For mommies who plan on breastfeeding.

Gracey_Manor Maid · September 2009

How many bottles do plan on getting? DH thinks we only need 4 but I am thinking we are going to need a few more than that. I want tot EBF But in case it doesn't work out I want to make sure I have what I need, just not sure how many to get Stick out tongue

CTri17 · September 2009

I'm not sure, but I'd like to hear the answers too

ilovemyprince · September 2009

I think you can never have enough bottles, lol BF or not. You just never know. I'd say make sure you have enough to stock a shelf in your kitchen, plus 2 or 3 in the diaper bag. I'm a over packer though! haha

mrsthedixon · September 2009

I'm not sure yet, but a friend of mine gave me the advice that I shouldn't buy a whole bunch of one brand of bottles, because you never know what kind your baby will like. She ended up buying a lot of one type, only to find her baby hated them... so she had to go out and try some different ones to see what he liked.

Good advice, I thought!

SuperTreesa · September 2009

I'm only buying 4. If I need more I will get them after there is a need.

lulupinkerton · September 2009

I have registered for 6. Not really sure what will work, so I put down a variety.

Erin0922 · September 2009

Well, we are gauging it this way:

When LO starts to sleep through night, I plan on pumping (to not wake LO up)... and storing the bottles in the fridge so DH can do feedings... or if I have to leave LO with a sitter. Plus, we never use dishes, so run our washer like twice a week.

I will probably get 6-8.

Tess12 · September 2009

Only buy a few to start. The baby may not like the kind you buy, so wait and see how your LO does with the bottles before buying a ton.

Giannismommy707 · September 2009

I registered for (2) 3 packs of the Playtex Drop Ins. DH wants to also help with feedings since it is good bonding time, and eventually I will go back to work, and DH will need them. I figure, if I need more, I'll buy more.

chris27 · September 2009

I EBF both my girls, DD#1 would go back and forth from boob to bottle ok but Ionly ever needed 4 in the end. DD#2 would not take a bottle or a paci if her life depended on it so i was stuck nursing her exclusively until she was about 11 mos when I finally got her to take a sippy cup with straw. I would just get a few bottles now like 4-5 so u are prepared. Also, keep in mind you don't really know what kind of bottle/nipple your baby is going to want to use. I went through 4 different brands of bottles/nipples before DD#1 took to one. Therefore, I had all those other brands I wasted money on.

rhawkins06 · September 2009

We registered for 8, 4-4oz and 4-8oz

shalanek01@aol.com · September 2009

I planned on only BF with my son, and I couldnt produce enough milk no matter how often I fed him. Just under 2 ounces every 4 hours. I didnt buy any bottles! I had to start alternating nursing and bottle feeding.

This time I plan on trying to only BF again, but I bought about 10 bottles anyway. I bought 3 different kinds.

poison489 · September 2009

We are probably going to start with 4 of various brands. We heard that babies can be picky about what nipples and bottles they like, so we don't want to invest in a lot and find out that the baby doesn't like them. We also figure that the baby won't use a bottle for a while any way due to me being off of work and apparently pacifiers and bottles can cause nipple confusion.

Mrs.tlcS · September 2009

Tess12:
Only buy a few to start. The baby may not like the kind you buy, so wait and see how your LO does with the bottles before buying a ton.

I agree with this. The answer really also depends on whether youre planning to SAH or go back to work - and when you plan to go back to work. If you plan to go back to work - your DCP may have regulations or policies for EBM transfer (i.e. they can't transfer EBM from bag to bottle), so depending on how your baby eats... that may play into the equation as well.

Definitely only a few to start - and start with one or two of several different brands with several types of nipples.

GL

mitchelltheojua · September 2009

MrsJulieT:
Erin0922:
Well, we are gauging it this way:
When LO starts to sleep through night, I plan on pumping (to not wake LO up)... and storing the bottles in the fridge so DH can do feedings... or if I have to leave LO with a sitter. Plus, we never use dishes, so run our washer like twice a week.
I will probably get 6-8.
Don't store the milk in a bottle. Pump into a pumping bottle and then put it into a bag so you can freeze it. Takes up way less space! BM only lasts in the fridge for 24 hours and frozen for 3 months.

oh wow ... thanks ... I had no idea that breast milk had such a short shelf life in the fridge ... huhm

JenGK · September 2009

I had supply issues as well, and ended up exclusively FF my son. Even then, we ended up with at most 8 bottles that we used regularly when he was super-little.

