Emily ClarkIBCLC, Midwife
Service

Bottle Refusal

Specialist support for babies who won't take a bottle, working through the underlying cause together so feeding feels manageable again - consultations available at home or in clinic.

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My Approach

Bottle refusal usually happens in babies who are mostly or exclusively breastfed, sometimes appearing gradually, sometimes seemingly overnight - even in babies who took a bottle happily in their early weeks. It can feel confusing and isolating, particularly when the usual advice (colder milk, a different teat, waiting until baby's hungrier) doesn't make any difference.

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Babies aren't refusing the bottle to be difficult.
If a baby won't feed, there's a reason, and it almost always comes down to oral function rather than behaviour. Once we understand what's making bottle feeding hard for your baby specifically, we can work through it together with a clear, individualised plan.

Appointments

Every appointment covers

A full history of your baby's feeding so far, including any previous bottle feeding
An oral function assessment to identify what may be contributing to the difficulty
Hands-on guidance trying different bottles, teats, and feeding positions
Individualised oral exercises to support your baby's feeding skills
A step-by-step plan plus guidance on pacing progress realistically

If a return to work or time apart from your baby is approaching, do get in touch as early as you can - oral function issues can take time to resolve, and starting the process early can make a real difference.

Pricing

Bottle Refusal Consultation
At home · £140At clinic · £120

*A £50 non-refundable deposit may be required at booking and will be deducted from the total fee.

GET IN TOUCH

Whatever's behind your baby's bottle refusal,
we can start where you are.

Clinic appointments available Tuesday and Saturday in SL6 0JU. For home appointments or questions, please contact me.

Book Clinic AppointmentContact Me