Bottles for BF Babies

Mrs.Cooley2bee

So, I think I am going to have my DH give Charlotte her first bottle tomorrow night.  My Mom says that when we were about a month old she would put two teaspoons of cereal in a bottle with breast milk at night and it would help us sleep longer...it also got us used to having a bottle by giving one once a day.  She says she had no problems keeping with the breastfeeding and doing this......

Anyone do this?  It kinda seems like 1 month is a little soon?

KristenBtobe

That's an old wives tale (about helping with sleep). I'm staunchly in the nothing but breastmilk for the first 6 months camp, so I might be a bit militant, but I think it's way too early. Their digestive system isn't ready to handle more than milk or formula.

JLPT830

I'm in the same camp as pp!  We did give DS a bottle of EBM around 1 month and would give him 1 a day or every other day to get him ready for me going back to work.

Meg41208

we gave DD a bottle at 1 week, she took it fine.  We waited on cereal until after 4 months, but it does not matter what we feed her, it doesn't change how long she sleeps.  I would not give cereal so early. 

addslove

I agree with PPs...I wouldn't do the cereal this early.  A neighbor of ours kept telling me that I should do exactly what your mom suggested.  I finally just told him that our pedi didn't recommend it.  I think giving a bottle at this point is fine...smart actually, especially if you are trying to get DC used to it.

sistrkate

I agree with all of the pp's.  DON'T give cereal yet.  Most pedis don't recommend cereal before 4 months old at the very earliest.  It could actually make her sleep worse instead of better.....their little tummies just aren't equipped for that.

We started giving DS a bottle when he was about a week old, a few times a day.  We did it for a couple reasons -- to stimulate my supply by pumping between feedings, and also so he would eat more and gain weight faster.  We had some challenges at first with BF, so doing this helped us both!  It had the added benefit of getting him used to a bottle for when I went back to work.

Mrs.Cooley2bee

Thanks ladies.  I think I will just go with the bottle for now :0)

doodlebug914

I think a bottle is fine, but no cereal... I am also a proponent of nothing but bf until 6 months

KYMelissa06

We give Carter a bottle of BM several times a day.  He had some latching issues in the beginning and I think it was due to being given a bottle so early on when he was in the NICU.  Since we have worked out the latching issues with the help of a nipple shield he doesn't have a problem transitioning back and forth between bottle and breast.  It's nice because Brian can feed him and bond with him while giving me a little break in between to get a nice long nap in so I feel human again.  

What kind of bottles are you using?  From what I have heard most people seem to like Dr. Brown's for bf babies.  We went with Avent though and they seem to be working just fine.   

cat81305

DS got a bottle the first week home and had no troubles (BF til 14mths).  We used Breastflow bottles and have heard good things about Dr. Brown's also.  I would not give cereal just to try to get her to sleep.  It is  an old wives tale.  Drs usually don't want them to have anything but formula and/or BM until they are at least 4-6mths unless medically necessary (acid reflux, etc...).  I would definitely try a bottle of EBM though!  Good luck!