Breastfeeding is an amazing experience for both mothers and babies, but not being able to breastfeed your baby occasionally is not a crime or anything to be ashamed of.
However, some babies might have difficulties accepting the bottle, especially breastfed babies.
It’s great if your baby latched on from day one, but you might want to get her used to the bottle too.
If your baby doesn’t want to drink from the bottle, it’s time to figure out what is the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses bottles.
If you want to continue breastfeeding successfully, with the occasional bottle feeding, all you need is a soft bottle nipple that mimics mom’s breast.
The right bottle for every baby is out there, including your little one.
There will come a time when you will want to wean her off your breast and she will have to switch to the bottle, which is the perfect opportunity to help her make a peaceful transition.
Remember, you will need a lot of patience during this period.
Your baby will become fussy and moody, which is completely normal as you are changing her routine.
If you are on the hunt for the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses a bottle, search no more as I’ve got you covered with this list!
For all of you busy moms, here’s a quick list of our top picks!
Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Munchkin Latch BPA-Free Bottle | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
Nanobebe Baby Bottle | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Best Bottle For Breastfed Baby Who Refuses Bottle
1. Medela Breastfeeding Set
- Sample an assortment of our breast milk feeding and storage products, including our breast milk feeding bottles, breast milk storage bags, and nipples
- The containers in our breastfeeding gift set are compatible with all Medela breast pumps, allowing you to easily store and feed with the same containers throughout your breastfeeding journey
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Medela is a leading brand in baby equipment, with the best manual and electric breast pumps and the best bottles for breastfeeding.
This brand has been recognized by physicians all over the US, along with satisfied parents whose children finally accepted feeding from the bottle.
It comes in a bundle with everything a new mom could need:
• Three bottles
• Six containers for breast milk
• 25 storage bags for breast milk
These bottles can be used with Medela’s breast pumps (all models), which turn bottles into storage space for milk too.
This is a very important feature for maintaining the warmth and freshness of breast milk.
However, these bottles are not meant for freezing milk, so avoid putting them in the freezer.
You can safely store your milk in the freezer by using storage bags, though.
Fresh breast milk can be kept in the freezer for up to six months.
Even though these are plastic bottles, there is no need to worry as Medela prides itself on only having BPA-free products.
There are three slow flow silicone nipples included.
The wide-base design of each nipple is perfect for a breastfeeding baby transitioning from nursing to bottle-feeding.
I would recommend ordering medium flow bottle nipples along with this set, in case you notice your baby pinching the teat while drinking the milk.
This could be a sign your baby is prepared to switch to a faster flow rate.
Of course, you should always make sure to check if the flow is suitable for your little one to prevent any feeding hazards.
Also, even though it has a great design, Medela bottles do not possess a venting system.
If your baby suffers from colic or gassiness it would be better to avoid them, at least as a first choice.
2. Philips Avent Natural Bottle Set
- Ideal starter set for the new mom with multiple bottle and nipple sizes and bottle accessories
- Natural wide nipple shape and ultra soft feel makes it easy for baby to combine with breastfeeding
- Ultra soft nipple mimics the feel of the breast; The bottles are made of polypropylene (plastic) and pacifiers are hospital grade silicone
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Phillips Avent offers some of the best bottles for breastfed babies who refuse bottles, especially for new moms who have no idea where to start.
Both Dr. Brown and Avent bottles have long been great rivals at the top of the best bottles chart.
However, the competition has greatly increased over the last few years, providing us with a greater choice of various bottle designs.
This set covers all of the baby feeding essentials, as it includes:
• 2 bottles (9oz) with slow flow nipples
• 3 bottles (4oz) with newborn nipples
• 2 extra bottle nipples (one slow flow, one newborn)
• 2 Soothie pacifiers (up to 3 months age)
• 1 Bottlebrush
These natural bottles from Avent are very easy to use and are readily available, so you don’t have to worry about replacing the old with the new one in case you need to.
Also, there are six different flow rates of bottle nipples, which leaves a lot of room for discovering the one that will keep your baby most satisfied.
The nipple design is on point, introducing the “Comfort petals” base which mimics the flexibility of mom’s breast.
It makes the teat ultra-soft, but not so soft it causes nipple collapse during feeding.
Basically, the nipple is the most important part of the bottle as it contains the anti-colic vent system.
