It's not uncommon for a baby to refuse a bottle after being breastfed exclusively for the first months. If you need your baby to take a bottle, here are some tips to try:

Have someone else give the bottle. Your baby may be less confused if you don't give the bottle yourself, since he or she may wonder why you're not offering your breast. Instead, ask your mother, your partner, a childcare provider, or another mother to make the first introduction.

Get out of the house. Your baby can smell your milk from at least 20 feet away, so it may be best to remove the temptation by leaving the house before your baby's bottle feeding.

Entice your baby with the bottle nipple. Try warming the nipple a bit with warm water and even putting a little breast milk on it. Allow your baby to play with or chew on the nipple to get used to it. It may also help to choose a nipple that's similar to your baby's pacifier, if he or she has one.

Don't wait until your baby is really hungry. Offer a bottle a little earlier than your baby's regular feeding time so he or she will be hungry and interested, but not so hungry that he or she gets angry or frustrated.

Try distractions and different positions. Holding your baby upright and facing away from you, rather than lying in a nursing position, may help break the expectation of breastfeeding. Some breastfed babies take a bottle better when distracted by shushing, singing, movement, or entertainment.

Offer a cup. If your baby continues to reject a bottle, try a sippy cup or regular cup instead. This is a messy and not always productive task with a young baby, so it's best for occasional feedings. Hold your baby upright and tilt the cup slowly and carefully.

Try, try again. It may take weeks of trying before your baby takes a bottle. The key is to stay consistent – offer a bottle every day. Make sure you have lots of time to put your feet up and relax during this process so you don't get too frustrated. The last thing you want is a bottle battle.

If your baby starts crying and pushes the bottle away, back off, comfort him or her, and then try again. If you've tried three times and your baby has refused three times, then call it a meal. Don't breastfeed immediately. Wait five or 10 minutes, and do something else before you nurse so your baby won't associate refusal to bottle-feed with immediate gratification.

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