Going back to work after having a baby comes with enough emotions.
Then you add:
“My baby won’t take a bottle.”
Suddenly, returning to work feels a whole lot more complicated.
I know this feeling because my own experience with bottle refusal is what ultimately inspired me to create Bottimals.
And if you’re preparing to return to work while breastfeeding, I want you to know that you’re not the only mom thinking about this.
Start earlier than you think you need to
If you know you’ll eventually need your baby to take a bottle, don’t wait until the week before your return date to introduce one.
Give yourself time to experiment.
You may need to try different bottles, nipples, positions, caregivers, and routines.
And remember: the goal isn’t perfection.
You’re simply giving your baby opportunities to become familiar with something new.
Have someone else practice with your baby
If you’re breastfeeding, your baby may associate you very strongly with breastfeeding.
That’s one reason some moms have success letting another trusted caregiver take the lead.
Try having dad, grandparent, nanny, or another caregiver offer the bottle.
You may even want to step into another room (or actually, use this as an opportunity to get outside for a walk, mama!).
Practice without pressure
It can be tempting to turn bottle practice into a daily test:
“Will you take it today?”
But babies pick up on our energy.
Instead, try to make bottle practice a calm part of the day.
If your baby isn’t interested, take a break and try again later.
Create a familiar routine
Think about everything your baby experiences during breastfeeding.
Your voice.
Your smell.
The way you hold them.
The environment.
The routine.
When you introduce a bottle, many of those things may change.
Creating a predictable bottle-feeding routine can help make the experience feel less unfamiliar.
Bring a little bit of Mom with them
This was the idea behind Bottimals.
When I was trying to solve my son’s bottle refusal, I kept coming back to one question:
What makes breastfeeding feel familiar to a baby?
One answer is Mom’s familiar scent.
The bottle-lovey® was designed to bring that scent close during bottle feeding.
Mom wears the removable scent heart against her skin, then places it inside the bottle-lovey®. The lovey attaches around the bottle so the scent stays nearby.
It’s a simple idea:
If the bottle feels unfamiliar, what if we could add something familiar?
What if your baby still refuses?
First, don’t panic.
Bottle refusal can take time to work through.
Continue experimenting with different approaches and pay attention to your baby’s cues.
And if you’re worried that your baby isn’t getting enough milk or has other feeding concerns, talk with your pediatrician.
Your baby’s health comes first.
Give yourself some grace
Going back to work can bring up a lot of complicated feelings.
You can be excited about returning to your career and still miss your baby.
You can want more independence and still feel guilty.
You can be confident in your decision and still worry.
And if bottle refusal is part of the equation, it can add another layer of stress.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before your first day.
Prepare where you can.
Practice when you can.
And give yourself—and your baby—some grace.
That’s something I wish I had known from the beginning.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need a plan and a little patience.
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.