This system prevents the air bubbles which cause gas, burping, or colic.
This set is perfect for parents who like to keep things simple and avoid more modern and complicated designs.
The only thing I don’t like is the bottle brush included in the set.
Bottles are not difficult to clean, but I recommend you getting any other brush than this one.
It’ll definitely make your life easier!
3. Comotomo Baby Bottle
- Comotomo baby bottles are deisgned to most closely mimic breastfeeding to reduce bottle rejection and nipple confusion issues
- Ultra wide-neck design allows easy cleaning by hand without a brush. Nipple and body is made of 100% safe hygienic silicone
- Safe in microwave, boiling water, dishwashers and sterilizers
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Latching on to the bottle nipple seems like an impossible mission?
Well, not with the Comotomo baby bottle!
This is one of the most interesting bottle designs I have seen so far, (a functional one, of course) which also delivers on what it promises.
Comotomo has come up with a great improvement to their breastfeeding bottle design by introducing the wide-neck silicone bottle.
Its wide mound makes it super easy to clean without using a brush.
As it is made out of hygienic silicone, it can be sterilized with boiled water, a microwave, or a sterilizer for bottles.
I love the fact they didn’t put all the effort into the nipple design and neglect the bottle itself.
Instead of going traditional, they decided to move on to new bottle technology and new materials in order to make the best bottle for bottle-fed babies.
Silicone bottles are very helpful as they provide the breast-like feeling every time those cute, little baby hands squeeze the bottle, just like her mom’s boob.
The nipple has a wide, soft mound which makes transitioning back and forth much easier, and the dual anti-colic vents are great for reducing painful gassiness, colic, and similar issues.
There are two bottles in the pack and you can decide whether you want to order 5oz or 8oz bottles.
The main difference is the smaller one comes with a slow flow nipple, and the bigger one has a medium flow nipple.
There are four types of Comotomo nipples based on the flow rate:
• Slow (one hole)
• Medium (two holes)
• Fast (three holes)
• Variable (Y-cut)
Each of these can be ordered separately, so if you want to prepare for older stages as well, make sure to get yours in time!
Even though this design is a hit and a great step forward, it isn’t without its flaws.
The bottle is not so stable because of the shape and the soft material, so do not leave it without the top on.
4. Dr. Brown’s Options+
- NEW NIPPLE DESIGN Each nipple is engineered for consistent flow, so you and baby know what to expect
- Breast-like shape is correctly contoured for a proper latch and a more natural bottle feeding experience
- Shown to better preserve nutrients in breast milk and formula
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Dr. Brown’s has been one of the safest options for parents all around the world for many years.
Dr. Brown is a brand that never disappoints with its classic design, breast-like teat, and unbeatable anti-colic venting system.
Options+ comes with a wide-neck baby bottle, which is supposed to make transitioning from breast to bottle a lot easier, along with the soft nipple that encourages natural latch.
However, the most praised thing about these bottles is the venting system.
Actually, it is this system that receives the most praise and criticism at the same time.
It is the best bottle for gassy and colicky babies, with its improved six-piece vent design, but cleaning it is a drag, especially when you have to do it several times a day.
However, you may remove the system if your baby doesn’t have a lot of tummy issues, as the nipple has a ventilation system to prevent air bubbles.
Dr. Brown’s bottles come in plastic and glass versions.
I personally prefer the plastic one as it’s easier to use, lighter, and doesn’t break as easily as the glass one.
5. NUK Simply Natural
- Multiple nipple holes and innovative, extra-soft nipple provide a natural feed-it feels just like moms breast
- 9 oz bottle comes with medium-flow nipple that has 6 holes to provide babys most comfortable feed
- Advanced 1-piece anti-colic Air System helps reduce colic, gas, and spit up for greater comfort and fewer messes
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This is by far the simplest bottle design. NUK never disappoints and doesn’t promise what it can’t deliver.
Their Simply Natural bottle is exactly that, a simple and natural bottle which is a must-have product for every breastfeeding mom as it mimics the natural feeling of nursing with the six-hole nipple, which makes it medium flow.
Slow flow has three holes, even though bottle nipples usually have only one. The multiple holes create a more realistic breastfeeding experience.
The nipple design mimics the mother’s breast as well, so the baby can easily transition back and forth without causing nipple confusion.
