Introducing a Bottle to an Older Baby

Just like with MANY parenting decisions, there is no one right or wrong way to introduce a bottle. You don’t even have to do it EVER! This can be a really sensitive decision for many new breastfeeding parents, but hopefully you can feel good that there are plenty of options, and you might be able to find something that feels very right for your family.

Do You Have to Give Your Baby a Bottle?

The answer that might surprise you is, “no”. There are a lot of breastfeeding parents who never give their baby a bottle. A bottle can be a very handy tool in certain situations, but not everyone has the need to use them. My babies took a bottle a very small handful of times, and that’s all we needed. I was breastfeeding, and I was rarely separated from them for more than a couple of hours in the early months. I was lucky not to go back to work for a long time, so if I did need to leave them with someone else, it was only for two or three hours at a time. I went out for some meals or coffee dates, some shopping trips, did some yoga classes, and once went to a wedding where I couldn’t bring the baby. But that was really all. I didn’t do any of those things for the first couple of months, and after that I felt pretty comfortable knowing that I could feed my baby right before I left, and she would be fine until I got back. If you are in a similar situation, or maybe you work from home and your baby stays nearby, you might never have to give a bottle.

Then babies change. Once your baby is six months or older, they will likely be enjoying some solid food meals or snacks. That was when it got even easier for me. I could stay gone even longer because I knew she could be happy with something other than breast milk while I was away. I learned to save her favorite snacks for the times I was gone so she could be satisfied and also associate my being gone with getting some different and maybe special meals or snacks. If you prefer not to pump milk or give a bottle, it’s possible to make this happen if you have the right circumstances and a little patience. Once your baby is older and your milk supply is very stable, you’ll be able to feed from the breast less often.

Can You Wait to Introduce a Bottle?

If you do need to give your baby a bottle, but not right away, it can be OK to delay it. Most lactation consultants recommend starting between four and six weeks. Waiting until then makes it possible to give all of your focus to making breastfeeding work in the first few weeks. By that point, you’ll likely feel very comfortable breastfeeding, your baby will be strong and comfortable at the breast, and your milk supply should be very stable. Introducing a bottle and/or pumping at that point is less likely to interfere with breastfeeding. It’s also a good window for your baby. They may be more flexible and willing to accept a bottle while continuing to breastfeed. Some babies do still refuse a bottle, and if this happens in this window, it can feel very frustrating or even scary but know there are some things you can do to help.

Is it Too Late to Start Bottle Feeding?

It’s true that any baby, but especially older babies, might be very reluctant to take a bottle. An older baby has had plenty of time to develop a preference for breastfeeding and might not accept change very well. If you’ve been able to take a longer maternity leave or need to introduce a bottle later because of travel or other necessities, know it is still possible to do it. It might be a little trickier, but you will find something that works. Here are some ideas:

1. Try letting someone else give your baby the bottle. A lot of times, an older baby will understand that if they want to eat it’s their only option because you’re not there.
2. Use something other than a bottle. Older babies can be curious about new things. If you’ve tried a bottle and that hasn’t worked, try something else. There are bottles without bottle nipples. These can more resemble a sippy cup, and a baby might not see it as a replacement nipple, but as a fun new thing to chew on. You might even try a sippy cup or regular open mouthed cup or glass. The change might be fun and interesting to your baby and they can still get their milk.
3. It’s a great idea to offer expressed breastmilk since that’s familiar, but you might try serving it cold or at room temperature instead of at body temperature. That might make it new and interesting and get your baby started.
4. It’s best to offer something new when your baby is hungry but not STARVING. You don’t want them to be upset with hunger at the same time.
5. You can try offering a bottle while your baby is sleepy. Sometimes they don’t recognize the change right away, and accept it more easily.
6. Try giving the bottle or sippy cup while your baby is sitting in a high chair or on the floor. Changing the position for feeding might mean your baby accepts it more easily.
7. Finally, try it while you’re out doing something fun and different. The change of scenery might make your baby more open to an alternative feeding method.

Stay Calm and Trust the Process

If you keep trying and failing to give your baby a bottle, try not to worry too much. It’s really important to stay positive and patient. Don’t try so hard that you feel frustrated or even upset with your baby. Even if they don’t accept a bottle from you, your older baby will get fed when you’re not there. Older babies are very different from newborns. There are a lot of strategies to make it work. It might take some patience and creativity from the caregiver, but you can trust that it will happen.