The Little Eaters & Talkers

Gentle, Effective Help

for Bottle Aversion

Supporting infants and families through responsive, expert care for bottle refusal and feeding struggles.

Does your baby cry, turn away, or resist every time a bottle is offered?

You're not alone — and you're not doing anything wrong. We specialize in helping infants overcome bottle aversion using a responsive, evidence-based approach that supports both baby and caregiver.

What Is Bottle Aversion?

Bottle aversion is often misunderstood but can create many feeding challenges. It occurs when an infant consistently resists or refuses bottle feeds, sometimes becoming distressed even at the sight of the bottle.

This isn’t just a “picky phase.” Bottle aversion is typically a response to discomfort, pain, or anxiety experienced during previous feedings. Over time, babies can associate the bottle with negative experiences and begin to avoid feeding altogether. This is also different from a preference. For example, a baby who prefers to breastfeed but refuses the bottle.

Bottle Aversion Therapy for Infants

Common Signs of Bottle Aversion

Crying, arching, or pushing the bottle away when offered
Eating only while drowsy or asleep
Short, distracted, or incomplete feeds
Extreme frustration for caregivers around feeding time
Rigid feeding routines out of fear baby won’t eat.

Our Approach to Bottle Aversion Treatment

At Little Eaters & Talkers, we believe feeding should be a relationship — not a struggle. Our treatment approach is:

Responsive – led by your baby’s cues, never forceful
Trauma-informed – honoring past medical experiences and stress
Collaborative – coaching and empowering parents at every step
Clinically grounded – rooted in extensive experience with neurological and feeding disorders

We work to gently rebuild your baby’s trust in feeding and help you feel confident and supported throughout the process.

We Hire Only

Expert Specialists

John Doe

Cardiac Surgery

Jane Doe

Pediatric Clinic

Jane Doe

Gynecology

Jane Doe

Neurology

Convenience at Your Doorstep:

Personalized Home, Office, Childcare, or Virtual Visits from Little Eaters and Talkers

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for specialist visits can be a challenge for busy families. At Little Eaters and Talkers, we understand the importance of convenience and comfort in your child’s developmental journey. That’s why we offer personalized home, office, or childcare visits, bringing our expert eating, swallowing, and speech therapy services right to your doorstep.

Our therapy program is designed to reduce the stress of traveling to a clinic, especially for children who may find new environments overwhelming. By working in your child’s familiar surroundings, we can more effectively assess and address their specific needs in a setting where they feel most at ease. This approach not only provides a comfortable and convenient solution for you but also fosters a more natural and effective therapeutic environment for your child.

Experience the difference with our services – where quality care meets unmatched convenience.

Schedule a Meeting

Please select your preferred time.

Perform Inspection

Ensure everything is in order.

Administer Care

Provide appropriate procedures.

Provide Therapy

Deliver effective solutions.

MON................ 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

TUE.................. 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WED................ 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

THU................. 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

FRI................... 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

SAT................ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

SUN..................................... CLOSED

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect from a Feeding Therapy Evaluation?

Initial Evaluation (60-90 minutes) Virtual or in person (Houston, TX)– We assess your baby’s feeding history, medical background, sensory profile, and current feeding behavior.

i) Individualized Plan – You’ll receive a tailored care plan that may include bottle adjustments, environmental changes, and specific techniques to reduce stress.

ii) Family Coaching – We’ll walk with you step-by-step, offering real-time feedback and emotional support. Daily texting for the first 7-10 days. Then follow-up visits virtually or in-person, as needed.

iii) Progress Monitoring – We track and adjust the plan to ensure lasting success.

What age is appropriate for bottle aversion treatment?

Bottle aversion treatment is typically focused on infants from birth to around 18 months, but we evaluate each case individually. If your baby is refusing bottle feeds at any age, we’re happy to discuss whether therapy could help.

What if my baby is also breastfeeding?

We work with both bottle-fed and breastfed infants, including those who are transitioning or combo feeding. If you're also experiencing challenges with breastfeeding, we can help coordinate care with lactation consultants or address dual feeding plans.

For infants with true bottle aversion, it is generally recommended to focus on bottle feeding and then we can incorporate breastfeeding back into the picture when your baby learns to enjoy eating again.

How do I know if it’s bottle aversion and not something else?

True bottle aversion often includes emotional signs (crying, pushing the bottle away, arching) combined with persistent feeding refusal. It’s different from occasional fussiness. During the initial evaluation, we help determine the root cause and rule out other factors like flow issues, oral motor delays, or reflux.

At Little Eaters & Talkers, we’re a team of speech-language pathologists and lactation consultants with specialized training in infant feeding. We bring together medical, developmental, and feeding expertise to accurately assess what’s going on and create a treatment plan that addresses the root cause — whether it’s bottle aversion or another feeding challenge.

Do you take insurance?

We are a private-pay clinic and can provide superbills for reimbursement. Initial evaluation is $350, including 7-10 days of daily messaging.

Request An Evaluation

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