RELATED: 8 Best Steps On How To Fix Nipple Confusion The Easy Way
I love wide-neck bottles because you can’t miss them and spill the milk, even during the night when you are sleepy and can’t see a thing in front of you.
Even though it may look like a glass bottle, it’s not. NUK uses Tritan plastic, which is much more durable and healthier as it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, such as BPA, BPS, or any other compound which might be too harsh on your little munchkin.
In this set, you get six 9oz bottles, which is a great deal if you ask me. This budget-friendly bottle might be just what you’re looking for if your baby has a tough time accepting it.
6. Nanobebe Flexy Silicone Bottle
- SOFT AND FAMILIAR FEEL: Naturally hygienic, extra-soft, easy to transition between breast and baby bottles, and avoid nipple confusion; made from the highest grade silicone, dishwasher & microwave safe, BPA, PVC, LEAD, and PHTHALATE FREE
- ANTI-COLIC, GAS-FREE FEEDING: Advanced 360° TRIPLE VENTED non-collapsible nipple design, so baby keeps a perfect latch and no post-feeding fussiness, gassiness, or discomfort; Same soft nipple as theaward-winning Nanobebe breast milk bottle
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Nanobebe has been listening to, analyzing, and learning from all the critiques other silicone bottle manufacturers have received.
A few months ago, this brand finally introduced its own silicone bottle which was a total game-changer.
Do you remember the main criticism Comotomo received regarding the stability of their bottle?
Well, Nanobebe has used this to make a new silicone bottle that has a non-tipping bottom.
Some silicone nipples collapsed during bottle feeding, but this brand took care of that by creating a non-collapsing teat for a perfect latch.
The nipple contains the advanced triple vented design, which provides your baby with quality feeding time without burping and gas.
This is not even their first innovative and unique bottle.
They introduced a breast-like bottle, which resembles the mother’s breast and looks more like a bowl than a bottle, at least to me.
Nanobebe has made the right moves at the right time by releasing their new silicone bottle, which is taking the breastfeeding bottle market by storm.
7. Lansinoh Momma Naturalwave
- REDUCES NIPPLE CONFUSION: The NaturalWave Nipple is clinically proven to reduce nipple confusion. It enables baby to use the same natural feeding actions breastfed babies learn when breastfeeding.
- ANTI-COLIC DESIGN: Lansinoh bottles feature a unique venting system that reduces babys intake of gas, a potential cause of colic & spit up. Inner vertical grooves make the nipple collapse resistant.
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Lansinoh was founded by a young mom who wanted to help other moms with nursing and essential nursing equipment.
This bottle’s design is so simple you probably wouldn’t notice it if you saw it somewhere in the store.
However, simplicity is actually the best thing about Lansinoh’s bottles, as they are the easiest bottles to clean even though they don’t have the wide neck of other ones.
The bottle can be disassembled into three washable parts, so all you need is a bit of soaking in soapy water and some rinsing and they are ready for use again.
This brand is all about nipple design.
The teat is actually the most important part of the bottle as it possesses a unique venting system that reduces unwanted air intake.
What is the Naturalwave nipple?
Naturalwave nipple is made of soft and 100% hygienic silicone, which is covered with a matte surface that helps the baby to latch on successfully.
Naturalwave technology research has been active for more than 50 years and the brand continues in order to improve the quality of bottle-feeding for breastfed babies.
This is the best bottle for a baby who refuses the bottle price-wise, which is why it comes in pretty high on the top 10 bottle chart.
8. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature
- ACCEPTANCE GUARANTEED*: Breast-like shaped nipple for an easy and natural latch – 97% mom recommended**
- NATURAL FEEL: Super-sensitive bottle nipple flexes like mom, smooth silicone feels closer to skin
- ANTI-COLIC: Optimum venting anti-colic nipple valve for less air intake and less discomfort for baby
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Tommee Tippee is a very popular baby brand among parents, providing high-quality baby products which are budget-friendly.
Closer to nature bottles are made up of 3 pieces, which are simple to wash and put together – there are no additional pieces to unnecessarily complicate your new-mom life.
When it comes to the bottle design, the wide neck has become very popular in the past few years, as more and more brands use this feature for their bottles.
There are two reasons for this: practicality and natural feeling.
