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When switching to a bottle or your baby is refusing a bottle, introduce a bottle slowly and at a calm time without any rush.
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Experiment with different bottle types, nipple shapes, and flow rates.
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Try paced bottle feeding to help your baby adjust more easily.
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Consider involving another person to bottle-feed your baby, especially if you have been exclusively breastfeeding.
Whether you're moving on from solely breastfeeding to bottle or combination feeding, or your baby just seems to be going through a fussy phase, it can be pretty frustrating if they refuse their bottle, especially if you're planning on going back to work soon.
Before you try every bottle brand on the market to find one they like, it's worth noting that almost all babies will accept any type of bottle eventually, it just takes a little perseverance and the right tool kit of techniques.
Why might my baby refuse their bottle?
For some babies, learning to feed from a bottle can take a little time and requires patience. On the whole, preference is often why babies reject bottles.
They may not like the way the nipple might feel unfamiliar in their mouth, or they may find it difficult to adapt to drinking from a bottle because it requires different suckling movements to those used for breastfeeding.
This can be a trying and stressful time, especially because your baby can’t tell you why they won’t want to accept a bottle.
Below are some helpful answers to your questions.
Are they feeling unwell?
They may find it uncomfortable or painful to feed if they have a cold, an ear or throat infection, or thrush. Seek advice from your doctor as soon as possible if you think your baby has an illness that's putting them off their bottle.
Is it a phase?
Is bottle refusal a phase? Yes, in many cases, bottle refusal is temporary. Babies often resist new routines or equipment, especially if they are used to breastfeeding.
With patience, consistency, and experimenting with different techniques, most babies eventually adapt.
Do they need to be burped?
During feeds, your baby takes in little air bubbles which can get trapped in their little tummy. This can cause them discomfort and sometimes lead to colic.
If your baby seems uncomfortable during or after a feed, spending a few moments burping them can really help to relive discomfort caused by trapped wind.
You can burp your baby...
- Over your shoulder: With your baby's chin resting on your shoulder, support their head and shoulder area with one hand, and gently rub and pat their back. It can help to walk around while doing this.
- Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you. Place the palm of your hand flat against their chest and support their chin and jaw (don't put any pressure on the throat area). Lean your baby forwards slightly and with your free hand, gently rub or pat their back.
- Lying across your lap: Lie your baby across your lap face down. Supporting their chin (don't put any pressure on the throat area), use your free hand to gently rub or pat their back.
If these methods don't work and your baby still shows signs of trapped wind (crying, arched back, drawing legs into tummy, clenched fists), try lying them on their back and gently massaging their tummy and moving their legs back and forth.
Is the nipple blocked?
You can test for this by turning the bottle upside down, it should drip quickly. If not, it may be blocked which will not allow your baby to feed comfortably and cause them to feel frustrated. If the nipple is blocked, simply replace it with another sterile nipple. If the problem persists, you may need to try a different flow rate.
How to help my baby take a bottle?
What can I do to encourage my baby to take a bottle?
Here are some troubleshooting questions and handy bottle acceptance tips and tricks that may help your baby take a bottle.
Encourage nipple familiarity
If your baby is refusing the bottle, it's sometimes a good idea to get them used to the nipple on its own first.
Try bringing the nipple (without a bottle attached) to baby's mouth and rub it along their gums to help them get used to the unfamiliar texture.
Then, encourage baby to suck by placing your finger inside the nipple and rubbing it gently on their tongue.
Finally, you can add some drops of milk to the nipple and offer this to your baby. If at any point your baby pushes the nipple away or shows that they're not interested, then stop and try again another time.
Change nipple shape
You may want to change the nipple shape you’re using if baby is refusing a bottle. This can be due to whether they’re exclusively bottle feeding or if they’re used to the breast, their oral skills, or simply just preference.
We have a choice of two nipple shapes, both with different features to suit different babies:
Our original Wide Latch nipple is breast-like and flexible, designed to help reduce nipple confusion when switching between breast and bottle.
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Special ridges flex and stretch like a breast
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Supple pronounced slope for easy movement
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Wide base offers more space for a good seal for less air intake
Developed with Healthcare Professionals^, our Deep Latch nipple has a triangular shape for a deep latch and natural pace.
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Shaped to easily reach the soft palate
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Gradual taper to wrap lips around fully for good lip seal
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Nipple-like to fill whole mouth for less air intake
Our Perfect Latch Trial Kit is great for finding their perfect teat as it has two shapes in an extra slow flow to try, alongside a newborn-sized bottle and milk cup for cup feeding, a technique recommended by Healthcare Professionals for feeding breast milk while encouraging their latch.
Try different teat flows
You may want to slow down or speed up the pace milk comes out of the bottle to help with bottle refusal.
Babies have to learn slightly different suckling techniques to feed from a bottle to a breast, and generally (but not always) milk flows faster through a bottle than from a breast.
Starting with an extra-slow or slow flow teat can be helpful while baby gets used to the new sucking action needed to take milk from a bottle, without being overwhelmed. But if you have a strong flow of breast milk, they may find that slow flow is too slow, and therefore prefer a faster flowing teat.
We have a range of flow rates, from extra-slow flow designed for gentle first feeds, up to fast flow for bigger appetites.
