Dee, I liked your ideas.  That was a new one about soaking the bottle nipple.
 I have a couple more to add.
The first advise I give parents is to "never force the issue" with the
bottle.  Feeding should be a pleasant experience and babies have long memories of
negative experiences.
I feel that most babies who refuses bottles are doing so out of separation
issues or losing control.  Breastfeeding is in the control of the baby and we
all know of the intimate contact it offers the baby.  Babies are very perceptive
and know something is up when a bottle is being offered.  I suggest to
parents to smile and keep the atmosphere pleasant during the feeding.  Once the baby
indicates they are not happy with the bottle, to stop and try again another
day.
One suggestion I have offered and still waiting for more feedback is to use
imitation to encourage the baby to accept the bottle.  So there is a bottle for
the baby and another for the caregiver.  If the baby does not want the bottle
then the caregiver picks up their bottle, smiles and has a drink.  Babies
watch what is going on around them so why would they not want to know why they
should try something that no one else is doing?  I also tell them that if the
baby takes the bottle to praise every little effort they make toward the goal
even if it is a brief swallow.
If the baby still does not take the bottle then I recommend an open cup since
this is what they see big people drinking from.
What do others think of the imitation idea?
Thanks,
Ann Perry RN, IBCLC
Boston, MA

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