How many bottles?

justkeeptrying

FTM primarily breastfeeding but wanting to have the option of pumping and bottle feeding when we have a sitter.

How many bottles do you think I would need? We have just been using 2 - 4oz bottles for now, but got gifts with 3 more 4 oz bottles and 4 - 9 oz bottles. Do you think that's too many? Am I safe to return some or should I keep them?

I don't want to store more than I have to but also don't want to return them if I'll need them. Any thoughts? I have no idea what to expect in terms of how many bottles we would need...

blairdavis99

Definitely hold onto the bigger bottles. My twin LOs are 2 months old and one eats over 4 oz already!

orangecurls

I would say to return the 9 oz bottles. BF babies don't usually eat too much more than 3-4 oz at a time. You could probably just stay with 2 bottles. do you have other storage bottles or bags for extra breastmilk? Your sitter can wash the bottles of you plan on going for a long time.

Harris96

Definitely keep the bottles just let the sitter know how much to feed little one at a time usually babies will stop eating when they are full believe me they know when they're full sometimes my son eats anywhere between 2-4 1/2 oz at a time

justkeeptrying

I do have 3 extra storage bottles as well as bags to use for breast milk too. So I'm not concerned about storage.

I am also wondering if 9oz bottles are practical. I am exclusively breastfeeding so I really have no idea how much my DS eats per feeding. When would 9oz be necessary?

MrsS728

We have 6 4oz bottles and 10 8oz bottles. I am pumping and supplementing with formula. 6 bottles works for us because we are still sterilizing once in the AM and once in the PM. Our LO eats 3.5oz every 3-4 1/2 hours (50-50 BM and formula mix).

jennygirlmt

I EP and only had three 4 oz until a few days ago when I added 3 more.

I can't imagine a BF baby ever needing 9oz bottles. I'm always pouring another ounce in when she's not satisfied so I would rather do that than keep all those bottles, esp when that could be money for necessities. I wouldn't keep more than 2 for EBF, when would you need more than 2 feedings immediately? Washing bottles takes a minute.

justkeeptrying

@jennygirlmt - that's what I've been thinking. The only time we use bottles is if I want a break and DH gives him my pumped milk. Otherwise we plan to use it just for when we have a babysitter. I can't imagine there would be a time that we would be gone long enough to need more than 2 bottles. And if we did, I could ask the sitter to use one, wash it, and then fill it with the stored milk.

I think I'll return some of them. Use the money for some other necessities.

Thanks everyone!!!

ali0608

I personally would keep the 9 oz bottles and return the other smaller bottles.  You can always put 2-4 oz in a bigger bottle, but you can't put 5 oz in a smaller bottle.

I don't even understand the point of having smaller bottles.

I would keep all of them if you are ever going back to work.

uta10

I was mainly breastfeeding but the got a clogged duct and the baby wouldn't latch. Lactation consultant had me mostly pumping to clear it up and work with the LO on the latch until she could latch again. I was SO glad I had bottles because she was cluster feeding at the time and I needed to be able to store the pumped milk and then give it to her relatively quickly between pumping and everything else. For me personally it was great to have them for that scenario. I had gotten my bottles for free with coupons so I hadn't spent money on them, but it was really nice to have them on hand.