When to Introduce a Bottle

A.,
Most lactation consultants that I spoke to said to wait atleast three weeks but I personally was not able to due to severe damage to my nipples at first. I had to feed him with a bottle at about two weeks to take a two day break to heal. I was worried about nipple confusion but my son did great. He had no problem switching back and forth so I guess I got lucky. I did decide to have his father feed him the bottle instead of me to avoid any more confusion. I think it really depends on the child...just be prepared that it might be a little harder to get him back to the breast after giving the bottle (but it might not) and be patient. It was so nice once someone else was able to help feed him. Good Luck!

I had to go back to work at 7 weeks, so I introduced the bottle at 3 weeks with no problems. Most of my friends who waited much longer than 4 weeks had big time problems and 2 of them never could introduce the bottle. I would start pumping now and then introduce the bottle next week.

I would say 1 month, I could not breastfeed my son b/c he was a bit early and didn't have the sucking reflex, but I pumped at the hospital and fed via bottle. I left the hospital and bought a Medula pump so I could continue to pump the milk. I kept trying to get him to latch on even with the lactation consultant, as a result I think that being used to the bottle confused him even more and we were not able to successfully breast feed until 3-4 weeks but he did finally and I nursed him 2 years

The breastfeeding resource center at Harris told me your window of opportunity is 3-6 weeks, with about 4.5 being optimal. I did 3.5 weeks and my son would take a bottle, but preferred me. I also did the Avent bottles. I have a friend who waited until 3.5 months and her daughter took almost a month to learn to do a bottle, and her milk supply had gone away almost completely and she was really stressed! Good luck!

R.

Hello! I have a 15 week old baby girl (our first) and I have breastfed the whole time. I introduced breast milk in the bottle (pumping) at about 7 weeks. I wanted her to get used to the bottle since I had to go back to work at 9 weeks. I had NO problem whatsoever. No "nipple confusion," or any other issue at all. She still takes the breast and the bottle is taken just as easily. I know every baby is different, but, everything I have read has said to wait AT LEAST 6 weeks to introduce the bottle if your goal is to continue breastfeeding. I think you can introduce the bottle earlier if you are going to formula or even supplementing some with formula. GOOD LUCK! And, I hope this helps. Ultimately, it is just an opinion and you will never know what is right for you and your baby until you do it. I have learned it is a trial and error process!! I was very unsure about the breastfeeding, but, it has turned out to be a wonderful experience and worth all of the inconvenience. I am trying to make it to 6 months...

Hi A.,

Are you solely bf or does your husband help? Obviously he can't bf, so you introduce the bottle when you aren't available to bf. Most babies as long as MOM is within ear distance or smell, will not take a bottle if they know you are around and can bf them. When you are away or they will usually take a bottle especially if they get hungry!!

My son was introduce to the bottle from the NICU simply because he was gavage fed and I did try and bf, but it was just too hard for him to do. They have to work for it at first and he wasn't interested in doing that. I pumped for 6 months and gave him the bottle once I got home. He just would not take my breast and I didn't want to stress him and myself trying to get him to do it. He got my breast milk and so I just gave it to him from the bottle. You may have to go through several bottles to find one he likes, (I did) and he finally settled on the Avent bottles. They have them at Wal-Mart and Target. I even went so far as to buy Dr. B.'s thinking he would like them, he didn't, so I wasted $$ on buying the "bottle" that he would finally take. That was really my only problem with the bottle feeding.

Good Luck and Congrats!!

G. B.

I'd do it now, but definitely not later than at 3 weeks of age. Also, once you introduce a bottle, I recommend giving one at least every other day so they're used to it. Our pediatrician recommended having the dad feed the bottle in the evening, so you get a break (and can start dinner or something) and so they get some time together.

I found that if I went more than 2 days between bottles, it was really, REALLY difficult to get my daughter to take one. If I'd gone a few weeks or more, I bet she would have never taken a bottle again!

congratulations! i was told that you should exclusively breast feed for the first 3wk. and then you can intro the bottle/pacifier bc they will have established a good latch. my experience is similar. good luck!

