Nursing Baby Refusing the bottle?

So you have finally established breastfeeding, but start thinking about introducing the bottle. Maybe you'll be starting work soon and need your baby to be comfortable with the bottle while you're away. Maybe you just want some help and a break for night feedings. Maybe your partner wants to get in on some of this baby-feeding fun. There's a million great reasons to want to teach your baby to use a bottle, after all....what if something was to happen to you?

Regardless of your reasoning for this new introduction, it can be hard on your baby. They may scream, refuse, and completely deny the bottle from the get-go. That's what my baby did. An outsider would have thought we were torturing her. But really, we weren't. I was simply having to go back to work, and knew she needed to learn to fly solo while I was away. So I remained patient, cried a bunch myself, and continued to trial new things every night.

Here are some tips and tricks to get you through this little road-block.

1. Give FRESH milk- I'm talking fresh fresh! Pump off a tad bit of milk (DO NOT EMPTY your breasts yet!!) right when you know your baby is about to eat soon. You can then give it to your baby so that the temperature stays as close to perfect as possible (taste too). Frozen milk tends to taste different, so using that during this transition may add to the struggle. You also want to mimic the cozy perfect temperature your baby is used to, hence giving it straight from boob. My reasoning for not wanting you to empty your breasts prior to this is because IF this trial goes bad and needs to end, you don't want to be left with a screaming baby who is now also starving. If your baby is responding well to the bottle, by all means, go ahead and empty yourself and give the whole feeding through the bottle.
2. Warm the nipple- Regardless of which bottle/nipple you use, consider running it under some warm water (or even your freshly pumped milk) to warm it and have it feeling a little more like mom.
3. Leave the room- Your baby knows you are there. They smell you, and you have what they want. So, go away (far away!) and let your partner take over. If you are the one holding your baby, it may frustrate them more.
4. Let your partner trial- Ask them to try some things. Try standing while feeding, singing, walking. You gotta do what you gotta do in times like these. I have hilarious videos of my husband bouncing-singing-standing-walking while trying to get her to take the bottle. Eventually they will find what works for them.
5. Be sneaky- When trial after trial had been failing, I decided that I myself wanted to try. So, I had my warm milk and bottle right next to me, ready....and started out nursing. I then tried to sneak out my nipple, and slide in the bottle nipple. It worked for a minute.....better than nothing I guess? But hey, maybe it will work better for you!
6. Be persistent and DO NOT give up- Eventually your baby will learn that this new "thing" isn't going away. This thing is here to stay, and after some stubborn and long stretches of time, they will get it.
7. Stick to a "rough" schedule- Newborns are usually fed on demand, so I am not suggesting a timed schedule here. I am talking about a "rough" schedule such as "before bed" or "first thing in the morning." Babies and kids thrive on routine, so if you continue to get them used to bottle feeding at a particular time, that will become their new normal.

I sympathize for those of you going through this right now. It can be a real battle. It can be just as emotional for mom as it is for baby. Be confident, be patient, and be persistent. And hey, your baby is just telling you that they love you!