when to introduce a bottle?

Question

My baby is almost 3 weeks old and exclusively breastfed. I want to start pumping so we can feed her with a bottle when needed but I'm so worried about nipple confusion. I love breastfeeding and the thought of her refusing the breast after introducing the bottle is giving me anxiety. So when is the best time to introduce a bottle? And how should I do it? Is there a certain feeding time I should start with?

Answer

My baby girl is 8 days and is ravenous at night. I started pumping 2 days ago and pump just once a day for now so I could have a 2 oz bottle to feed her at around midnight because she is hungry but tired and gets lazy latching then. 
No problem giving her the bottle and then Having her latch the next day. I used a munchkin anti-colic bottle. Plus side, she gets "milk drunk" and sleeps close to 5 hours then :)

Answer

My LC showed us in the hospital how to bottle feed and reduce the chances of nipple confusion. we hold him to where he's almost sitting up, hold the bottle horizontally so that only about half the nipple has milk in it and he has to work to get anything. He's been getting about one bottle a day the rest of the time is all boob and we haven't had any issues at all. He's 10 days old. Hopefully that keeps up but he latches without issue so far.

Answer

I didn't have a choice and had to introduce a bottle at 10 days due to going to the er because of sickness. I got the slowest flow nipples ahead of time to have for instances like that and he transitioned no problem. He will take bottle, pacifier, or breast no problem. He definitely prefers breast though and has no issue making that known. All babies are different. You have to do what's right for you. I'd advise looking into the calma nipples from medela, and the latch bottles and nipples from latch. I use the latch ones and I LOVE them. He took them no problem and they do a great job of cutting down air in the bottle to reduce gas. If you're interested in trying those bottles, munchkin is having a Labor Day sale on their website. Look into it :)

Answer

Everyone at the hospital told me between 3-5 weeks. Any sooner could cause confusion and any later they may refuse the bottle.

Answer

My daughter is two weeks/two days old & we introduced her to the bottle at one week old so daddy can feed her. She latches on to both nipple & bottle with no problems. We use Tommee Tippee bottles.

Answer

Look up pace feeding

Answer

My girl will be 4 weeks old tomorrow and her first bottle was 2 days ago. I have flat nipples and she was struggling so much the one day that I decided to just give her a bottle from my frozen milk that I had stored. She was instantly so much happier and has been sleeping a lot better at night and altogether happier. 
But she still prefers the boob I think! She's actually doing better at latching now that I've given her a bottle but I don't know why! She's had no confusion at all. We use slow flow nipples and take a ton of breaks and I make her tell me if she's hungry before I give her more. She hasn't had an issue being fed by my MIL and her dad so it's been wonderful!
But I still feel guilty that I'm not exclusively nursing. 😑😞 which is dumb lol but I feel like I'm not as close to her because of it. But earlier she had a 5oz bottle and was fussy and putting her hands in her mouth and acting hungry so I started nursing her and she was so much happier just a minute later and then fell asleep. 😊

Answer

My lactation consultant said 3 weeks and pediatrician said 2-3 weeks. My daughter is 3 weeks & 3 days old and we introduced pumped milk at 10 days-- she hasn't had any nipple confusion and very much prefers her mama and the real thing! Good luck but I'm sure things will be fine. We also bought a slow flow bottle.

Answer

We started on day three with bottle. My baby doesn't care if it's a nipple or bottle as long as he is fed. I don't think he even notices a difference to be honest. The later you start a bottle, the more aware the baby is of recognizing a difference.

Answer

I have no idea if my kid is just not very picky, but we started him on a bottle - just occasionally - around 2.5 weeks and he has been fine, no nipple confusion. I think he still prefers the boob because he looks around for that first when he gets hungry, regardless who is holding him, but he'll also take the bottles just fine. I had been taught to make sure to hold the bottle more horizontal so that they have to work a little to get the milk out, since they do with the breast, and you don't want them thinking that the bottle is an easier way to get their food because it's less effort for them.

when to introduce a bottle?

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