It sounds somewhat similar to Hailey in that she would only take bottles at sleepy or sleeping. But the difference is that even then she wouldn’t take them willingly. She would take a few sucks then pull off, or take nothing altogether, and this would go on until she was finished after 1-3 ounces for the most part. As for solids, she also had an aversion there, and would refuse to open her mouth or would cry the second she got into the chair.
I think the key is what is the behaviour when she’s awake with the bottles and solids? It sounds like she may have trouble with the bottle, but not have an aversion to solids. I personally would try to offer the bottle not just when she’s drowsy, but also when she’s awake. Use distraction if you have to and see if that helps. That doesn’t mean that you can’t offer the bottle when she’s drowsy- even my non-refluxer used to take comfort in having a bottle before nap time and bedtime. But she also was offered at other times. That’s the difference. If you only offer liquids when she’s drowsy, she might fall into the habit of only taking the bottle at that time, and as Christine said, as she gets older those opportunities grow fewer and farther between.
I know it sounds hypocritical b/c I sleep feed an almost 2 year old, but Hailey’s feeding aversion has been very bad and we had no choice, other then the tube. Sleep feeding is very dysfunctional, and having been there, I wouldn’t do it again.
Like I said, I don’t know your situation and you do what you have to do. But I would also offer the bottle at times when she’s awake. Alternately, she’s pretty much at the age where you can start to introduce other ways of getting fluid, like formula in a cup (sippy, straw, whatever). That might help to take some of the stress away from you.
Good luck.
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