If you’re breastfeeding and planning to introduce a bottle, you might think the process will be pretty straightforward.
Baby gets hungry.
You offer a bottle.
Baby drinks.
Done.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Then my baby refused the bottle.
And suddenly something I assumed would be simple became a problem I spent a lot of time trying to solve.
Looking back, there are several things I wish I had known before we started.
There isn’t one “right” way to introduce a bottle
One of the first things I learned is that every baby is different.
Some babies take to a bottle immediately.
Others need more time.
Some will take a bottle from Dad but not Mom.
Some prefer a particular nipple.
Others seem to have very strong opinions about the entire experience.
So if your baby doesn’t immediately love the bottle, don’t assume you’ve done something wrong.
Start before you desperately need it
If you know you’ll eventually need someone else to feed your baby, it can be helpful to give yourself some time to introduce the bottle.
Maybe you’re returning to work.
Maybe you have a trip coming up.
Maybe you simply want dad or another caregiver to be able to participate in feedings.
Whatever the reason, giving yourself some time to experiment can take some of the pressure off.
Because the last thing you want is to be thinking:
“My baby starts daycare next week and still won’t take a bottle.”
Ask me how I know.
Let someone else try
If you’re breastfeeding, your baby knows that you are the source of breastfeeding.
That can make introducing a bottle a little confusing.
One thing worth trying is having another trusted caregiver offer the bottle.
Dad, grandparent, nanny, or another caregiver may have better luck simply because your baby isn’t expecting to breastfeed from them.
And yes, sometimes Mom may need to leave the room.
I know.
It’s easier said than done.
Don’t assume your baby will like the first bottle you buy
There are a lot of choices when it comes to bottles and nipples.
And unfortunately, babies don’t always cooperate with our carefully researched purchasing decisions.
You may need to experiment with different bottles, nipple shapes, or flow rates to find something your baby seems comfortable with.
Try not to buy an entire cabinet full at once.
Start with a few options and see what your baby prefers.
Think about what makes breastfeeding familiar
This was the part that really changed how I thought about bottle feeding.
Breastfeeding isn’t just about milk.
For a baby, it’s also a familiar person, familiar smell, familiar touch, familiar position, and familiar routine.
A bottle changes some of those things.
So I started wondering:
What if we could make the bottle experience feel a little more familiar?
That question eventually became the inspiration for Bottimals.
Why I created the bottle-lovey®
The bottle-lovey® was created to bring one familiar element—Mom’s scent—close to the bottle.
The removable scent heart can be worn close to Mom’s skin and then placed inside the bottle-lovey®. The lovey attaches around the bottle, keeping the scent nearby during feeding.
It’s a simple concept:
Take something familiar and bring it along for something new.
Does that mean every baby will suddenly take a bottle?
No.
Every baby is different.
But when I was struggling with bottle refusal, I wished I had another option to try.
So I created one.
Don’t turn every bottle into a test
This is probably one of the biggest things I wish I could tell my past self.
When you need your baby to take a bottle, it can become incredibly easy to obsess over every feeding attempt.
Did they drink?
How much?
Why aren’t they drinking?
Should I try again?
What if they never take one?
Take a breath.
Your baby is learning something new.
Give them time.
Follow their cues.
And try not to measure your success by one feeding.
What if your baby still refuses?
If you’ve tried different approaches and your baby continues to refuse a bottle, talk with your pediatrician or another qualified feeding professional.
There may be factors specific to your baby that are worth discussing.
And remember: needing help doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Sometimes parenting is just a lot of trial and error.
What I wish I’d known
I wish I had known that introducing a bottle wasn’t simply about finding the right bottle.
It was about helping my baby become comfortable with a completely new experience.
I wish I had given myself more time.
I wish I had stressed less about whether every attempt was successful.
And I wish I had known that sometimes the best solutions come from simply asking:
“What could make this feel more familiar?”
That question led me to create Bottimals.
And if you’re currently holding a bottle while your baby looks at you like you’ve completely lost your mind, just know:
I’ve been there.
You’re not alone.
And you have more options than you think.
Disclaimer
The information on this blog is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Bottimals is not a medical provider. Every baby is different, so please consult your pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional with questions or concerns about your baby’s health, feeding, nutrition, or development.
Bottimals products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.