Why Babies Refuse Bottles - And What Gets Missed -E15
Bottle refusal isn’t always behavioural.
And if you’ve tried every bottle on the market without success… there may be something else going on.
In this episode, Katie and Johanna, IBCLC's, unpack bottle and teat refusal in breastfed babies — looking at both the behavioural side as well as the physiological side that often gets missed.
They walk through the practical strategies many parents are already trying: changing positions, changing the caregiver, adjusting milk temperature, experimenting with teat flow and creating low-pressure experiences around bottles.
But they also explore why some babies still struggle despite all of that.
The conversation dives into oral function, tongue movement, high palates, gag reflexes, bottle teat design, and why some babies physically struggle to coordinate sucking on certain bottle shapes.
Katie and Johanna also discuss how stress and pressure around bottle feeding can quickly escalate into bottle aversion — and why play, curiosity and responsiveness matter far more than forcing feeds.
Importantly, we talk about the situations where bottles simply aren’t working before a return to work, many babies compensate by 'reverse cycle feeding' — breastfeeding much more frequently overnight.
This episode is packed with practical ideas, nuanced clinical discussion, and reassurance for both mums, new parents and professionals.
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Why breastfed babies may suddenly refuse bottles
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Behavioural strategies that genuinely help
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Why teat shape matters more than marketing suggests
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Bottle flow rates and matching milk flow
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The role of milk taste
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Why some babies become distressed around bottles
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High palates, tongue tie and oral sensitivity
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The connection between bottle refusal and sucking function
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Why play and curiosity reduce bottle aversion
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Open cups vs straw cups vs bottles
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Reverse cycling and feeding when mums return to work
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Why observation matters more than rigid rules
Mentioned In This Episode
Decoding the Suck — Professional Training
NEW Parent Sucking Support Packages
Susan Howard IBCLC - Reel with O Ball and bottle teat
The Feeding Couch® — Breastfeeding Support for Parents
Breastfeeding and Lactation: the fundamentals - Professional Training
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Medical Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not replace individual medical care. Mums and new parents should always seek support from their own healthcare provider, lactation consultant or medical practitioner regarding their individual circumstances.
Keywords
bottle refusal breastfeeding, breastfed baby won’t take bottle, teat refusal baby, high palate bottle refusal, tongue tie bottle refusal, oral function breastfeeding, paced bottle feeding, reverse cycling breastfeeding, bottle aversion breastfed baby, breastfeeding and bottle refusal, lactation consultant bottle refusal
