If you take a walk down the baby aisles at any store, you’ll see at least 30 different choices of bottles. How do you know which one to choose for your baby? Not only that, how do you know which one to choose for your breastfed baby that is refusing bottles?
This causes added stress on the already stressful process of picking the right bottle for your baby. Not to mention the amount of money it would cost to buy all of these bottles.
Bottle refusal can be extremely difficult for a breastfeeding mother. This puts the sole responsibility of nourishing the baby on mom.
This post will go over some of the best bottles for a breastfed baby who refuses a bottle. And the reasons for why each one may be the right choice for you and your baby!
Reasons Babies Refuse Bottles
Let’s start first with the reasons why a breastfed baby may refuse bottles. When you understand the why behind them not accepting a bottle, it may make it easier to determine which steps to take to overcome bottle refusal.
- Simply put, a bottle nipple is not like the breast. Babies are very smart and know the difference.
- The act of bottle feeding feels different from the way they feel while breastfeeding (comfort and warmth from mama).
- The baby may not like the taste of frozen breast milk. Or your milk may contain high lipase which can cause a metallic or soapy taste and smell to your breast milk.
- The flow rate of the bottle nipple may feel different to the baby versus the flow of milk from the breast.
- Babies can even be partial to the difference in temperature of the milk.
If you’re interested in learning more, I have a post called 12 Tips for Overcoming Bottle Refusal | How to Help Your Breastfed Baby Take a Bottle that’s packed with tons of effective tips for babies that refuse bottles!
How to Prevent Bottle Refusal
It is important to establish a strong breastfeeding relationship first before introducing a bottle. BUT it’s also very important to introduce a bottle at the right time to prevent bottle refusal. The typical recommendation by lactation consultants for the best time to introduce a bottle for the first time is around four weeks.
You want to ensure you’ve established a good supply of breast milk and that your baby has had plenty of practice getting a good latch from mom’s nipple first.
You may have also heard about nipple confusion, which is where a baby may be confused alternating between a bottle nipple and the mother’s breast. This actually is not the case. Babies aren’t necessarily confused, but they may develop a nipple preference. Your baby may prefer the breast only, which is where the bottle refusal comes in.
This is why it’s important to introduce the bottle fairly early. Once you do introduce the bottle for the first time, continue giving your baby opportunities to take your breast milk from a bottle.
Offer the bottle about 3-4 times a week to ensure your baby remains comfortable with an artificial nipple.
The type of nipple can also be extremely important in preventing bottle refusal. A breastfed baby has to work harder at the breast to get the milk flow. When a baby takes a bottle, it has a fast flow and can be harder for a baby to keep up with, making it uncomfortable for them.
A slow flow nipple is important in making the bottle feel more like the breast to your baby. The nipple holes on slow flow nipples are much smaller. This causes the milk to come out much slower and makes the baby work harder for it like they do at the breast.
Most of these bottles listed below will have a slow flow nipple option you can purchase. Some of them also have a preemie nipple (an extra slow flow nipple option) which can be a great option for some babies!
Best Bottles for a Breastfed Baby Who Refuses Bottles
Unfortunately, there is no one “right bottle” for all breastfed babies. Some bottles that are advertised as “just like the breast” may not work for your baby. However, the bottle options I’ve listed below are all of the most commonly accepted bottles taken by breastfed babies!
