Introducing bottle: When can I introduce a bottle to my breastfed baby?

But it is a question I am frequently asked. If you are returning to work or school it is only logical that you will need to introduce a bottle for feedings while you are absent from your baby. But on the flip side, if you are planning on staying home with your baby until they are weaned, there is no reason for you to introduce a bottle. That is, unless you wish to supplement on occasion. It has been my observation as a lactation consultant that moms who do not introduce a bottle (at all), are more likely to breastfeed their babies for a year than those who introduce bottles? This statistic influenced my decision not to introduce a bottle to my second daughter. I simply waited for a sippy cup at about 5 months. Does this mean I could never leave her or the house? Absolutely not, it just means that I had to time my outings stratigically around feeding times. But most importantly it means that I made it well past a year of breastfeeding with her, which was undoubtedly the best thing I could give her.

Now on to more info about introducing a bottle. Let's base this on the assumption you are going back to work/school.;)

#1 baby refusing to nurse because the bottle is so much easier so they can become frustrated. And yes, this can happen after one bottle. I have seen it over and over in the hospital and it can take days to get them back on the breast.

#2 loss of supply, if you are giving a baby a bottle, it means that you are not nursing at the breast, right? So you will need to pump. Pumping does not stimulate or empty the way a baby does so, it can mean reduced supply.

#3 Studies show that moms who offer a bottle in the first 2 weeks are not breastfeeding at 3 months. So, if your goal is longer than 3 months, avoid bottles in those first few weeks.

When it is time to offer the first bottle, first you must consider the type of bottle. Here are few of the ones moms have reported success with in my practice.
1. First Years Breast flow bottle
2. Adiri nurser

3. Playtex drop in system

These are my "3 favorite" bottles (or the ones I have seen my clients love).

I do feel it is important for me to say:I do NOT endorse or even recommend using bottles. In a perfect world I would want every baby to be exclusively breastfed but I do understand that some must return to work/school.

Last tip. VERY IMPORTANT. Allow dad or a friend to give the bottle to the baby. And you leave the room. If the baby is hungry, smells you, they will refuse the bottle and scream. When this happens if you are hovering, you will be tempted to nurse the baby. So leave the room, leave the house if you need to.Continue to offer a bottle no more than twice per WEEK (not daily) until you return to work. Remember the more you have your baby at the breast, the better your milk supply.

I hope this article Introducing bottle helped you.

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