I'd start now and give it at the same time every day. When I was planning to return to work I actually started my daughter with a mid-day bottle at 2 or 3 weeks (the earlier the better), since that's when she'd get one with the sitter. I'd feed her a bottle of breast milk, then when she went down for her nap I'd pump.
However, some kids won't take a bottle from mom (or if mom is in the room). My son didn't at first. So, the evening bottle with Daddy worked for him.
My daughter did fine on Avent bottles. However, my son had a hard time with Avent. He used the Playtex nursers (with drop-in liners). Good luck!

My advice is, if breastfeeding has been a breeze for the baby, ie no issues with latching; the pump and ounce or two and attempt to use a nipple like yours. I think Gerber has a slow flow broad nipple, don't use a long nipple unless that is how yours are. If breastfeeding has been a challenge, which it was for me, wait until the baby is 6-8 weeks.
Also it is so completely normal for a baby to not like a bottle, or find it difficult to figure out, all things take time. Also if your baby breastfeeds like a champ there will always be times when they have difficulty. Babies are just cyclical. I hope this helps.

Hello, A.. If you are wanting to continue to breastfeed, from my personal experience, I would recommend 6 weeks before introducing the bottle. I introduced the bottle within the first 2 weeks of my son's life and he LOVED the bottle and wouldn't go back to my breast! I had to pump for 7 1/2 months just so he would get breastmilk. Every feeding, I would first try to get him to latch on, but he NEVER would take it. Talk about being tired and frustrated!

Hope this helps! Congratulations on your new baby!

A.,
conventional lactation wisdom says that babies do best at 3-4 weeks and I saw someone mention that offering it daily is helpful to reinforce the skill. Many moms find that dad, grandma or a sitter can introduce it easier than mom since they already know where your dinner is located. I usually recomend that mom's try a nipple, if the baby likes it get more. Don't invest in several bottles just to find out your baby wont take them. Also don't forget, any bottles need to be pumped and the feeding must be replaced so that you continue to average 8-10 feedings daily to maintain your supply.
K.
The Nesting Place

I have a 4 week old (third child) and my doctor told me to start expressing breast milk and use a bottle to get her used to it. He said that infants need to learn how to use the bottle early on. I introduced the bottle around 2 weeks and she goes from breast to bottle with no problem at all. This makes my life easier because I don't have to worry about breast feeding in public and also my husband and others can help out. I am so pleased with the results. You are welcome to give me a call if you like...I am very happy that he suggested it. Also, she has no problem taking the bottle from me.

K.
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I waited two weeks with both my kids and they did fine breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, however they did not get many bottles but I wanted dad to be involved. I tried the avent bottles...have tons of them actually....but neither one of my kids will take that one. We switched to the playtex nurser (with the dropins) and they both did great with that (of course) :-)

Hope that helps....
K.

I would not introduce a bottle until your milk has fully come in and your baby has been nursing for a month or so. Some babies get nipple confusion and some don't. Then again, if you are desperate for sleep, one bottle is not going to mean the end of breastfeeding. With my youngest I first introduced a bottle about a month after he was born. I swear, he could smell the milk on me so I would have to sit on the other side of the room or go into another room altogether if he was getting a bottle. Good luck with your little one.

D.

Hi A.,

I think you have gotten a lot of good advice. I have three kids and with the first I introduced the bottle at two weeks and he did great. The next two had to stay in the hospital and suppliment with the bottle because of jaundice. With the last two they had figured out breast feeding fine and so taking the bottle and then going back to me was no problem. With my youngest I asked one of the nurses about nipple confusion (she works with the babies in NICU) and she said it was not true and that a man made it up. I think that if you introduce it early enough they will not be so preferenced to just b/f. As long as your milk is in and the baby eats great off you I wouldn't be scared to try the bottle. Good luck!

With my older daughter (now 3-1/2) I introduced the baby at approximately 6 weeks. She was getting the bottle 2-3 times per week at daycare when she was 13 weeks. We breastfeed until she was 13 months. My younger daughter (11 months) was introduced to the bottle a little younger (maybe 3 or 4 weeks). We are still breastfeeding most of the time (except when I need the convenience of a bottle). We used Avent because that is what I got as a shower gift & they both didn't have a problem with them. Neither of them had any problem going from breast to bottle. Good luck!

C.