Breastfeeding and daddy bonding

Re: Breastfeeding and daddy bonding

• DylansCandyBar member

  July 2015

  I waited to start pumping on the recommendation of my LC, until BFing was established. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks. My H did skin to skin contact during that time and didn't need to feed our girls to bond with them. we'll do the same thing this time around.

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• etayislove member

  July 2015

  What a supportive daddy to be you have there! It's recommended to wait at least a minimum of 4 weeks and preferably 6 before you introduce a bottle. The longer you wait the less likely the baby will have nipple confusion and it gives your body a chance to establish supply. The latter being very important simply for the fact that pumps are not as efficient as a baby nursing.
  
  When you do decide to try a feeding with dad you should pump after a few feedings store the milk, then also it's very important for you to pump during the feeding that dad will be doing. I suggest reading the info sheet on LLLI.org called 'Bottle feeding the Breastfed Baby' for some helpful tips.
  
  I always let my husband do bath and pajama time if he wanted a 'special' time just for him and baby. Maybe that would work for your hubs while you and baby get breastfeeding figured out ?
  
  Also, your local La Leche League group is always a good resource for all things breastfeeding, I highly suggest mommas go before giving birth so you can get questions answered and get to know the leaders! Leaders are on call 24/7 to help with breastfeeding troubles.

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• KERJF member

  July 2015

  Once BF was established, DD1 had NO issues going back and forth from time to time (but honestly she probably had less than 10 bottles the entire time she was nursing?).
  I would encourage they do find other ways to bond too (not saying they wouldnt!). DD2 for me never took a bottle. No matter what kind. She only wanted to nurse. Bath time can be great for bonding, skin to skin, baby massages are wonderful, reading, ect.
  

  
  

  

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• smrdaniels member

  July 2015

  The first few weeks, my husband did the burping right after. He had the magic touch. But we didn't bottle feed for the first 3-4 weeks, except the occasional formula supplement because I had supply issues due to a rough delivery and recovery.

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• FinalyFound member

  July 2015

  We introduced the bottle when DD was 2 days old. She didn't have any confusion.

  

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• WDDCH member

  July 2015

  Your husband doesn't have to feed baby to bond. He can burp, do bath time, snuggle and wear baby, etc.
  
  If you want to try pumped milk in bottles you can definitely do so. It won't confuse baby.

  

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• michcoy85 member

  July 2015

  My husband wants the same thing and I told him about "nipple confusion" and he thought I was making it up so I showed him in a book how that could happen and how the baby needs a month on the breast before introducing a bottle or pacifier. I think I will try letting my husband do the bath and pajama time for bonding like one poster suggested! 
  

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• cjstats87 member

  July 2015

  I exclusively nursed my son for 6 months and daddy got his "bonding" when it was diaper changing time and time for me to shower or grocery shop. I also LOVED getting the much needed nap every once in a while...but I never woke DH at night so he couldn't complain when I napped during the day!

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• ForeverEverAfter member

  July 2015

  With #1 I didn't allow pacis or bottles for 2 months because I was constantly correcting her latch as it was because of a strong letdown. I knew with that issue she was higher risk for bottle preference. Hubby snuggled skin to skin with her after feedings while I slept, showered, walked, etc. He later took on bathtime too. Lots of bonding opportunities outside of feeding

  

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• mkeip member

  July 2015

  etayislove said:

  What a supportive daddy to be you have there! It's recommended to wait at least a minimum of 4 weeks and preferably 6 before you introduce a bottle. The longer you wait the less likely the baby will have nipple confusion and it gives your body a chance to establish supply. The latter being very important simply for the fact that pumps are not as efficient as a baby nursing. When you do decide to try a feeding with dad you should pump after a few feedings store the milk, then also it's very important for you to pump during the feeding that dad will be doing. I suggest reading the info sheet on LLLI.org called 'Bottle feeding the Breastfed Baby' for some helpful tips. I always let my husband do bath and pajama time if he wanted a 'special' time just for him and baby. Maybe that would work for your hubs while you and baby get breastfeeding figured out ? Also, your local La Leche League group is always a good resource for all things breastfeeding, I highly suggest mommas go before giving birth so you can get questions answered and get to know the leaders! Leaders are on call 24/7 to help with breastfeeding troubles.

  wow! Thank you so much. This is perfect. I will def. go to that website and read the info sheet. And thank you for your ideas for daddy bonding until he can participate in feeding

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• mkeip member

  July 2015

  thanks guys. Great advice. I think I know how to approach this now. I am going to do as you suggested and wait at least the 4 weeks before I try the baby with the bottle. Talked to DH about it and he totally understands and thinks that this is the right course of action as well. I told him he could do the burping as one of you suggested and we both laughed at how neither one of us even thought of that. Shoot, if he wants to deal with the baby spit up for a couple feedings have at it buddy! lol I think he wanted to get involved with the feeding partially for bonding and partially because when he read how much the baby will be feeding on me during the day he was pretty surprised. I'm like what did you think it was 3 times a day? lol so i think he wanted to take some of the burden off of me. But I explained to him that I don't feel like it will be but appreciate that he wants to help. So, long story short I think we have a good direction to go in thanks to your advice and the extra resource materials you shared!

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• WDDCH member

  July 2015

  Sounds like a very sweet man!

  

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• bmolson1 member

  July 2015

  You can also encourage DH to babywear when you're not nursing.  That gives an awesome opportunity for bonding because they can snuggle up to each other while DH gets things done around the house and LO enjoys the movement.

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• Mufflerlove member

  July 2015 edited July 2015

  I introduced a bottle like around 3 weeks. I pumped once a day and my DH fed the baby one bottle each evening. He enjoyed doing it and she had no problems taking a bottle.

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• J0C0TX member

  July 2015

  mkeip said:

  Hey guys FTM here. I am planning on breast feeding exclusively (fingers crossed)  but my husband has asked to be able to participate in being able to bond during feeding times which i fully support. I was wondering if any of you did BOTH bottle feeding (using your breast milk, not formula) and also breast fed? Does it cause problems and confusion for baby or is completely doable? If you did do this, when did you introduce bottle? 

  
  

  Thanks!

  
  

  Yes with both my girls. He would do the last feed of the day while I pumped. Baby knows boob! We started around 2 weeks. With dd1 we had to supplement once a day with formula from one month and he did that feed last thing too. She wouldn't take it from me as shed root for the boob - she knew boob was best
  
  

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• Elizabeth043086 member

  July 2015

  Well...I think if dh wanted to bottle feed to bond with baby I'd make him promise to wash bottles.  I had to pump with ds 1 for a while and maybe a few days with ds 2 and I LOATE washing dishes and bottles so NO way would I do it for dh.  lol I'm lazy like that.  I just think there are other ways for daddy to bond with baby.  My dh wanted me to breastfeed and really didn't want to take that away from me and the baby.  They'll bond or not...lol DS 1 has always been a Daddy's boy, but ds 2 like NEVER wanted anything to do with dh until he was past a year old or so.  Still he has a preference for me. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

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