Why Won't My Baby Take a Bottle?
Our 4 Main Reasons for Bottle Refusal
Through our work at BWB with hundreds of families, we’ve seen that when parents ask “Why won’t my baby take a bottle?” the answer usually connects to one (or more) of these areas:
The nipple – its shape, size, or flow might not match your baby’s needs.
The milk – taste or temperature can make a real difference.
Pain or discomfort – reflux, gas, or teething can all influence feeding.
A negative experience – even a single moment of choking, gagging, or pressure can leave a lasting memory.
When you identify which one plays a role for your baby, you’re already halfway to the solution. Both our “Why Won’t My Baby Take a Bottle” Mini-Course and our “14 Days to a Bottle” full course dive deep into these four reasons—so you can finally understand what’s happening and know how to respond.
Is Breastfeeding the Reason my Baby Refuses?
You might hear this a lot: “It’s all because you’re breastfeeding.” But that simply isn’t true. Your baby isn’t refusing the bottle because you’re breastfeeding. It’s the other way around: your baby struggles with the bottle, and therefore prefers breastfeeding.
The real reason your baby refuses lies in how they experience the bottle—and whether they trust sucking from it. Yes, many babies will play with the nipple in their mouth, moving it from side to side. They don’t resist having it there. But that doesn’t mean they trust sucking on it.
If your baby once sucked from the bottle but now only pushes it around, that shift isn’t random. It’s a sign that something happened—something that caused them to lose trust in sucking. On the other hand, if your baby never really sucked from a bottle, moving it around may simply mean they haven’t figured it out yet.
The good news is: you don’t need to stop breastfeeding for your baby to accept a bottle. What you do need is to uncover what’s behind the resistance, gently resolve it, and guide your baby toward trusting the bottle again.
Baby Won't Take a Bottle: How We can Help
In our “Why Won’t My Baby Take a Bottle?” Mini-Course, we break down the 4 key reasons—helping you take the very first step toward understanding your baby’s resistance.
In our full program, “14 Days to a Bottle”, you’ll not only revisit the “why” and explore those 4 reasons in depth—you’ll also go further. We guide you through a clear, step-by-step plan that addresses all 7 key elements of successful bottle-feeding. With gentle practice and careful attention, you’ll have the tools to overcome bottle refusal once and for all—gaining confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.
Our Commitment to You
We understand how draining and emotional bottle refusal can feel. That’s why we stand behind our programs with a 7-day money-back guarantee. If you join and realize it’s not the right fit, just send us a quick email—we’ll issue a full refund, no hassle and no stress.
And before you even decide, you’re welcome to watch our free video: “10 Myths About Bottle Refusal.” While it isn’t a step-by-step guide like the full course, it helps clear away the biggest myths, offers new insights, and lets you experience our supportive, gentle approach firsthand.
Get the 10 Myths Video
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