Baby Bottle Refusal Tips
Baby Bottle Refusal Can Happen For Many Reasons!
No matter what the age or reason, bottle refusal is stressful! Hang in there mama! Here are some tips and reasons behind why your baby may be going through a bottle refusal stage.
Some of the common reasons behind bottle refusal include:
Introducing a bottle too late-I recommend introducing a bottle to your baby between 4-6 weeks of age. This allows you to establish a supply and breastfeeding relationship with your baby. After introducing a bottle, continue to offer one feeding in a bottle every day or every other day.
Being pressured to feed from the bottle when first introduced-Your baby can sense your emotions. If you are rushed or anxious about feeding, your baby may not be as willing to accept the bottle.
Choking while feeding-Use a slow flow nipple to prevent too fast of flow!
Position matters! When offering a bottle, position your baby in a semi upright position and side-lying. This means that your baby’s ear, shoulder, and hip are all aligned. This position most closely mimics breastfeeding. In addition, it helps to prevent choking. Paced bottle feeding is also important to prevent choking. When using a paced feeding, you keep the bottle horizontal opposed to tipped up so that there is not a constant flow of milk coming out of the nipple. This slows down the feeding and mimics breastfeeding.
Oral restrictions-A tongue-tie restricts the movement of the tongue and can also affect the ability to feed efficiently from the breast and bottle. Your may notice dribbling out of the sides of the mouth when taking a bottle
Palate malformation-Babies born with a cleft palate require different types of bottles to feeding efficiently
Sucking discoordination-if your baby was born prematurely and required feedings through a tube they may need extra time and help to work on the suck and swallow pattern
Bitter taste from breastmilk-All breastmilk contains lipase! Lipase helps with digestion and has immunological functions. High levels of lipase in stored milk can taste soapy or metallic. This is still safe to drink. If you are concerned this may be the case, try mixing stored milk with freshly expressed when offering a bottle.
Tips to help your baby accept a bottle
Use a gradual slope nipple-you want your baby to flange their mouth around the base of the nipple as opposed to drinking out the nipple like a straw.
There are many popular nipples with a small spout and giant base available on the market right now. Below are three bottles and nipples I recommend that have a gradual sloped nipple.
Offer just the nipple to play with and suck on before introducing it with the bottle. This allows for an introduction before it’s feeding time. Repeated exposure can help with acceptance.
Offer the first few bottles when your baby is not overly hungry or tired. This could be halfway between feedings. After your baby has had their morning nap is also a good time!
Offer different oral stimulation toys-great for 3-4-month-olds to hold and chew/suck on and provide sensory input for the mouth
- Try different flow nipples
- If your baby is between 4-6 months old and continues to refuse the bottle after multiple attempts, consider offering an open mouth or sippy cup.
- Feed in a different environment than breastfeeding-you may have to stand up, face baby out, and look at something out the window
Resources to help your family
If you’re a new or expecting parent, establish healthy sleep habits and routines from the start with newborn sleep and feeding guide.
If you’re out of the newborn phase and facing sleep challenges with overnight sleep or naps, I have a class for you! The 4-24 Month Well Rested Collection will walk you step-by-step through a completely customizable sleep training experience. In just a few weeks, your baby will be getting 11-12 hours of independent night sleep, AND you’ll have a plan to navigate any future regressions or bumps in your journey. I’ll also help you set up a daytime routine and nap schedule that fits your family’s lifestyle and values. And you’ll get age-specific guidance to meet your baby right where he or she is developmentally at every stage from now until your baby turns 2.
I also offer 1:1 personalized sleep coaching to families starting at 3 months of age! I have multiple options that can help you get sleep on track!
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