Breast feedding, when to introduce the bottle?

omcdowell · February 2011

I am a first time mommy and I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Feb. 7, 2011. I am successfully breastfeeding; however, her father also wants to be able to feed her from time to time. When should I introduce the slow flow nipple bottle to our daughter?

NewFamily09 · February 2011

I used to hear that around 6 weeks was best, but then in a recent issue of Parents magazine I read that they recommend 3 weeks. Apparently if you wait too long, they sometimes reject it.

mrsashby · February 2011

As long as breastfeeding is going well and DC has a good latch-you can start now if you want. With both my kids I gave a bottle about 7-10 days after they were born and have had no issues. I think if I would have waited 6 weeks my kids would have rejected the bottle! I don't understand where this generic "wait 6 weeks" comes from.

kimberly_ann81 · February 2011

The Lactation Nurse I saw on Monday said anytime between 3 and 6 weeks. I tried it once earlier this week and he didn't have a problem. Good luck.

larrysdarling · February 2011

We started introducing it slowly at 3 weeks. I didn't give it to her consistently but we are now trying to give her a bottle of BM once a day. If you introduce it, you have to keep doing it so they don't 'forget' how to eat from it.

skibi83 · February 2011

We started at 2weeks because I had to go back to school. It has worked really well for us. She has no issue between boob and bottle. She'll eat from whatever nipple we give her, except she isn't huge on pacifiers unless she's really hungry.

kpahl · February 2011

Our LO was introduced from day 1 since I had a c-section that night and could not feed her on my own. She also had to take a formula 2 days later when the hospital had no heat I refused to let her out of the warm (heat lamps) nursery to breastfeed her in my under 60 degree hospital room, we were miserable. She has been fine switching between both breast and bottle, occasionally she gets a bottle since I am still trying to figure out what is causing her massive breast milk spit up (its not dairy).

Doodle2011 · February 2011

we had to do it at the hospital to supplement with formula, and just never stopped (she gets one bottle of pumped breastmilk a day so DH has a chance to feed her). However, fwiw my pedi told me at the interview we did with him while pregnant that he recommends 3 weeks, because any longer and they might reject it.

rleighwalker · February 2011

NewFamily09:
I used to hear that around 6 weeks was best, but then in a recent issue of Parents magazine I read that they recommend 3 weeks. Apparently if you wait too long, they sometimes reject it.

This happened to a couple of friends of mine. We introduced it at two weeks and she has done fine ever since. It is very important to give them one consistently. My husband gives LO a bottle every night before bed.

DaniDuran · February 2011

I had to start supplementing two days after we got home. Our LO has a huge appetite and there was nothing we could do. The pedi and the LC were also supportive. He is 10 weeks today and has no problem switching from breast to bottle.

Cameron11 · February 2011

Baby411 (my go to book for info) suggests 2-4 weeks. Also, it says to be sure to give at least one bottle per day after introducing so the baby won't forget. I introduced a bottle at 3 weeks and my daughter is doing well with it as long as the milk is warm. Good luck!

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