Best time to introduce a bottle?

KDeola

I'm sure this has been discussed, but when do you ladies think is the best age to introduce a bottle of expressed milk? With my first son I waited till he was 4 weeks old and he never took to it! I'm 38.5 weeks pregnant and would really like the option for this baby to take a bottle sometimes. Do you think two weeks old is too early?

HopeNotLost

When my daughter was about two weeks old, we had to introduce a bottle because she wasn't gaining well.  She took to it fine, and was able to go back and forth between the two.  However, when she was about 2.5 months old, I stopped offering a bottle (I just didn't because I SAH with her, and it was just easier for me to nurse her), and she refused to take a bottle after that.  It's been quite a challenge lol.  

KDeola

Thanks ladies, I had my husband introduce the bottle last time, maybe that wasn't a good idea? I did read to be successful you should offer one bottle each day. I loved ebf'ing my son and plan to do it this time also, it is just super hard (as I'm sure you all know) to be the only one that could feed him! I'd love for a family me,ber to be able to give the baby a bottle of my milk, or to be able to run a few errands without worrying about getting back so quickly.

eves1989

2 weeks is fine. I did it to my DD at that age too.

ktpaladino

We just introduced DD to a bottle at 3 weeks while MIL babysat her for a few hours. Apparently it took her a a few minutes to learn how to use the nipple, but then she took it just fine and is still nursing like a champ. I think as long as everything is going well the 2-3 weeks range is fine.

DahliaFlower

We did it at exactly the 1 month mark and had no issues at all.  

Lena122

DD was about 3 weeks and after we found a very slow flow nipple she's done very well. She's 7 weeks now and we offer a bottle about 2 times per week.

melaport

Hospital LC said 4 weeks and private LC said 1 week. I ended up waiting until 6 and it has been a battle. I wish I had done it at 1 week but as a FTM recovering from an unexpected c-section and it being Christmas Eve, that wasn't happening.

KDeola

Thanks for the input ladies!