Bottle refusal

Bottle refusal is a common challenge faced by parents when transitioning a breastfed baby to a bottle. This can happen when babies prefer breastfeeding due to the comfort and closeness it provides or when they're unsure about the unfamiliarity of a bottle. To overcome this, try offering the bottle during a calm moment when your baby is not overly hungry or upset, as this can create a more relaxed environment.

Wait to be invited in! Start a bottle feed the way you would a breastfeed. Rest the edge of the bottle on their chin and wait for your baby to open their mouth. Allow them to latch onto the bottle. They may initially play around with the teat as it is a different sensation. The aim is to get them to cup their tongue onto the teat.

If your baby is getting upset, remove the bottle—don’t keep pushing it and making it a negative experience. Try again in a few moments. If they continue to be distressed, stop and try again later.

Take the teat off the bottle and try that instead. Get them happily taking just the teat in their mouth—you can try this during mat or playtime. This takes the pressure off; try this throughout the day to practice latching onto it. Once they are happily taking the teat, add a small amount of milk and offer it as a top-up feed before progressing to full feeds. The best time to try a bottle is when your baby is in a calm and alert state, slightly before a feed is due.

Distraction can go a long way when offering a bottle. You can try offering one while reading a book, walking around the room, singing, or chatting. This can help to relieve the pressure on your baby. Keep all exposure to the bottle a positive experience. 

If you are still encountering bottle refusal then we highly recommend the Triple B Course by Little Bird Lactation. This self paced course goes through bottle refusal in detail and provides solutions to help you bust bottle battles.