I would only go with a small pack of one brand to start off with. Some babies are picky about what type of bottle they will take. We ended up trying 3 separate types, so I am glad I didn't invest a lot at the start.

Gracey_Manor Maid · September 2009

Thanks ladies! I have been told the get diffrent types advice before Dh gets 2 weeks paternity leave from work paid (thank you lord!) so we decided his job after LO gets here is to get everything we forgot, didn't think we would need, doesn't work and needs to be exchanged etc. lol

I forsee bottle runs to the store in his future!

Erin0922 · September 2009

Well see? There is a reason I am on this board after all. Good thing I reread this thread, so I didn't end up feeding my baby curdled milk... So much to learn...

Haha, thanks!

Brittni Rimmer · September 2009

I plan on getting about maybe 12 bottles.

noangel293 · September 2009

I plan to get 8-10. I'm going back to work after 6 weeks though... so I want to be able to pump and have them at the daycare and have some waiting at home for when the boyfriend brings our son home. So I figure 8-10 should cover it. Plus, we get a little lazy on dishes... so that would help too hehe

palomaLuna · September 2009

MrsJulieT:
Don't store the milk in a bottle. Pump into a pumping bottle and then put it into a bag so you can freeze it. Takes up way less space! BM only lasts in the fridge for 24 hours and frozen for 3 months.

I found this info online:

How long can I store my breast milk?

The following are some general breast milk storage guidelines:

At room temperature (less than 77?F) for 4 to 8 hours
At the back of a refrigerator for 3 to 8 days
At the back of a freezer for up to 3 months

ashleyb0604 · September 2009

We registered for a pack of two 4 oz and two 9 oz bottles and then two additional of each - so in total four 4 oz and four 9 oz. I am not sure if this will be too much or too little though - this is our first!

ernlei608 · September 2009

I registered for a couple different brands. In the 3 or 4 bottle packs. I planning on when LO gets older to BF and bottle feed with breast milk. I'm going to get a dozen or so before LO gets here and see how it goes the first couple days go and judge from there.

Shell24 · September 2009

I pumped as well, so we always had bottles on hand. My DD had zero nipple confusion and went back and forth with ease. My friends mom is a pedi and told me there was no such thing as nipple confusion and it was true for my kid.

It depends on how often you run your dishwasher or want to wash dishes. We also always kept a few ready in the fridge. I think we had about 12 bottles (I use Dr. Browns and they come in packs of 3, so I just bought 4 packs).

That was enough for us but I tell you...it's like the dryer eating the socks..we lost parts, whole bottles and had NO idea what happened to them! By the time my DD was close to a year we were down to about 7 bottles and that was a complete pain. So definitely have more than that I didn't bother buying more since she was also on sippys and we were going to milk soon but I would have if she were younger.

caremore37 · September 2009

noangel293:
I plan to get 8-10. I'm going back to work after 6 weeks though... so I want to be able to pump and have them at the daycare and have some waiting at home for when the boyfriend brings our son home. So I figure 8-10 should cover it. Plus, we get a little lazy on dishes... so that would help too hehe

I think we started out w/ 3 or 4 of one type. If you're EBF, you most likely won't need them at all... one of the benefits of bfing is the LACK of dishes!! Anyway, once I went back to work, I bought more... I think we had like 10? But I never bought anything bigger than the 4 oz. We go the dropins, and if you fill them to the top, you can get 5 oz in them. DD never ate more than 5 oz in a sitting, so we had no need to graduate to a larger size. Another reason why you might want to hold off getting a ton originally.

For those of you freezing your bm, make you sure test your frozen milk well before you start trying to use it. I ended up having excess lipase in my milk, and when I froze it straight from the pump, it went bad even in the freezer and tasted like soap. I ended up having to toss everything I'd frozen, pump like mad to rebuild my stash, and go through this scalding routine with the milk for a while, until I got enough to feel satisfied, and then I just gave her the fresh milk from the night before, for the most part!

GL, everyone! Oh, and if you're really dedicated to bfing... I'd have DH hide those bottles and any formula samples that you have. Those first couple of weeks kind of suck, and MANY women give in, supplement w/ formula and start sliding down that slippery slope to having supply issues. If you can make it past the first couple of weeks, for the most part, it's REALLY much easier. Being really committed to it from Day 1 helps a great deal in getting past that initial learning curve stage!

palomaLuna · September 2009

MrsJulieT:
palomaLuna:
MrsJulieT:
Don't store the milk in a bottle. Pump into a pumping bottle and then put it into a bag so you can freeze it. Takes up way less space! BM only lasts in the fridge for 24 hours and frozen for 3 months.
I found this info online:

How long can I store my breast milk?

