Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

Hi all! I come over with yet another question

I started registering and I'm a little overwhelmed when it comes to the bottles & nipples.

My plan is to EBF but I am going to get a pump just in case EBF'ing doesn't work out for me. I really don't want to use the pump or bottle feed in the very beginning unless it's necessary and EBF'ing isn't working. My goal is to try and establish a routine with just the breast.

So the only times I will need bottles is if I need to pump or supplement with formula out of necessity and also when the baby is a little older and I'm away from her. I am going to be a SAHM so I really shouldn't need to pump unless I'm going out and will be away from the baby (say a date night with DH) or if my DH wants to do a feeding once in awhile after I get a good routine going.

So how many bottles do I really need? And what nipples are the best to use? Are some better than others if your baby is used to your breast? I don't want to confuse the baby with the bottle if 90% of the time I'm feeding from the breast.

I feel really overwhelmed about this for some reason :(

Sorry if this was confusing! Please help me!

Message edited 10/3/2011 1:32:31 PM.

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

It is overwhelming! It's great that you plan to EBF. many babies have no problems at all going back and forth between bottle and breast. This was not the case for my children. They loved the breast. So much so, that dd refused the bottle until she was about 5 months old. Talk about overwhelming! I could never be away from her for longer than 3 hours. I could never get more sleep b/c dh couldn't give her a bottle. So I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. With my ds" I made sure that he got 1 bottle a day from birth. Sometimes he would really fight it and it was a struggle. He never had any confusion with latching onto the breast. We found the bottles that worked best for him were Tomee Tippee. They have a very wide nipple. So I strongly suggest incorporating a bottle from the get go if you would like to receive some help. Good luck with everything and congrats!

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

Message edited 10/3/2011 2:00:24 PM.

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

We are using the Breastflow bottles. The First Years puts then out, suuposed to mimic what the baby has to do while nursing and avoid nipple confusion, after a few time DS had it down pretty good.

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

Message edited 10/3/2011 2:10:18 PM.

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

I would recommend just getting 1 of a few brands - I found playtex drop ins to work best when I was nursing. You don't know which your baby will like...so don't buy a huge amt.

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

We used the First Years Breastflow in the beginning, they were good because when DD was still learning to latch they were closest to breastfeeding.

Like the PP mentioned though, PLEASE give your DC one bottle a day from the beginning. We gave her bottles in the beginning, stopped around 6 weeks b/c we got busy, and then she stopped taking them!!

She's 3 months now and for the past few weeks we have been struggling with her everyday trying to get her to take a bottle, any bottle again. I have a selection like BRU in my house right now

Re: Another BTDT EBF and Bottles?

My son has done great with the Dr. Brown's wide neck bottles. He never had nipple confusion and we switched from bottle to boob seamlessly.