Introducing a Bottle

kcjessieb

I've been exclusively breastfeeding my son since he was born a month ago.  The BFing has gone very well -- he's gaining weight like a champ.  He's had three bottles when we were out and my mom was watching him.  She said he took them pretty easily.

I'll be going back to work March 1 and plan to leave pumped milk for the day care to feed him.  Today at his one-month appointment, the pediatrician recommended that we include a bottle in his daily routine so that he will be accustomed to it and will be able to take one when he starts day care.

I just wanted to get some input on whether any of you have done this.  I'm a little leery of adding a bottle unless it's really necessary.  I have seen lots of posts on here from people whose LO wouldn't take a bottle when they started back at work.  

If you do one bottle a day, when do you pump for the bottle?  Are you engorged at the time when you use the bottle rather than nursing yourself?  Any ideas/tips about this? 

Inspiredbysoph

Best advice I can give...is don't wait too long to introduce the bottle. I waited 5 weeks to introduce/try a pacifier and DD#1 rejected it, and I waited a while to introduce a bottle and she rejected it as well

Boho_Mama

Introducing bottles can be tricky.  Some babies will never take a bottle.  My DD wouldn't.  SO cup fed her if I went out and she needed to be fed.  On the other hand, introducing a bottle can completely ruin a breastfeeding relationship, so it's a delecate process.  You might have to try a few nipple and bottle types to find one that works right for your baby, and you may have to be prepared for set backs in latch and supply.

relros

If he has taken a bottle before, and you said he has, then I wouldn't suggest adding a bottle a day because he has shown that he is ok with the bottle and doesn't need a lot of help with it.

I waited till one month to introduce the bottle (as our LC said to do) and it went fine.  When I went back to work a month later, she had only had a bottle a few times when we went out and still she took to eating from the bottle all day just fine. She never took a pacifier, but that's a different story.

farrk

Don't wait. Start now every day.  We had given little one a bottle here and there, She had taken it with no problems in the beginning.  We stopped and at 8 weeks tried to give a bottle.  She refused.  At 11 weeks, I had my mom help.  She went three days without eating during the day and nursing at night before she would finally take the bottle.

 If DC is taking it now.  Keep it up.  At two months babies really develop preferences.  Those three days were very hard.

Boho_Mama

OH...I mentioned this earlier but another thought it to have someone else feed from the bottle instead of Mum.  If baby smells Mum and knows that the real thing is close by, they may refuse the bottle for that reason.

Ivana_Stolichnaya

Introduce it NOW.  We waited too long and DD is rejecting multiple styles of bottles and nipples big time.  She's acting like we're trying to poison her.  It's stressful.  You just have to stay calm and try it here and there, once they start putting up a fight you need to back down for awhile, no need to get into a bottle battle.  I read that you should try it when the baby is hungry, but not starving.  Try warming up the nipple with some warm water and have someone else do the feeding with you in another room or when you're away.