Is it bad to exclusively breastfeed and never introduce a bottle?

Question

Is it bad to exclusively breastfeed and never introduce a bottle?

Is it bad to exclusively breastfeed and not introduce a bottle at all? Can that cause problems? I’ve heard not to introduce a bottle till they are 6-8 weeks but is it bad to just not introduce one at all? Pros cons advise? I know that means you’d never be able to leave the baby with anyone else but I don’t plan to anyways.

Vote below to see results!

Answer

My daughter is 23 months and still nurses (only at night at nap now) but I never introduced a bottle. She drinks water out of a sippy cup with no problems but I never felt a need for bottles.

Answer

I don't think it's bad in any way, it's more dependant on how you feel. For example both my babies were bf and also introduced to a bottle (expressed breastmilk to start) around 5 weeks. I did this so that their dad could be part of the feeding, which was so lovely for their bond and also for me to get a bit of time to myself to shower or relax!, but mainly it also meant that if I had to go somewhere or they were being looked after by their dad or grandparents, they were able to take a bottle and be fed. It gave me that bit of freedom knowing I wasn't stuck at home and unable to get things done if I had to, the way some of my friends were whose babies wouldn't take a bottle at all. As babies get older though and start solids its probably less of an issue, as a pp poster mentioned you can start offering a sippy cup then. But I think when theyre still really young it's up to you whether you think a bottle would be helpful for you and your family. For us personally, it was a big pro that my babies would take a bottle when needed. As for when to introduce, my MIL is a lactation consultant and she advised its a good idea to introduce a bottle before 6 weeks if you're going down that route because after 6 weeks babies can often refuse it as they know they can get the milk straight from mum. She also suggested having dad or someone else do the bottle feed to start is often easier (bub can't smell mum's milk etc). Offering one bottle a day, or even once or twice a week just so they get used to it and don't lose the skill, is a great idea if you want to combine bf and bottles. Either way though, it's not really good or bad, it's completely up to you as the mother 😊

Answer

Anytime I have a question about something being bad/good for my baby, I think about all the babies who were born before our modern culture. I’m no expert, but I would say that babies were created to ebf, so how can it be bad? 
Personally, I have never given my six month old a bottle. I’m always around so I just don’t feel that I need to. Also, I’ve heard that introducing a bottle can lower your milk supply, even if you pump 🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer

It wont hurt anything, bottles are a relatively modern invention, after all. If you don’t need to introduce one, you certainly don’t have to. I have never introduced one either, never had a need to.

Answer

My daughter is 8 months and doesn’t take a bottle. Strictly breast! It’s been a great experience this far and I cherish the feeding times with her.

Answer

They can also drink milk out of a cup when you start introducing that with solids. My SIL never took a bottle and it looks like my daughter will be the same way

Answer

No but if you want help with feeding or need a break you will have to. My supply was good but since I only had 5 months maternity leave we introduced it around 3 months. She hated all of them, thankfully alot of them were samples from the free baby boxes. I ended up buying the nanobebe and she will tolerate it but still gives my huaband problems lol. He only uses the bottle when im out shopping or at work.

Answer

It’s not bad but that’s what I did and it made the whole year very difficult for me to leave my daughter for any reason. I wish she would have taken a bottle.

Answer

I breastfed my almost 3 year old for almost 2 years... he would never take a bottle with me only when he was with his dad or my mom watched him for me.

Answer

There was a time before bottles you know ❤️

Is it bad to exclusively breastfeed and never introduce a bottle?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey