Feeding Aversion in Babies: A Parent’s Guide to Fixing Bottle Aversion and Nursing Strikes

Understanding the “why” behind the refusal is the first step toward finding a solution. It’s rarely one single thing, but often stems from a baby associating feeding with something negative or uncomfortable.

There are two common pathways this develops:

1. The Sudden Onset: This often happens to a baby who has been feeding well for months. A new, negative event—like the sharp pain from teething, a distressing bout of reflux, pressure to feed when not hungry, or a respiratory illness that makes breathing difficult—can create a powerful negative association with the act of feeding.
2. The Slow Burn (The “Muddling Through” Baby): In the early weeks, a newborn’s powerful, primitive suck reflex can mask underlying problems like a tongue-tie, oral dysfunction, body tension from birth, or an inefficient latch. They feed because the reflex is strong, not necessarily because it’s comfortable. As this reflex integrates around 2-4 months, the baby’s brain develops, and they gain cognitive awareness. They are no longer on autopilot and can finally say, “This has always been hard, and I don’t want to do it anymore.” This is when the feeding refusal surfaces.