As an IBCLC, I am a huge advocate for breast feeding! I breastfeed my 4 children for at least a year each. But I struggled to get them to take a bottle from me and this led to huge stress for me as I planned my return to work.

Here are my top tips for getting a breastfed baby to take a bottle!

• Offer a bottle early in their life! If you are planning on weaning from breastfeeding or will be returning to work or have events like a hen weekend coming up, don’t leave it till a few days before to try! Offer a bottle once or twice a week before they turn 8 or 9 weeks! It doesn’t have to be a full bottle, an ounce will do!
• Choose who will give the bottle carefully. Baby will sense if the feeder is not confident! Some babies will feed fine from mammy while others will refuse and associate mammy with boobies!!
• Do not offer the bottle when baby is tired or hungry. Choose a time when they are refreshed and in good form.
• Choose the bottle carefully. You may think that a wide neck bottle and teet that looks like a breast will work better, but I have always found a narrow teet works much better.
• Heat the milk. While breastfed babies are used to drinking milk at body temp, I have always found that they will take it better from a bottle if it’s nice a warm!
• Check the milk temp before offering it to baby.
• Don’t despair! If they still refuse the bottle, and they are old enough, offer sips from a beaker or cup. They will drink eventually.. I promise you!