There are signs that you can look out for to see if your baby needs a different flow rate. You can read more about them, the different flow rates available, and how to choose the right teat flow for your baby in our helpful guide here.
Six is the magic number
If you're baby is not taking to a bottle right away, you may be tempted to keep buying different bottles and nipples to try until they accept one.
Six tries of the same bottle is likely to be as successful as trying six different bottles one at a time. So, save your money and persevere with the bottle you think is closest to a breast in shape and movement.
Have someone else give the bottle
Breastfed babies may find the experience of feeding from a bottle very different to a breast as it may not feel as natural or intimate initially.
This could be the optimal time to call in help from your partner, friends or family members. If your baby gets the message that you're not around, they might be more likely to accept a bottle feed from someone else. Bottle feeding is a great opportunity for others to enjoy bonding with baby.
Try offering the bottle when the baby is not very hungry
When babies are having a tough time taking a bottle, it can help to offer it to them between feeds when they're not overly hungry. As we all know, learning a new skill takes patience and effort, and we all have more of both when we feel full, content and calm!
Practice paced feeding
Paced bottle feeds put your baby in control of the process, this means following your baby's cues and feeding them when they show signs that they're hungry. After a while, you will get to know your baby's hunger signs, they may...
- Try to find something to suck - usually their hands or fingers
- Move their eyes around
- Root around or look for the nipple of the bottle
- Start wriggling and getting restless
- Open and close their mouth
Keep in mind that crying is the last sign of wanting to feed, so try and feed your baby before they cry.
Babies tend to feed little and often, so they may not always finish their bottle. Never force your baby to finish the bottle - always be led by your baby. If your baby refuses their bottle, take it away and offer them another later.
Switch up the temperature
Some babies prefer warmed milk, some room temperature, and others cold. Experiment a bit to see if your baby has a preference. You can also try warming the nipple by placing it in warm water that's been boiled and left to cool a little.
On the flip side, is your baby's teething, you can chill the nipple in the fridge before the feeding to help relive sore gums.
Try to feed in a quiet space
Everything feels better when you're relaxed and comfortable, right? That goes for bottle feeding baby, too. Try to create a quiet and comfortable space to feed in. Somewhere away from distractions like the sounds and lights of the TV.
It's not always easy, especially if you have other little ones around, but it's important for you to have some quiet time too.
Try different feeding positions
Bottle feeding your baby means that you can switch it up and try holding them in different positions. Some babies like to sit upright when feeding, and this can help reduce reflux. Try holding baby facing out to look around the room, or sitting propped up on your legs.
You can also try feeding your baby while walking around and gently bouncing, swaying or rocking to help them feel calm and relaxed. Remember, never leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle as they may choke on the milk.
Try skin-to-skin contact
Maintaining eye- and skin-to-skin contact are great ways to bond with your baby, and dads, co-parents and other key adults who spend lots of time holding and feeding baby can also experience a surge of feel-good nurturing hormones.
UNICEF states that skin-to-skin contact also...
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Calms and relaxes baby
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Regulates the baby's heart rate and breathing, helping them to better adapt to life outside the womb
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Stimulates digestion and an interest in feeding
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Regulates temperature
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Enables colonisation of the baby's skin with the mother's friendly bacteria, thus providing protection against infection
Let baby to latch on their own
It can help to tickle baby's upper lip and nose with the nipple and wait for them to open wide to latch on like they would when breastfeeding, rather than putting it directly into their mouth. Make sure that baby latches onto the wide base of the nipple and not just the tip. Both of their lips should be flanged outwards, as they would be when breastfeeding.
Switch between breast and bottle
We know that as a parent, you'll do whatever's needed to keep your baby fed. So, if you're struggling to make the switch to solely bottle feeding, you could try to introduce a bottle gradually alongside breastfeeding, this is known as combination or mixed feeding.
How to switch from breastfeeding to bottle feeding
Transitioning from breast to bottle can be smoother if done gradually. Start by offering a few breastfeeds with a bottle of expressed milk, perhaps at a time when your baby is calm but slightly hungry. Experiment with different nipple shapes and flow rates until you find one your baby accepts.
How to keep your baby hydrated when they're refusing a bottle
If your baby refuses the bottle, it’s essential to maintain hydration. You can try offering expressed breast milk via a syringe, cup, or spoon if bottle feeding isn’t working. Keeping feeds frequent, calm, and consistent helps ensure they continue to get enough fluids.
Signs of dehydration in a baby not taking a bottle
Signs of dehydration in a baby may include:
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a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on top of their head
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sunken eyes
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few or no tears when they cry
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fewer wet diapers than usual
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being drowsy or irritable
When to consult a doctor about baby bottle refusal
Whether you've chosen to bottle feed with formula or expressed milk (or a combination of both), we know that it can be difficult from time to time.
Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor or other parents who've bottle-fed if you need help and support.
You should seek advice from a doctor if your baby is showing signs of dehydration, not gaining weight, or completely refusing all feeds. They can check for any anatomical issues that may be affecting latching, as well as offer other advice.
You’ve got this.
^ Applicable to the Deep Latch nipple and the 60ml Natural Start® bottle. To learn more about our work with Healthcare Professionals, see tommeetippee.com/hcp-claims-explained
