Georgia Babies

When did you introduce a bottle if you breastfeed?

Pedi says I "need" to do it by the time he's 4 weeks old, or he may never take one. He just turned 3 weeks yesterday. I'm still a little scared to do so, because he still hasn't perfected breastfeeding yet. Still working on getting a good latch, although it seems a LITTLE better the past week. Also, dealing with what seems to be some reflux issues. She put him on Zantac b/c he seemed so miserable, and it actually seems a little better now.

Just curious for those of you who needed to introduce bottle for when you go back to work, when did you do it and do you have a rec. for a good bottle to help with gas, reflux issues?

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Re: When did you introduce a bottle if you breastfeed?

  • We introduced the bottle to Brady at 2 weeks (but he didn't have any latch issues).  We use Born Free bottles and have had no problems with reflux.  I've also heard the Playtex drop-ins are good for reflux, but haven't used them.  I was also really nervous about introducing a bottle - what if he doesn't want the breast anymore? - but we had no problems at all and he does fine with bottle and breast.  I hope you have the same luck!
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    Mommy to Abigail Elizabeth (11/4/11) and Brady Jasper (7/2/09)
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  • I did right away. It hurt so bad when she nursed, so sometimes I'd just give her pumped milk. She never had a problem with taking both.
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    Abigail Taylor 09.18.2008


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  • We just started this week.  My lactation consultant said that starting between 3 and 4 weeks would be fine.  We are using Gerber Nuk bottles.  I just lucked out that Carter likes the nipples on them.  He didn't like the ones that came with the Medela bottles.  I don't know if they help with gas or reflux though.
  • My LLL leader recommended waiting until 6 weeks (obviously that's not always doable if you have to go back to work ASAP).

    DS has never really been interested in a bottle, but we've never "forced" him to, either.  I always just plan to be home within 2-3 hours of feeding him if I leave.  I always leave pumped milk, but he isn't really into it.

    Jen & T.J. 6.17.06 BabyBlog * my chart *
    Joseph Henry was born at home on March 9, 2009
    Nora Mae was born at home on October 30, 2011
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  • I "tried" around 4 weeks, but he was not interested. At a few months we finally got him to take a bottle (granted he was very hungry and I was no where around). We did the playtex drop in nursers.
    Grant Thomas 8.8.06 and Reid Alexander 8.11.08
  • I had to go back to work at 8 weeks (C section) so I started at 7 weeks. Nate was a major acid reflux baby (still is on medicine).  Nate was very good at transitioning to bottle to breast. He latched on the 1st time. I didn't do it 100% either.  I gave my 2 week notice when I came back.  I used Born Free bottles which worked fantastic with us.  We were at the dr every week with Nate since he was 2 weeks old. Zantac never phased him.  Just remember witht he Zantac they give the dosage per weight.  So if you see if he is getting worse again take him back for a new measurement in dosage. We got put on Prevacid at 6 weeks old.

     Since he is already having issues in latching I would wait until your both are 100% comfortable with it if you want to do it for a long time.  He may like the bottle better and never want to go back to the breast.  

  • We too  have reflux issues.  DD started out on Zantac with no relief and is now on Prevacid and it's working well for us.  She will  be  on Prevacid for a while until she starts solids. 

    As for the bottle, due to the reflux issues she had what sounded like  chronic nasal congestion (but after seeing a pedi ENT we learned its inflammation of the  larynx which is common with reflux).  Needless to  say, we first  introduced the bottle at 4 weeks using the Playtex drop-ins with their slow flow nipple.  The slow flow  nipple was SUPER fast for DD and she would just choke on it and much of the milk would run down her neck.  We then switched to the Nuk  bottle with the Nuk Slow flow nipple and it's much better.   We give a couple of  ounces at a time once or twice a week.  We've also learned that she does  better taking the bottle earlier in the  day, in the evening she's a bit too fussy to be interested in the bottle.

    GL! 

  • Oh, and for bottles, I use the playtex drop-ins. But Abigail never had a problem with reflux. My friend's daughter had acid reflux REALLY bad, and she used Dr. Browns.
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    Abigail Taylor 09.18.2008


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  • Ava didn't have reflux but we introduced the bottle at about 5-6 weeks and had a really hard time getting her to take it.  We went through 4 bottles until we found one she would take.  We use the Breastflow by The First Years.  Good luck!!  I hope things are better with the latch! 

     

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