Baby Refusing Bottle? How to Get Baby to Take a Bottle + Deal with Bottle Rejection - What to Expect

If you're lucky, your little one will take to the bottle like an old friend. Or he may stubbornly snub the bottle, refusing even a taste.

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Transcript:

Maybe you never got around to introducing a bottle or you were too busy getting breastfeeding on track. Or, you didn't see the point of offering a bottle since you could always count on your baby and your breast being in the same place at the same time, or close enough that you'd never miss a feed. Or, you figured you'd get around to introducing a bottle when you needed to, and you just realized, you need to. Either because you're going back to work or trying to schedule your first date night in months, or both.
If you're lucky, your little suckler will take to the bottle like an old friend, eagerly lapping up the contents. Or he may stubbornly snub the bottle crying indignantly every time you push the nipple between his unwilling lips, refusing even a taste.
Sound familiar? Let's face it, your baby wasn't born yesterday, and unlike a relative newcomer, she's already developed a strong sense of what she wants and what she doesn't want. What she wants is mommy's soft, warm nipple. What she doesn't want, synthetic substitute you're trying to woo her with.
Enter bottle rejection. The bottle intro is most easily made in the first few weeks of a baby's life. But if that ship has already sailed, it doesn't necessarily mean you've missed the bottle boat entirely. So, let's get started.
First, choose the right nipple. Look for ones that resemble those made by nature with a wide base and a slow flow. Keep in mind that some babies are pretty picky about their nipples, so you may have to experiment to find one that your little bottle snubber will happily accept.
Then, pick the right fluid. Some infants will open wide for a bottle that's filled with familiar breast milk. Others, reminded of breast milk's original source, are more open to formula or a combo. Warming the contents so it mimics straight from the tap breast milk can help too.
Time it right. Babies are usually more receptive to the bottle when they're in the market for something to eat.
Your hungry baby's not taking the bottle bait, in fact, offering a bottle when he's looking for a breast just plain makes him mad? Offer the bottle for dessert or as a snack between feeds. Let your baby get to know the bottle before getting down to business. To explore it, play with it, who knows, even put it in her mouth as she does everything else. Or, try sneaking it in during sleep as your little dreamer is drifting off, or just before he wakes. Once you've gained sleepy acceptance, you can try when baby's alert.
Remember too, that your baby is more likely to take a bottle when breasts aren't in the picture or within sniffing distance. So for best results, anyone but mom, baby's favorite milk machine, should offer the bottle.
Still facing resistance? Try persistence. While your breastfeeding baby may be puzzled by, or even furious at, this unfamiliar milk dispenser, chances are she's eventually going to open up her horizons and her mouth.
In the mean time, keep the pressure off. Even an infant can smell desperation. Offer the bottle once every couple of days, but don't push it. Try to appear blase' about the bottle, even if you're so not. Here's to happy bottle feeding.

[Maimaimeee]

Reading the comments had lessen my stress. I'm not the only one with this problem.

[bellalunaoxox]

Mothers read my comment:
Your baby WILL take the bottle. Read this again, say it out loud and with confidence, believe it.
It took several weeks and many bottles/nipples later (emulait, nuk, mam, Philips, haakaa) but eventually fully transitioned from total refusal to drinking 32+ ounces a day.
Persistence! Don’t give up! Offer it at least 3x a day and don’t worry if baby refuses it still after a few days. My baby cried and hated the bottle for at least a week straight. Then each day she took a tiny bit more.
Don’t give up. You got this.
(The bottle my baby ended up liking was the haakaa )

[keylayajones]

My baby used to take the bottle, just fine but over time, he's stopped taking it. When i try to give him the bottle, he just cries. I have to get him back on the bottle so I can start working again. I have until February to start working again before my CNA license expires and I'd have to completely retake the class in order to renew it, since I haven't worked in over a year. But I don't have the money to retake the class

[Kent]

My son just laughs when he sees a bottle

[destinyeagle]

After getting thrush I stopped breastfeeding my baby. Two months later I finally decided to take bottles away. Just until my baby got use to breastfeeding again. Now he refuses to take a bottle at all.

[worldoftrends]

My 3 month baby girl refuse to take bottlefeed

[mybabies]

Relate much my 3 months old baby dont want bottle

[AppleGuy]

This video didn't help at all. Mine takes the bottle just fine but I notice that milk still flows out the side of her cheeks while eating. It's a slow release and everything, idk why she spits it out sometimes

[whendhie]

I already went back to work last july 27 but i ended up going home after 2 hrs of shift😭😭my baby wont feed in the bottle and insisted not to take it 4 1/2 hrs😭😭 went i got home she cried and she was so hungry when i breastfeed her😭😭 my bosses gave me up until august 8 to train my baby but no success at all😭😭 i tried 4 different types of milk and i eveb pump my breastmilk and 5 different types of nipples but none of them work😭😭now i decided to resigned because my baby will refuse bottle feeding😭😭😭

[suanychavez]

I’ve been trying to get my baby since 2-3 months to get her bottle and she just refuses! She’s now 7 months old and mama need a break 😩

[snowlied]

We've started trying to bottle feed her at 15 days old! Despite some nurses telling me it was too early, I wanted her to get used to it. Well she's 2 month old and still doesn't accept the bottle 😭 I love breastfeeding but I don't want to do it forever

[hernandez]

Can anyone suggest any bottles that feel natural that worked? I currently use the Avent anti colic bottle. Truly appreciate it

[kathleenaustria]

I'm going back to work in a week and my baby is still not taking the bottle 😭 this is giving me so much stress.

[timasha]

What if they refuse bottle and formula and I don’t have anymore breast milk.

[stunning-computer-]

For frustrated Dads looking solutions at 2 am- just try when they are sleepy or close to wake

[bahamianempress]

Can someone help!! Extremely overactive let down and baby refuses every bottle and nipple i tried with her. Idk what to do anymore😩😭

[LifestyleSoul]

Can someone help me here!!

I tried bottle feeding for around a month now( he is 4.5 months now) and he's taking bottle, but not finishing it. My baby hardly drinks 40 ml and then refuses, I nurse him after that, because he's not full...

Any suggestions!!

[pallabimaitralifestyle]

My 8 month old son was taking bottle from 6 to 8 months, but suddenly is not, he is eating his solids well but does not want suck anything, i am trying sippy cup, open cup, spoon, but everything is only making little milk to go inside his body, the rest is on his pillow, neck, clothes and bottle!! So im mixing milk with other solid foods! Is it enough?

[nicoles-m]

My third baby refused the bottle in the hospital and again at 3 weeks. We tried a number of different bottles and others feeding her. She is 7 months and still will not take a bottle. We also tried cup feeding at certain points without enough success. She started solids at 6 months and gets my milk in a medicine or sauce cup that she sips or laps up when I am now at work without her. Boy is she hungry when I get home 8-10 hours later. But, at least we can get by on that now. Some babies just won't do bottles. 😃

[ChidimmaAli]

My baby have stop sucking the bottle what can I do though the mouth of the feeding bottle use to flow much