Understanding baby's bottle refusal

Common culprits are nipple flow (too fast or too slow), milk temperature, feeding position, or a strong preference for a specific caregiver. Systematically vary one thing at a time to find the trigger. Try warming the milk a bit more, changing the nipple shape, having a different person offer the bottle, or offering it in a new position (walking around, side-lying, upright in a carrier). Some babies also prefer a specific brand of nipple and reject others outright. If refusal lasts days and your baby is losing weight, missing wet diapers, or acting unusually lethargic, contact your pediatrician. Persistent bottle refusal that resolves nothing else is worth ruling out reflux, oral-motor issues, or milk protein sensitivity.