How to get your baby to take a bottle
This video will give you tips on how to get your baby taking a bottle consistently.
Offer a bottle in the newborn period
Your baby is born with a sucking reflex, and it is present around the first 12 weeks of life. If you introduce a bottle when the sucking reflex is present, it can be so much easier, because you baby naturally has the urge to suck.
Wait until breastfeeding is established- meaning your baby is back to birthweight and you can latch your baby pain free and independently.
Flow rate of the bottle matters
Babies don’t get nipple confusion, they get flow confusion. If the flow is too fast at the bottle, they may start to refuse the breast. However, I have seen countless times babies refuse a bottle if the flow is too slow when mom has VERY fast flow at the breast. It needs to match. If you need help deciphering this, you can book an in home or virtual session with one of my nurses here.
Choose the correct shape of bottle nipple
When companies are marketing baby bottles, they often talk about the feel of the bottle, trying to mimic the softness of the breast. It really isn’t about that. You want to choose a nipple with a gradual slope, which will encourage a big, deep latch and will allow your baby to maintain a deep latch at the breast. I have seen babies struggle to maintain a deep latch at the breast if they are using a bottle with a stubby nipple. If your baby has no problems going back and forth with the bottle and nipple you currently use, there is no need to change it!
Here are a few I recommend (not sponsored, and no affiliate):
One step at a time when you are introducing a bottle
Some babies will just take a bottle, and go back and forth. You can always just try to offer it using the paced bottle feeding method and see. If they take it, awesome.
If your baby is not having it (more common than you think), back up and follow their lead.
First offer only the nipple, with no milk. No, they will not get gas!
When they can consistently do then sucks, then offer a little milk, watching their cues.
Then offer milk and pace feed! Only try this process twice a day and if they refuse, honour that. Go slow and follow their lead.
Maintain the skill by offering 1/2 ounce to one ounce daily- maintain the skill!
If they are over 5 months... consider changing to a straw
Can babies over five months learn to take a bottle? Yes. Is it likely… no.
A straw sippy cup is a great alternative because they can still get volume.
Start by showing htem how to drink from a straw yourself.
Then use a Honey bear cup or one where you can gently squeeze and help them bring the fluid up into the straw.
This also takes time and patience but can be less frustrating than trying to get baby taking a bottle at that age.
We see you if you are frustrated!
If you need help, we can come to your home or help you virtually. You can learn more about it here (and it is covered through HSA & FSA accounts!).