The following are some general breast milk storage guidelines:

At room temperature (less than 77?F) for 4 to 8 hours
At the back of a refrigerator for 3 to 8 days
At the back of a freezer for up to 3 months

Yes there is some variance on the time with 24 and 3 months being general. But I can guarantee you I would not have used 8 day old fresh (never frozen) milk with my DS. It changes color and starts to stink. You have to be very careful in mixing it as the fat separates out and if you shake it you break the proteins that are so vital to breast milk.
I know a lot of women have issues getting enough when they pump so freezing really maximizes your ability to use it when you need it and not use it just so it doesn't go back.

Eww. Very good to know!

GreekyPie · September 2009

I'm getting 4 to start, but if that isn't enough I will just run to Target. Not a big deal.

pregnantalready09 · September 2009

I plan on registering for a couple of different sets so I can find out what baby likes.

luckyangel · September 2009

My friend had her baby girl last Jan and breastfed but kept about 10 bottles and said that was more than she needed-she said 6 or 7 would have been perfect.

babyluv617 · September 2009

I had 2 small drop ins and 3 large drop ins. Later when he was a faster nurser I bought 3 mam ultivents and 2 of those stayed at his in home daycare. We picked up another set later with a gift card but we really didn't need them. They helped so I didn't have to wash the bottles all the time if I needed one though. We hardly ever used a bottle at home.

pregnantalready09 · September 2009

mitchelltheojua:
MrsJulieT:
Erin0922:

Well, we are gauging it this way:

When LO starts to sleep through night, I plan on pumping (to not wake LO up)... and storing the bottles in the fridge so DH can do feedings... or if I have to leave LO with a sitter. Plus, we never use dishes, so run our washer like twice a week.

I will probably get 6-8.

Don't store the milk in a bottle. Pump into a pumping bottle and then put it into a bag so you can freeze it. Takes up way less space! BM only lasts in the fridge for 24 hours and frozen for 3 months.

oh wow ... thanks ... I had no idea that breast milk had such a short shelf life in the fridge ... huhm

me either...this site is so informational

sarahmae8 · September 2009

I will just get a pack of either 6 or 8, however they come to store pumped milk for times we are out of the house or my DH is caring for LO.

babyluv617 · September 2009

MrsJulieT:
Erin0922:
Well, we are gauging it this way:
When LO starts to sleep through night, I plan on pumping (to not wake LO up)... and storing the bottles in the fridge so DH can do feedings... or if I have to leave LO with a sitter. Plus, we never use dishes, so run our washer like twice a week.
I will probably get 6-8.
Don't store the milk in a bottle. Pump into a pumping bottle and then put it into a bag so you can freeze it. Takes up way less space! BM only lasts in the fridge for 24 hours and frozen for 3 months.

Freshly pumped breastmilk lasts 3-8 days in the fridge. Thawed breastmilk only lasts 24 hours. You freeze breastmilk in a deep freezer for at least 6 months.

Boizmom · September 2009

I only ever had about 4 to 6 bottle around the house. I EBF both my boys, but I also pumped. I only plan on about 4 to 6 bottles again this time.

babyluv617 · September 2009

MrsJulieT:
I know a lot of women have issues getting enough when they pump so freezing really maximizes your ability to use it when you need it and not use it just so it doesn't go back.

Freezing kills some of the vital components that makes BM so good for your LO. Fresh milk is better than frozen for the baby.

goldenleaves · September 2009

I don't plan on getting that many mostly because I don't know what kind. I registered for 2 of a few different brands. I plan to EBF until I go back to work (at around 8 weeks pp) but will have to supplement at that point. Hopefully at that point, we'll know which kind works for us.

kdiaisfly · September 2009

I'm getting 6 to start with, I'm also using the Adiri Natural Nurser bottle, what type are you using?

fisha25 · September 2009

MrsJulieT:
Erin0922:

Well, we are gauging it this way:

When LO starts to sleep through night, I plan on pumping (to not wake LO up)... and storing the bottles in the fridge so DH can do feedings... or if I have to leave LO with a sitter. Plus, we never use dishes, so run our washer like twice a week.

I will probably get 6-8.

Don't store the milk in a bottle. Pump into a pumping bottle and then put it into a bag so you can freeze it. Takes up way less space! BM only lasts in the fridge for 24 hours and frozen for 3 months.

Yes i agree, and really you can never have enough bottles. And if you freeze your milk make sure you buy breastmilk bags and let the air out like they suggest so they don't freezer burn.

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