When to put baby from breast to bottle on expressed milk

[Wilson28]

Hi all

Just wondering when did you put baby onto bottle from breast and expressed breast milk?? My little one is 2wks tomorrow and im wondering if to intoroduce an odd bottle here and there.

Xx

 

[Mrs N]

Some people say to leave it 6 weeks before introducing a bottle but I think it depends on your lifestyle. I started expressing coz I was producing way too much milk in the morning an seemingly nothing at night so I expressed and gave him a bottle.
Xxx

 

[TORino]

My experience with this personally and after speaking to friends is if you don't introduce a teat before 6-8 weeks then there is a good chance you will struggle to get your baby to accept one at all.

I have 3 friends who cannot get their baby to drink expressed milk from a bottle. And it was all because they tried to introduce it too late.

I would also say, that if you start giving a bottle, give it regularly. As I had a baby that forgot how to use a teat and it took a stressful few weeks and lots of wasted breastmilk to get her to take it again after we didn't bother for a while.

 

[Wilson28]

So when do i start? Obviously xmas is here soon and i dont want to start to soon or to late xx

 

[mrswoody]

I gave Madison a bottle of expressed milk at around 2 weeks. She's on the bottles tonight as I have a works Christmas party. I'm going to start expressing more regularly now so that I can give her the bottle of expressed milk on Christmas Day also we are going back home for a week and I am meeting up with friends so will need expressed milk for those days too. If your happy enough to give LO a bottle now just go for it x

 

[emersonkelly]

After a year old, put your baby to bottle.

 

[TORino]

So when do i start? Obviously xmas is here soon and i dont want to start to soon or to late xx

How do you feel your supply is? Does LO latch well?

I knew that T wouldn't have a problem with the bottle and it wouldn't cause 'nipple confusion' etc

You could start anytime really, some people start from day dot but I waited until the milk settled down.

 

[Wilson28]

Hes latched on like a dream, milk supply is fine, feeds fine too.

Well i expressed last night and gave him it on the bottle just now wasnt impressed only tuck 1oz and then spat the teat out and wasnt having it lol xx

 

[sallybee]

Had he fed before? You could try giving him a bit of boob and then switching to the bottle when the initial hunger has died off, he might get frustrated if he's really hungry and feeding from an unfamiliar source xx

 

[Wilson28]

He had fed before, was just topping him up but he didnt like it
Maybe 13days is to young to try teat xx

 

[sallybee]

Cathy has been having bottles of expressed milk from about day 5 but we use dummies so she was already accustomed to the weird feeling I guess? Xx

 

[Wilson28]

See i dont want arthur on dummies, trying our best so he doesnt go on them xx

 

[sallybee]

I didn't want to use them either but we were bought some and OH snuck one in one night xx

 

[l_maclean]

Basically when BF is established. If you are still cluster feeding you could knock out your supply. But try not to leave it too late - like TOR said they can become less willing to take bottles. Xxx


On my iPhone - so cant see tickers

 

[jodied]

On the advice of the scbu I have Ella her first expressed bottle at 11 days old as she had established bf by then. She had one bottle every day and never refused the breast. I wouldn't leave it too long as my friends havd followed the6-8wk advice and not been able to get them to take a bottle. If your lo can bf then try it and do it at least once a day x

 

[Flips4]

Hugh is 11 days old today and I tried him with his first bottle of ebm last night, like Arthur he took an oz and then refused any more lol, I don't think Hugh's tongue tie helps but I plan to try again at the same time each night as part of a bedtime routine. He bf at about 9pm had 1oz of ebm from bottle at about 11pm and then bf for 45 mins from both sides at about 2am. He doesn't seem confused but I am using the breastflow bottles? I don't know if that makes a difference? I'm also still expressing at around the same time as the bottle feeds for now (OH gives high his bottle whilst I express) so my supply doesn't change in these early days.

 

[Nicnax]

Because I run my own business, & will be returning to work fairly soon after baby arrives, laving my hubby in charge in the eves, I plan to start introducing a bottle within the first 2 weeks. From what I've heard, it takes little perseverence, but that it gets harder the longer you leave it. As much as anything, i think it's important for my husband to be able to get involved in feeding as well.