{"id":"276286845f74e6816e7508d0d08b7778","slug":"my-6-month-old-refuses-the-bottle-but-im-going-back-to-work-next-week","question":"My 6 month old refuses the bottle but I'm going back to work next week","answer":"This is a real timing crunch, and I understand the urgency. The good news is that bottle refusal at six months is manageable — many babies are simply more attached to breastfeeding at this age, which actually means your supply and latch are working well.\n\nSince you're returning to work imminently, here's what matters most: your caregiver needs to keep offering the bottle regularly (ideally daily this week, if possible) without pressure. Some babies will take it from someone other than you more readily than from mum. Try different bottle teats, temperatures, or positions. If your baby continues refusing, your caregiver can offer expressed milk by cup or spoon — both work and avoid the frustration of a rejected bottle.\n\nThe honest part: there's limited research on quick fixes for bottle refusal at this specific age. What research does show is that your mindset and determination to make breastfeeding work alongside work matters far more than whether your baby takes a bottle perfectly. Exclusive breastfeeding until now has set you up well — morning and evening feeds at home, plus expressed milk during the day, is entirely workable.\n\nCall your lactation consultant or midwife this week if you're worried about supply or if your baby shows signs of not getting enough milk (fewer than six wet nappies daily). You've got this.","sources":"[{\"title\":\"Timing of return to work and women's breastfeeding practices in urban Malaysia: A qualitative study.\",\"journal\":\"Health & social care in the community\",\"year\":\"2018\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28560792/\",\"score\":0.7},{\"title\":\"Factors associated with breastfeeding abandonment in the first month after the mother's return to work.\",\"journal\":\"Ciencia & saude coletiva\",\"year\":\"2023\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37672461/\",\"score\":0.69},{\"title\":\"Legislation on marketing of breast-milk substitutes in digital and social media: a scoping review.\",\"journal\":\"BMJ global health\",\"year\":\"2023\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36918217/\",\"score\":0.69}]","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-07-07T10:43:07.437Z"}