ComoTomo Bottles
- Common, great option for breastfed babies
- Wide-neck bottle and a breast-like design
- They are extremely easy to clean
- Anti-colic bottle venting system
- Made of high-quality food-grade silicone which provides a softer hold for baby
- Click to buy from Amazon
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Anti-Colic Bottle
- Popular option
- Venting system eliminates air bubbles to help reduce colic and spit-up
- Preemie nipple option for extra slow flow (you can find that here)
- Ultra preemie nipple option – slowest flow option I’ve found (you can find that one here)
- Bottles fit most breast pumps so you can pump directly into the bottles
- Click to buy from Amazon
Dr. Brown’s Options+ Wide-Neck Anti-Colic Bottle
- Similar option to Natural Flow but with a wide neck nipple (breast-like shape)
- Flow rate of nipple supports breastfeeding
- Preemie nipple option for extra slow flow (you can find them here)
- Anti-colic internal vent system as well as venting system in the artificial nipple
- Click to buy from Amazon
Munchkin Latch Anti-Colic Bottle
- Nipple stretches and flexes like the breast
- Anti-colic valve located at the bottom of the bottle
- Easy to clean
- Comes with slow flow and medium flow nipples
- Click to buy from Amazon
Lansinoh Bottle
- NaturalWave nipple – soft, flexible nipple
- Easy to clean, minimal pieces
- Slow flow nipples great for pace feeding
- Air ventilation system
- Click to buy from Amazon
Evenflo Balance+
- Naturally sloped nipple shape to mimic mother’s breast
- One-piece anti-colic vent in nipple
- Included slow flow nipple with wide neck
- Click to buy from Amazon
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle
- Nipple designed to flex and stretch like mom’s nipple and has a smooth silicone feel
- Anti-colic nipple vent
- Easy to clean
- Offers extra slow flow nipple
- Click to buy from Amazon
Nanobebe Breastmilk Bottle
- Bottle shape designed to look and feel like a breast
- Bottle designed for faster warming time
- Slow-flow nipple
- Anti-colic vented system
- Click to buy from Amazon
Philips Avent Anti-Colic Bottle
- AirFree vent keeps nipple full of milk and not air
- AirFree vent great for pace-feeding
- Easy to clean wide neck bottle
- Slow flow nipple options
- Click to buy from Amazon
NUK Simply Natural Bottles
- Multiple nipple holes to mimic milk release like mother’s breast
- Extra soft nipple to provide a natural feel
- One-piece anti-colic system
- Medium flow (may not do well for a baby that needs a slower flow)
- Glass bottles option for a more natural option (you can find them here)
- Click to buy from Amazon
MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottle
- Anti-colic vented base
- Elongated nipple shape to feel like mother’s breast
- Easy to clean self-sterilizing bottles
- Click to buy from Amazon
Playtex Baby Nurser with Drop-In Liners
- Naturalatch silicone nipple designed like the breast
- Soft, disposable liner to create anti-colic features
- A lot of mom’s swear by these for reducing spit-up
- Click to buy from Amazon
If your breastfed baby is still having a hard time with bottle refusal, and you would like to learn more about the most effective tips for helping your baby take a bottle, such as:
- having other family members give your baby a bottle, versus the breastfeeding mother
- using freshly pumped breast milk
- try different positions to offer the baby the bottle in
- and more!
Then head on over to my post – 12 Tips for Overcoming Bottle Refusal | How to Help Your Breastfed Baby Take a Bottle.
You will learn many more actionable steps you can take to help your baby overcome bottle refusal.
As a pediatric nurse, certified breastfeeding counselor, and mother of two breastfed babies, I have seen plenty of bottle refusal in my career and time as a mother. One of them being my own breastfed baby. Even as a second-time mom, I still made some simple mistakes such as the timing when I first introduced a bottle.
My bottle refusing baby would only sometimes take the MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottle. My first breastfed baby who took bottles just fine loved ComoTomo Bottles and Dr. Brown’s bottles (Natural Flow). As you can see, every baby is completely different with what type of bottle they may take. Even siblings!
These were the 12 best bottles for a breastfed baby who refuses bottles. I really hope you find one that your baby will take! And check out my Overcoming Bottle Refusal post for more tips on how to make it a smooth process for you and your baby! Good luck!
Other Posts You May Like:
- 12 Tips for Overcoming Bottle Refusal | How to Help Your Breastfed Baby Take a Bottle
- 10 Breastfeeding Must Haves for New Moms
- The Best Proven Ways to Increase Your Breastfeeding Milk Supply
This post is such a great resource! Definitely coming back to this one for the next babe!
Thank you so much Cayla!
Como Tomo’s are the best – I used them for both of my babes with no issues!
They’re my personal favorite too! So easy to clean!