Question for Breastfeeding moms

I'm a new mom, my baby is 1 month old. I have been exclusively breastfeeding this whole time. i know I need to introduce a bottle at some point because I am going back to work when the baby is 12 weeks. I'm worried about introducing a bottle and ruining breastfeeding. At what age and how did you introduce a bottle?

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

DS2 only had 2 bottles before starting daycare at 13 weeks. He did fine. I never gave him a bottle. My mom gave him one at 5 weeks and DH gave him one again shortly before I went back to work. Since he had no problem taking it and I preferred to BF, I didn't try to give him bottles more often.

I'd introduce a bottle within the next week or two. Have someone else give the bottle. You may even need to be out of the room. Use a slow flow nipple. You may need to experiment with different brands of bottles. DS1 took Avent bottles, but this time we use Born Free.

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

I'm also EBF but DS got the first bottle at 2 weeks old.

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

We introduceda bottle of bm at 3 weeks. We used breastflow bottles. No confusion at all.

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

Question for Breastfeeding moms

i waited until around 6 weeks to introduce the bottle. DS had no problems going between.

Question for Breastfeeding moms

I tried around 6 or 8 weeks and she wouldn't take the Avent bottle at all. I ended up tossing 3 bottles of pumped milk which sucks. I finally tried tommy tippee and she took to it easily.

As far as messing up BFing, do you mean nipple confusion or your supply? In the beginning, I was always panicked about missing a feeding but it was never an issue. Neither was nipple confusion. Your body will adjust it's supply easily and your baby will likely prefer the breast to a bottle (just be sure to give a slow flow nipple).

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

I introduced a bottle early on with both-- with DD, when she was a week old. And DS was in the NICU and had a bottle before he BF'd and didn't have an issue to switching to EBF, but I did have my baby nurse and DH do bottles of pumped milk at night.

I used Born Free bottles with both.

IMO, do it sooner rather than later, so you don't have issues with them taking it.

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

I introduced at around 1.5 weeks actually. It was important for me to get her used to a bottle early on since I was going back to work. But also because I wanted DH to be able to feed her sometimes in the mornings so I could get more sleep. My db never had nipple confusion or anything and she is still exclusively breast fed at almost 5 months old. And she's in daycare getting a bottle (although, I will say she much prefers nursing and doesn't drink nearly as much as she should while I'm away!)

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

Re: Question for Breastfeeding moms

My ped recommended giving a bottle at 4 weeks just 1x a day. I was not diligent in doing that and now at 9 weeks we are having some issues with my baby taking the bottle. He's not too sure what to do with the nipple and once he does figure it out he won't eat that much. An ounce at most. We tried Dr. Browns and Born Free. I just got a Tomee Tipee and a Platex to see if he has a preference for one. You won't have to worry about your DC not wanting to BF, they will almost always prefer it over a bottle. Definitely do a slow flow nipple.

Question for Breastfeeding moms

the MAM bottle nipples will cause less confusion... they are compatible with some other bottles cause we are using them on our pura stainless steel ones.