Help My Breastfed Baby Won’t Take A Bottle

First, remember that your baby isn’t being stubborn or “refusing” the bottle—she simply doesn’t associate it with food yet. So, when you offer it while she’s hungry, she might feel frustrated that what she sees as “not food” is being offered.

If we view this as a learning process, we can approach it with patience. No one, baby or adult, learns well when they’re hungry, tired, or stressed, so try to pick calm, happy moments for practice.

When it comes to bottle choice, any bottle will work—just choose one and stick with it. Bottles with optional handle attachments can be particularly helpful, as they allow your baby to have some control over the experience.

Then, turn the bottle into a game, ideally when she isn’t hungry or tired. Play by gently touching her nose, cheeks, forehead, and finally her mouth with the bottle’s teat. Babies are naturally curious at this stage and love exploring with their mouths, so she’ll likely open up and begin mouthing or chewing on it. Let her do this freely, without the pressure of expecting her to take a full feed. If she seems upset or frustrated at any point, stop and try again another time.

Repeat this playful approach as often as you both feel comfortable until she begins to develop a positive association with the bottle and even opens her mouth when she sees it. Gradually, as she starts to take small amounts, you can try offering larger quantities and begin timing the sessions closer to when she’s actually hungry. Using expressed breast milk can be especially helpful, as the familiar taste may encourage her to accept the bottle.

Most babies take a few weeks to adjust to this method, though some may catch on faster or take a little longer. Try not to worry if it feels like slow progress; as long as you’re consistent, she’ll get there in time. Allow her to set the pace and stop if she becomes stressed or loses interest.

Once she begins taking bottles, she may only drink small amounts at first, and that’s perfectly normal. Just keep in mind that once her mouth touches the bottle, breast milk remains good for 2-3 hours, while formula should be discarded after an hour.