle in these early days to not jeopardize breastfeeding!
2. Have someone else give the bottle (not you!)
Sounds simple, but it can make a HUGE difference. I was only able to give my second child a bottle a few times and my third would only take it from others, which was fine. Your baby can smell you and even though they are so tiny, they know that with you around, they can have what they prefer: YOU. This is a great opportunity for your partner or family members to bond feeding the baby. (That’s my husband feeding James in the picture at the top!)
One caveat here though is that while you’re trying to establish your baby taking the bottle, you may want to have someone with a little experience do the job, at least at first. My third son needed the motherly intuition and experience from my own mom to get started, even though my husband had fed our second child, he didn’t know how to troubleshoot a bit to get his new son going. After my mom broke him in on a few bottles and gave him some tips for what was working, my husband and son did great.
3. Quiet please
Going to a quiet, non distracting, and relaxing location can make a huge difference. Before someone attempts to give your baby a bottle, have them go to this location for a few minutes and let them be rocked or swayed for a few minutes so they are nice and relaxed. In a calm and gentle approach, the bottle can be offered. This was a key trick that worked like a charm for my third baby. By the time he arrived, our house was pretty loud and chaotic with two older brothers, it was something I had taken for granted because this loud house was our normal and I thought a little baby wouldn’t be bothered by it.
4. Find the magic, “just hungry enough” window
It may make sense to try and give your baby a bottle when they are starving. Common sense would lead us to believe that they are so desperate to eat at this point that surely they’ll just give in and accept the bottle. This often does NOT work. Taking the bottle is a new experience for your baby, one they need to concentrate on and allow to happen. When they are starving, they just haven’t got the time. A better time to try is when you can see they are hungry, but not starving.
You won’t want to try too early though either, because if they aren’t hungry enough, they won’t be motivated to take it. It may take some experimenting, but finding the “just right” window of being hungry enough, but not too hungry could lead to bottle success.
5. Get them in position
While some babies do really well when they are held the exact same way to take a bottle as when you breastfeed them (and I’d definitely try that first), you will want to try different positions if that doesn’t work. Think outside the box here, you never know what is going to work. My second son would sometimes like to take a bottle while facing outwards away from the bottle giver.
6. Leave the house
Yup, you may need to actually leave the house or at least go to another level of your home or lock yourself in a room for some time – that doesn’t sound so bad, right? I wouldn’t do this until you have had some bottle success. I tried this with my first son and just figured he and dad will figure it out. I came back from shopping 2 hours later to find them both exhausted and defeated. My husband had never given a baby a bottle before and I just left! Keep in mind that your baby hearing, seeing, and smelling you can sabotage anyone’s attempts to give them a bottle.
7. Try different bottles
Notice this is tip number 7! I think this is usually the first thing most moms try, and for good reason, but I would try the other suggestions first, before you spend a small fortune. However, there is something to be said for a bottle that your baby prefers. I’d recommend trying 1-2 bottles at a feeding time, and only purchasing 3-4 different types to use. You can find my favorite bottles for breastfed babies in the next section.
8. Experiment with flow
Sometimes you just need to change the nipple flow. Some babies need a really slow flow to accept a bottle and others may like something faster if you have a strong let down, as a slow flow nipple will just aggravate them. Just be careful of your babies age with a fast flow nipple because while they may prefer it, they may not be able to handle it. It takes a lot of coordination to swallow milk coming in quickly, and if they don’t get it just right, they could aspirate, which is when liquid gets into their lungs – not a good thing.
9. Use a pacifier
I know that pacifiers get a very bad rap, especially in the breastfeeding community, and there are some really valid points, but when your baby is 4 months and under, a pacifier may help them get used to having something different being in their mouth. I wouldn’t use it all the time, but if your baby seems bothered by the feeling of a bottle, a pacifier can help desensitize them when used a couple of times during the day.
10. Keep trying
Seems obvious, but it’s so easy to throw in the towel, like I did with Sam. Using the tips above consistently over time can make a HUGE difference in your baby eventually taking a bottle! If it’s important for your baby to take a bottle, then try once a day!
11. Worse case scenario – use a syringe, cup, or spoon
I will be totally honest and tell you that I have never used this technique, but I know, in some instances, it is necessary. I would only try this if all else fails and you are left with no other choice. Le Leche League has some great recommendations for alternative ways to get your baby fed here.
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Best Bottles for Breastfeeding
There are dozens of bottle options out there, which can get overwhelming fast. Any one of them *may* work, but some tend to get the job done a little better when your baby is refusing. The following list are bottles that have worked in my home and/or some of the families that I’ve worked with.
- Tommee Tipee (shown above) – These bottles designed for breastfeeding babies are my personal favorite and what I used with my second two sons, that actually took a bottle (I never tried this type with my oldest). They are affordable and have a stretchy nipple which replicates yours!
- Medela – I love these because you can go right from pumping to giving a bottle with little fuss if you have a Medela pump. We had some success with these in my home and I know many other families that have. These nipples have a much smaller base and some babies prefer that to the wider type bottles.
- Mimijumi – The Cadillac of breastfeeding bottles because they closely resemble the look and feel of a breast. I have personally never used these, but some of the families I’ve worked with have loved them.
- Dr. Brown’s Wide Neck – Dr. Brown’s bottles are popular, and for good reason. Their anti-gas system is built in and works great for a lot of colicky babies. I’ve known a lot of breastfeeding babies that accept these bottles and there’s a special line designed for breastfeeding babies.
- Comotomo Natural Feel – These weren’t even on my radar two years ago, but if they had been, I would have given them a try. This nipple and shape also mimics the breast, but they feature this really cool silicone bottom that’s incredibly functional. There’s a cool demo video on Amazon.
When the Time Comes to Stop Breastfeeding
I want to end this post with a resource for you about how to stop breastfeeding when you are ready. I’m not going to tell you when you should do that, but I will say I breastfed all my babies to 12-14 months old and it was a wonderful experience for me. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 12 months of age, but for a variety of reasons, that isn’t always possible. When you and your baby are ready, you’ll want to head over to my Stopping Breastfeeding How-To post. If you’re nowhere ready for that, make sure you pin it for later!
Now that you have a few tricks up your sleeve to get your breastfed champ taking a bottle, too, make sure you stop back and let me know what worked. And if you have any other tips, PLEASE share them, so many people read the comments and you just never know who you will be helping!
Did you pin it?
This is the kind of post you’re probably going to want to reference again, pin it, so you know just where to find it!
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Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 14 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
My 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