Let's Talk Baby Bottles for Breastfed Babies

From my experience, the longer you wait to introduce the bottle, the harder it is. Although my son accepted it at birth and once a week for the first six weeks, I took a "pumping break" for a month. Big, big mistake. When I tried to reintroduce the bottle, he just wouldn't take it. We tried every kind of bottle and nipple we could find for six weeks, before he was "forced" to drink from the bottle because I went back to work. What worked in the end? The old-fashioned Gerber nipples. Who knew?
Best of luck.

I would offer a bottle within the first week of life. My oldest was given a bottle the day he was born (medical reason), and my youngest when he was 3 days old (because I wanted Daddy to be able to feed him). Both had absolutely no trouble switching between breast and bottle.

I strongly encourage you not to wait to offer the bottle. I have talked to so many moms who waited the suggested 4 weeks and struggled to get the baby to take a bottle.

My oldest used Parent's Choice bottles, for the most part, because we were able to buy 1 bottle and really had no idea what we were doing. My youngest would have been fine with those bottles, but he had a medical condition (long story) and needed Dr. Brown's. Some people love them, but they are 3 times as expensive as just about every other bottle out there. I thought Parent's Choice and Gerber bottles were just as good.

I pumped after each feeding and especially after the morning feedings when your body produces the most. I took advantage of the huge supply that new moms get and just built up my stock. Often times that pumping I did after the first feeding of the day would be the bottle my husband gave our son when he got home from work. It was a nice time for the two of them.

Good luck!

J., I gotta ask, what is bumping? At first I thought you meant pump...

I successfully nursed and gave bottles with both of my children. My older son was 4 weeks old when I got terribly sick, throwing up with a high fever, and diarfhea too. My doctor told me not to nurse. However, it came on hard and fast in the middle of the night, and I was so sick that I couldn't put him to my breast without throwing up on him. My husband went and got the ONE bottle we had with the sample of formula they gave us at the hospital, and made a bottle. My son sucked it down with no hesitation.

My second son had trouble gaining weight at the beginning. He took a very long time to nurse, but it wasn't until he was 4 years old that we understood why he had a hard time - he has a submucous cleft palate. That's a structural defect, and sucking hard was something he couldn't do. I started supplementing with a bottle right out of the hospital. I continued to nurse, and he took both breast and bottle.

I know that La Leche would tell you that if you MUST give a bottle, to wait for a long time. I disagree. I would start out as soon as you get your nursing established, like a week. I'd give the baby the bottle in the middle of the night. Babies are a lot more picky during the day. If baby doesn't want it from you, give the bottle to your husband. (I didn't have to do that. They both took bottles from me.)

Good luck!
Dawn

My son never had a drop of formula, but he did start having bottles of pumped milk at 4 months. All it took was for someone who was experienced at bottle-feeding to give him his first bottle. After that, he'd take one from anyone but me.

I'd advise doing something like that. And, I'm sure you know this, but medically speaking, the less formula, the better. That doesn't mean formula is poison or that moms who formula feed are bad; breast milk is just so, so, so, so, so much better.

I nursed and bottle fed both of my babies.

1. I was told to introduce the bottle at 2 weeks, which I did with both.
2. It didn't seem to matter if it was me or my husband giving the baby a bottle.
3. I had the best luck with Playtex Nursers (tan breastfeeding nipple)
4. I found that it made NO DIFFERENCE whether I nursed or bottle fed the baby in terms of how long he slept. Ultimately, I got the most sleep just keeping him in a bassinet in the room so I could nurse him at night.

My main reason for wanting the baby to take a bottle was so I could have a little freedom to leave for more than 2 hours if needed. I was able to nurse a full year with pumping. I usually just pumped after feeding and was able to get enough for an extra bottle to use the following day. Medela Pumps are the best!

Well my DIL n I have every bottle and nipple made. The one my granddaughter finally took was the one they use in the nursery. My DIL works in hospital and went to L n D for advice. They gave her those n it worked like a charm after spending all this money. You just never know which one they will like. She started trying bottle at 11 weeks. The earlier the better to get used to bottle.

When my daughter was born she had a heart condition and they said she REALLY needed to gain weight. I let her feed however she would and didn't spend any time worrying about latch-ooops! I got a huge gash on my nipple and couldn't nurse on that side any more so I feed her on the other side and then pump...each feeding. A pain and time-consuming but I do have a nice freezer full of breast milk and it's nice that dad can bottle feed her. This all happened around 1.5 weeks old. No issue with switching from bottle to breast (same with my other two, although I think I waited a few more weeks with them to establish my milk supply). I rent a hospital grade pump from the store where I delivered-make pumping much faster and efficient! I have the Medela Symphony.

I introduced it around 8 weeks, planning to return in 12. I tried a couple of bottles, but DD liked Medela and did not like Avent or Playtex. I wouldn't start the bottles until a couple of weeks before you go to work.

I would have someone else introduce it, but I did not leave the house for the first bottle.

Some babies really like Tommee Tippee, but they were not prevalent when I had DD. Brestflow, too.

I would pump first thing in the AM or during a nap.

Remember, each baby is different and each kid is different. Even if I didn't nurse DD at night, I was still awakened by her crying. Usually my DD nursed back to sleep very quickly as an infant. I personally didn't use bottles much except for babysitters/daycare after we introduced them. More hassle to wrangle a bottle when I was right there. And once I ran out of bottles....at a company gig. Of course. Nothing I could do but find a seat. I also used a Medela pump.

Good luck with everything.