When to introduce bottle?

[lola]

Hi everyone! Hoping to get some feedback on when to start introducing bottles. I've read varying times from 2-6 weeks, and even suggestions to wait until two weeks before returning to work. We're at three weeks old right now, and I want to Introduce a bottle when she'll be most likely to take it. We'll only do this a few times a week, and I'll pump to replace those feedings to maintain supply. Not trying to cut corners or stretch feeding/pumping times. Any recommendations for bottles for breastfed babies?

Also, as someone with overactive letdown/supply, when should I pump for that first bottle? After a morning feed? After regular sessions when the baby is full? I don't want to add an extra session and mess with my supply. Thank you!

[saraml13]

Three weeks is fine to start pumping an occasional bottle, I just wouldn't start pumping on a regular basis to build up a stash until more like six weeks.

Most women have a higher supply in the morning and find it easier to pump a bottle then, but you can pump whenever is most convenient for you, like when another caregiver is around or LO is napping. If you're only pumping once in awhile, I wouldn't worry too much about it increasing your supply. However, I'd recommend only pumping until milk stops/slows after the first let down.

[westiemom]

I started introducing bottles at 6 weeks I believe and DD did great. I started with 1 bottle a week. I SAH so she only gets bottles once a month or so now and still does just fine.

I also have OAD and pumped after the first morning feed every day for the first 6 months and developed quite the stash. I just pumped for 10 mins.

[seamonster]

You're fine to introduce one early on. I introduced at a week to supplement. Pumping now for the occasional bottle or to get a jump on your freezer stash is ok too. I also used breast shields to collect the milk that was leaking out of one side when I was nursing with the other and saved that.

DS liked the Avent anti-colic and the Tommee Tippee bottles. Tommee Tippee also makes an anti-colic bottle similar in principal to the Dr Brown's bottles and I found them easy to use and clean.

[ginabini]

We introduced a bottle at 3 and a half weeks for my LO, and she did great with it. I was a little extra vigilant to make sure her latch on me stayed good after we introduced the bottle (which probably wasn't totally necessary, I was just nervous). You may want to have someone other than you give baby the bottle, if you can, since if baby smells you he/she might just want the boob. (Mine won't take a bottle from me but is perfectly fine with anyone else.) I also had the most success pumping soon after the first daytime morning feed. You may only get a half ounce to an ounce if you pump after a feed, so you may need to do it a few times and layer the milk in order to have enough for that first bottle. Good luck!!

[yummeecookee]

With both my kiddos we introduced at about 4 weeks. We then kept it going for one feeding a week.

Both my babies really took to bottles w a latex nipple. My DD flat out refused other types so I just went straight to latex w my DS.

[pttomato]

We introduced a bottle around 2 weeks and DD did well with it. When DH went back to work after 3 weeks we stopped giving it to her until she was about 2 months. She pretty much refused it that time. Now she'll take one but she won't drink much and it takes a lot of coaxing. I'm at home with her so I haven't put a ton of effort into getting her to take a bottle though.

[lilyelayne]

Just be sure all bottles are paced fed with a slow flow nipple. Ideally no milk will leak when the bottle is tipped upside down but that slow of a flow is difficult to find.

kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

youtu.be/UH4T70OSzGs

[billyhorrible]

We introduced around 4 weeks. I started pumping a little before after his first morning feeding (like 2:30 am] until I had enough for a bottle.

We did a nightly bottle at that point which DH did at bedtime. It was their special time when he got home from work and I would pump at that time for the next night's bottle.

[emmyg65]

We also started around 4 weeks. Ideally, you'd wait till after the 2-3 week growth spurt to start pumping, but you also want to try to start bottles every now and then before 6 weeks. So anywhere in like 4-6 weeks is a good range.

[LadyNymeria]

We introduced a bottle around 2-3 weeks because it allowed MH to do a feeding when I just needed a break or to give him a bottle when I really couldn't nurse out and about for some reason.

I pumped a couple small bottles to have in the fridge. If one got used, I pumped a replacement. If one was getting close to being too old I moved it to the freezer and pumped a replacement. As far as I could tell, that little pumping never messed with my supply.