Wide neck bottles are a lot easier to clean, even though this one from Tommee Tippee might be a bit tricky to wash.
The bottle shape is very interesting and enables the baby to grasp it easily, but liquids might get stuck in those curves so you have to wash it more thoroughly.
A wide neck also means a wide nipple mound, which creates that natural feeling of nursing while you bottle feed your baby.
The bottle nipple indeed deserves praise, as it is shaped naturally just like mom’s breast, and it has the venting system which reduces air intake while the baby is drinking milk.
One thing I love about this product is that there is an extra slow nipple option, which means this bottle is suitable for preemies as well.
It can even serve as a practice for latching on mom’s boob too.
I would say this is the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses bottle when it comes to colicky babies.
9. Lifefactory Glass Bottle
- Silicone Sleeve Blanket
- Capacity: 120 Milliliters
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Lifefactory has been giving us life with their glass bottles!
They took the best aspects of classic bottle shape and design and turned it into a modern solution with a colorful twist.
Glass infant bottles are still the number one choice for many moms because they cannot leak harmful chemicals into the milk, and are more odor-resistant than plastic ones.
However, plastic bottles are much safer now than they used to be, but I do agree the odor lingers a bit longer in plastic containers than glass.
Lifefactory has managed to solve one of the biggest issues of glass bottles, which is the bottle breaking.
There’s no need to worry about this bottle falling on the ground, as the silicone sleeve ensures it won’t break.
Also, this sleeve enables your little one to hold the bottle without any fear of it slipping from her little hands.
I also have great news when it comes to milk storage – it is freezer safe!
This is a very convenient thing for when another caregiver has to feed the baby, as you don’t have to explain to anyone where the bottle is, how to defrost milk from the storage bag, etc.
They just need to take the bottle out of the freezer, wait until it defrosts, and give it to the baby.
This is a great bottle for moms who prefer glass bottles in general.
It’s sturdy, easy to use and wash, and safe from breaking.
The bottle can be turned into a sippy cup as well, which means your munchkin doesn’t have to change her favorite bottle brand throughout the entire bottle-feeding period.
10. Munchkin Latch Set
- Better LATCH: Proper latch is achieved when moms nipple reaches all the way back to babys soft palate. The accordion-style nipple on LATCH stretches like the breast, helping baby latch easily and correctly.
- Like the Breast: When breastfeeding, baby controls the flow of milk by applying pressure to the base of moms nipple. The LATCH bottle mimics mom by releasing more breast milk as baby pushes against the nipples base.
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This brand has ensured your child only gets the best by coming up with the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses bottles, which has been confirmed by a lot of satisfied mammas.
Munchkin Latch bottle imitates mom’s breast very successfully, as the teat stretches, pumps, and flexes just like mom’s boob.
The flow of milk is controlled by the baby, depending on how much pressure she applies to the nipple, making this one of the top bottles for babies who refuse bottles.
The manufacturer has invested a lot of time into the design, including the positioning of the anti-colic valve which is positioned at the bottom of the bottle.
This is a great feature, but also a problematic one.
My only concern was leakage, which comes from the bottom of the bottle and happened several times.
However, I managed to discover the cause of the leaking, which was improper washing of the anti-colic valve.
After I resolved it, things went back to normal!
I would definitely recommend this bottle to those who have big problems with gassiness, colic, reflux, and similar issues which might cause your baby to feel bad.
FAQs
Why does my baby refuse a bottle?
Babies communicate in their own language, which is difficult to understand.
However, there is one certain thing every mamma understands immediately, and that is when their baby wants feeding time.
Infants have a special way of crying when they are hungry or asking for comfort.
Nursing is extremely important for your baby as it relieves her from pain, makes her feel secure, and creates that special bond between a mother and her baby.
However, exclusive breastfeeding doesn’t mean you have to be there literally every time your child wants to eat.
Every mom eventually has to run some errands, get back to work, or simply be absent for a few hours.
It is perfectly normal if your baby doesn’t accept the bottle. However, there is more than one reason for bottle resistance.
Your baby may reject drinking from the bottle because she is not hungry and just needs some comfort food.
Of course, a baby prefers nursing in her mother’s arms more than anything, but sometimes you will just have to wait until it’s her feeding time and give her a bottle, without nursing her in between.
