During the early weeks of life, your baby is feeding reflexively and is likely to both breastfeed and bottlefeed.

However, once your baby becomes self-aware in the second month, he or she can make decisions and the first decision may be to refuse all bottles, even if he or she has been taking one daily. There is no easy solution to this frustrating problem, but your baby will return to bottle feeding if you are patient and consistent. Below are some ideas to facilitate this process.

• Try bottles with nipples that are shaped more like a breast, such as the Playtex NaturaLatch and Gerber ComfortHold. Your baby may have more difficulty accepting narrow nipples, such as Avent and Nuk.
  
  
• If your baby takes a pacifier, you can look for a nipple with a similar shape. Some parents have found they can transfer the baby from the pacifier to the bottle.
  
  
• Your baby is more likely to accept a bottle if someone other than mom offers it. The mother should not be seen or heard when the bottle is offered, as this will remind your baby that mom's breast is available.
  
  
• Timing can make a difference. Generally, babies are least likely to accept a bottle in the evening as they seem more dependent on the comfort of breastfeeding at that time.
  
  
• Bottle feeding should not take place in the location where the baby is usually breastfed.
  
  
• Offer the bottle as if it is a special treat. Look and act happy and confident, and talk calmly, or even sing.
  
  
• Try distracting your baby. Position the baby facing out (back against your chest) and looking out of a window, at a mobile or at a TV. You may also feed outside.
  
  
• Expect your baby to reject your initial attempts and be prepared for this reaction. Persist with the bottle held gently, but firmly, to your baby's lips even though he or she may shake his or her head and arch away. After several minutes, put down your baby and the bottle, and walk out of sight. Your baby will be puzzled, indignant and/or hungry. Return a few moments later, cuddle with your baby and again happily offer the bottle.
  
  
• Do not attempt to breastfeed as soon as your baby rejects the bottle, as this will prolong your baby's refusal.
  
  
• If your baby is over 3 months of age, try apple juice in the bottle. If baby takes this successfully, then try breast milk or formula again. Sometimes a baby will refuse formula but take a mixture of half breast milk and half formula. You should quickly decrease the juice.
  
  
• It can help if a mother leaves the house and allows another family member or a competent caregiver to bottle feed the baby, as long as the individual understands the topics addressed above. While gone, the mother should not call home and check up on the feed! This can undermine the confidence of the person bottle feeding the baby.
  
  
• Find a trustworthy, patient and experienced caretaker to help you if family members find bottlefeeding too frustrating. Choose someone who simply considers this situation a challenge, not a problem.
  
  
• Try feeding the baby from a cup or spoon.
  
  
• If you are returning to work, you may want to discuss your bottlefeeding challenges with the future caregiver. Sometimes this person will take on the challenge for you.
  
  
• Any amount of milk or formula your baby consumes from the bottle is a big success. Congratulate yourself and your baby!

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