Bottle Aversion 101: Why It Happens & What to Do Next
Feeding your baby shouldn’t feel like a daily battle. In this 30-minute, on-demand course, you’ll learn what bottle aversion really is, why it happens, and practical, gentle ways to help your baby feel safe and comfortable with the bottle again. Together, we’ll explore root causes to rule out, how aversion develops, and simple strategies you can start using right away — plus guidance on when to seek extra help. This course is designed to give you clarity, encouragement, and confidence as you support your baby’s feeding journey.
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What Bottle Aversion Is
Bottle aversion isn’t stubbornness or a baby ‘being difficult.’ It’s a protective response — your baby is trying to avoid something that feels uncomfortable or stressful. In this module, we’ll unpack the signs of bottle aversion, how it often looks during feeding, and why it can be so confusing and frustrating for parents. Understanding what’s really happening is the first step toward helping your baby feed more comfortably.
Bottle aversion isn’t stubbornness or a baby ‘being difficult.’ It’s a protective response — your baby is trying to avoid something that feels uncomfortable or stressful. In this module, we’ll unpack the signs of bottle aversion, how it often looks during feeding, and why it can be so confusing and frustrating for parents. Understanding what’s really happening is the first step toward helping your baby feed more comfortably.
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Root Causes to Rule Out
Before you can make progress with bottle aversion, it’s important to understand why it might be happening.
In this module, we’ll explore the most common root causes — from reflux and tongue tie to stress during feeding — and how each one can affect your baby’s comfort with the bottle. By learning what to look for and when to seek professional input, you’ll be better prepared to support your baby’s feeding journey with confidence
Before you can make progress with bottle aversion, it’s important to understand why it might be happening.
In this module, we’ll explore the most common root causes — from reflux and tongue tie to stress during feeding — and how each one can affect your baby’s comfort with the bottle. By learning what to look for and when to seek professional input, you’ll be better prepared to support your baby’s feeding journey with confidence
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How Bottle Aversion Develops
Bottle aversion doesn’t usually appear overnight — it develops over time through a cycle of stress and refusal. In this module, you’ll learn how discomfort, pressure, and past feeding experiences shape your baby’s response to the bottle. We’ll explore the stress–refusal cycle, why babies learn to resist feeding, and most importantly, how understanding this process gives you the tools to begin breaking the pattern and rebuilding trust.
Bottle aversion doesn’t usually appear overnight — it develops over time through a cycle of stress and refusal. In this module, you’ll learn how discomfort, pressure, and past feeding experiences shape your baby’s response to the bottle. We’ll explore the stress–refusal cycle, why babies learn to resist feeding, and most importantly, how understanding this process gives you the tools to begin breaking the pattern and rebuilding trust.
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Strategies to Help Your Baby
In this module, we’ll move from ‘why’ to ‘how.’ You’ll learn simple, gentle strategies to help your baby feel calmer and more comfortable with the bottle — from creating a peaceful feeding environment to choosing the right timing and position. We’ll also talk about responsive feeding, reducing pressure, and ways to rebuild positive associations with feeding. These are practical steps you can try right away to support your baby’s journey back to stress-free, successful bottle feeding.
In this module, we’ll move from ‘why’ to ‘how.’ You’ll learn simple, gentle strategies to help your baby feel calmer and more comfortable with the bottle — from creating a peaceful feeding environment to choosing the right timing and position. We’ll also talk about responsive feeding, reducing pressure, and ways to rebuild positive associations with feeding. These are practical steps you can try right away to support your baby’s journey back to stress-free, successful bottle feeding.
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When to Seek Outside Help
Sometimes bottle aversion needs more than home strategies. In this final module, we’ll walk through the signs that it’s time to reach out for extra support and which professionals can help. You’ll learn how to recognize when your baby’s feeding challenges may need medical or therapeutic guidance — and be reminded that seeking help is a positive, empowering step toward making feeding feel easier for both you and your baby.
Sometimes bottle aversion needs more than home strategies. In this final module, we’ll walk through the signs that it’s time to reach out for extra support and which professionals can help. You’ll learn how to recognize when your baby’s feeding challenges may need medical or therapeutic guidance — and be reminded that seeking help is a positive, empowering step toward making feeding feel easier for both you and your baby.
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Feeding your baby should be a time of connection — not tears. If every bottle feels like a battle, you’re in the right place.
In this course, you’ll discover the real reasons babies refuse bottles (it’s rarely just being “picky”), how to identify signs of stress, and step-by-step strategies to bring peace back to feeding.
✔ Understand the real causes behind bottle aversion (it’s rarely just being “picky”)
✔ Learn how to spot stress signals and feeding red flags early
✔ Discover step-by-step strategies to make bottle time easier
✔ Gain confidence in helping your baby feel safe, calm, and happy at feeds
Created by Jean Hawney, Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Specialist (SLP, CLC, BCSS), this course is here to give you the knowledge — and the hope — you need to move forward.