Another very common issue is the bottle itself.
You bought some fancy bottles before your baby was born because you heard it was the best and it fits all babies.
Well, there is no such thing as a universal bottle, but you can discover what the real issue is.
The bottle itself is rarely a problem, as it doesn’t have any special function except to keep the milk inside.
Common refusal issues are related to nipple shape and the flow rate of the bottle.
The bottle nipple could be too soft or too sturdy.
If the nipple doesn’t fit your baby’s needs she will just become fussy and irritated and refuse to eat.
A similar thing may occur with the flow rate.
If it is too slow, the baby will become stressed and will struggle to get the milk out, but if the flow is too fast she might start coughing or choking.
There is no magical solution to this issue, unfortunately.
You may follow some general guidelines, such as when to give a bottle to your infant for the first time, but the only way to know which bottle fits your baby’s needs the best is to test a few models until you find the perfect one.
What is the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses bottles?
As we discussed earlier, finding the best bottle for your baby can be difficult, especially if your baby refuses the bottle.
However, when your baby refuses a bottle she might be giving you some valuable information by doing so.
For example, if you offered your baby a bottle with a narrow neck, you could try to offer her a wide neck bottle next time.
Basically, try to offer your baby the opposite of what she tried first. Wide neck bottles use a wide nipple base as well, which closely resembles mamma’s breast.
Generally speaking, the best bottle for breastfed infants has a good venting system, which will reduce air intake and prevent colic and gassiness.
Also, nipple size is very important for better acceptance of the bottle.
I prefer ones that have 5 or 6 different flow rates (standard nipples go from 3-6 nipple options).
Choose the nipple according to your baby’s mouth size and age.
All these aspects are very important for a natural latch, not only to the mom’s breast but the bottle nipple as well.
How can my baby accept the bottle?
Infants, especially newborns, have the natural urge to suck, which starts during the pregnancy period.
This is a natural instinct for feeding and calming as well, which is why breastfed babies use nursing to calm themselves.
Your breast is the first thing offered to your baby, and so she became familiar with it from day one.
You should do the same with the bottle.
There is no need to introduce a bottle from day one, but don’t take too long, because the longer you take, the lower the chance the baby will accept the bottle.
It would be best to use the bottle within the first 4-5 weeks after birth.
If the baby is not interested at all, you could try a few tricks such as establishing a connection with the bottle by gently touching the face.
You may put it on your finger as well, and try to rub it around the mouth area and on the gums.
If she reacts positively after some time, try feeding her.
Take a break from feeding your baby. It is more than enough that you breastfeed, you can certainly let someone else feed the baby with a bottle while you take a rest.
Also, whenever she feels your presence she will ask for the real thing, and if you are not around your baby will take the bottle more easily.
You can also try different positions until you find the one that makes your baby relaxed enough to accept the bottle.
I also tried squeezing a few drops of milk, just so she could taste it, and that actually worked.
These actions should be repeated a few times until you know the baby has fully accepted the bottle.
This will definitely be very stressful and frustrating, but remember, you are doing this for yourself and for the baby.
Make sure you are relaxed, as the baby can feel your energy and might become nervous if you are nervous too. It’s important to try different strategies to get your breastfed baby to accept a bottle, so don’t give up too soon!
Finally, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses bottle, read as much about them as you can, and make 3 wise choices, one will surely be a jackpot.
Conclusion
Finding a bottle for a baby who refuses the bottle is a great challenge for an experienced mom, let alone a new mom who is still trying to come to terms with everything that has happened in her life over the last few weeks.
However, it is not impossible! Just remember every baby is different, which means the best bottle for your child is the one that fits all the parameters for your little one, specifically.
You may find the best bottle for breastfed baby who refuses bottle right away, but you could end up buying 10 other brands until she finally accepts one.
There are a lot of baby bottle designs nowadays as the competition is getting bigger and stronger.
However, that doesn’t mean these designs are better, some of them are just… different.
Proper latch makes the whole process of bottle feeding acceptance a lot easier, so make sure to pay a lot of attention to this part.
Practice with your little one, repeat it every day until your baby finally starts eating from the bottle as well.
It can be overwhelming, but don’t let the stress get the better of you.
Remember, your little one can feel it as well, so just relax and enjoy your time with your precious baby.
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