You can soften bottle teats by keeping them in warm water for some time, say five minutes. However, it will take less time if the teat already has a thin texture. If this is the first time feeding your baby with a bottle, you should prefer soft and thin teats. You can also dip the teat in the milk you are going to feed to the baby, which may help whet the baby’s appetite. It will also entice him to take the bottle more easily. If you find the teat still hard, you should see it as a sign of poor-quality purchase, or maybe it is time to replace it with a new teat.