When to intro bottles when BF?

pechezncreme06 · April 2012

DD is 1 week old and I want to start pumping to build up a stash. When did you introduce a bottle every now and then and how did it go over? Inammjus super nervous about nipple confusion, but I waited too long with DD#1 and she wouldn't take one till finally 9 months old

raspberry_bride · April 2012

We introduced one bottle in the evening just this past Monday, and DD is 5 weeks old. My DH gives her the bottle so she doesn't get confused, and he had no problem giving it to her. It really helps to know that someone else can feed her if need be. One week would have been too early for my DD because she didn't really get the hang of BF until almost a month old.

Wipz · April 2012

Our lil man was taking bottled boob juice and boob in the hospital and had had some forumla to supplement since about 1 an a half weeks... no confusion here ..if it looks like a titty, smells like a titty and produces food.. it's titty to him LOL

beano · April 2012

We had our 2 week apt yesterday and the Ped said it was ok to start introducing the bottle now. Baby has figured out how to latch, so no confusion. He had his first bottle last night. So nice to have DH help with feedings!

kel716 · April 2012

I say go for it. If there is really nipple confusion, you could go and get a nipple shield.

FWIW, we introduced bottles while in the hospital. DS lost a ton of weight and we just didn't want to go down that path again. So, I let go of the fear of nipple confusion, sent her to the nursery, and let the nurses give formula so we could sleep 8+ hours. My milk came in less than 48 hours after delivery, and she's done fine since. We've given her a bottle most days, and she still has marathon nursing sessions.

We also introduced a pacifier in the hospital...

Jen524 · April 2012

We introduced with DD2 today (3 weeks, 2 days). With DD1 I think it was around 2 and a half weeks. DD1 was given formula in the nursery at the hospital and had some issues with confusion right away, but when we re-introduced she was fine. DD2 took the bottle just fine today. So we will probably be giving her a bottle every day or every other day so she is used to getting a bottle. She won't be going to daycare until around 3 months old.

GoldenGibson · April 2012

We introduced the bottle just before 3 weeks. We have no issues with nipple confusion, but we have a lot of experimenting to do with bottles. We gave him 3 oz in a born free bottle and he sucked it down in less than 5 min and was not satisfied at all by it. I had to put him on the boob after! We also need to burp much more often I guess too, but I still can't feel comfortable with someone giving him a bottle because he's not happy afterward.

DGandDG · April 2012

Wipz:
Our lil man was taking bottled boob juice and boob in the hospital and had had some forumla to supplement since about 1 an a half weeks... no confusion here ..if it looks like a titty, smells like a titty and produces food.. it's titty to him LOL

This totally and lol!

lisaNDmike08 · April 2012

In my case, it's my own nipples that are confusing since I have two inverted nips that require a nipple shield every time. DS lost a ton of weight in our five days in the hospital, so we had to bottle feed formula from our first day home while waiting for my milk to come in. Ever since my milk has come in, I've been feeding him first at the boob and then topping him off with the bottle per the lactation consultant's recommendation. No confusion here!

L0L0 · April 2012

My LC said I could start pumping to build a stash earlier, but to wait 6 weeks to give a bottle (we had a lot of trouble initially with her latch). DD had basically no sucking reflex her first day and her first 3 meals were formula (the doctor said the only alternative was giving her an IV!), but since then my goal is all breastmilk with no supplementing. I'm going back to work after 3 months and so I'll have about 6 weeks to get her used to a bottle once I introduce it.

At this point, I get really engorged even if she just sleeps a little bit too long, so I don't think it would even be helpful for DH to give her a bottle just to give me a break. She's 4 weeks old.

Charlyne · April 2012

DS got one in the hospital because we had a lot of trouble BFing. He still gets one a night from DH while I sleep. He BFs like a champ and never had any confusion. He also got a paci (Soothie) in the hospital.

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