Putting off introducing a bottle

[vvviola]

I probably just need a bit of sense talked into me...

DD2 is 11 weeks old. EBF and feeding like a trouper. She goes long stretches at night (often 10pm til 6am) and is a very happy little thing gaining loads of weight.

I'd always intended introducing a bottle of EBM at some stage. I didn't have the option for DD1 - she was in SCBU & was having bottle feeds of formula and BM. We went to semi- exclusive breastfeeding once she came out (occasional bottles). She would take a feed whichever way it came! So I never had to agonise over the 'right' time to introduce a bottle.

But this time we thankfully had no issues that needed special care & DD2 has never 'needed' a bottle. I've got all the equipment, I've even got expressed milk in the freezer - but somehow I keep finding reasons not to try DD2 with the bottle.

Talk sense into me please (I'd really like to be able to leave DD with DH so I can go swimming) or at least tell me I haven't left it too late...

You definately haven't left it too late. A bottle can be introduced whenever you are ready. I personally would say go for it then as you say you can get a little break and it is fab to have a little you time...

I gave my ds a bottle for the first time at 8 months and he took it staight away. and it was formula in it not bm.

You haven't left it too late. It all depends on the baby. If you look on here, you'll find that introducing early doesn't guarantee success as they can grow to refuse it later. And there are babies that took to it at a very late stage, like gitinora's

Agree with lilham that you haven't left it too late. I don't think there's a magic window for introducing one - DD had one from about 1 week old but has steadfastly refused all bottles from about 6 weeks, and a couple of my friends' babies happily took a bottle when first introduced nearer the six month mark. So just try when you're ready and if your baby doesn't take to it don't blame yourself that you should have done it earlier

Am so sorry - meant to come back on and thank you all for your replies! Good to hear the positive stories.

Bit the bullet last night & tried DD on a bottle, with no success. She just gagged or kind of opened her mouth and just left it sitting there. Not sure if it was the temperature of the milk, or the bottle (the tomee tippee closer to nature ones) or what. (she reacts the same to the soother). Annoyingly it meant that 100ml of expressed breastmilk was wasted.

Any suggestions for our next attempt? Different bottles? Or freshly expressed milk for the first few attempts?

If bottles mean a lot to you, I'd suggest going with formula. I didn't and regretted it because I found expressing very hard, and so I kept it to 2-3 times a week. I can't help but think if I stuck with formula, and did it once a day, she'd still be taking one.

But yeah, try different bottles, different temperature, and also someone else doing it. Most bf babies like very hot milk. I always warm it up (to very very warm) in the microwave first and then shake it to even out the temperature. Also I put the teat in my mouth to warm it as well.

You can also try breastflow and NUK bottles. Many have success with them here. They are supposedly more breast like. And if all else fails, just remember ff babies start weaning off the bottle to a cup at 6m. Bf babies tend to be more successful in transitioning to the cup, most probably because mums are a bit more persistent with it . My 8mo is pretty good with a TT first cup now.

Hi, I have combination fed my ds from 3 weeks (could never make expressing work) and when introducing the bottle I did it the way I was taught how to initiate a breastfeed. So instead of touching my nipple against his top lip to get him to latch i would gently touch the teat of the bottle to his lip and let him latch on to that in his own time. I never put the teat into his mouth until he made a move for it.

I had also been taught (when breast feeding) if baby seemed unsure to squeeze out a drop of milk and touch it to his lips so he realised food was available, so again with the bottle if he seemed unsure I would put a drop or two of milk on his lips.

Now (at almost 12 weeks) DS will happily latch onto any food source without any encouragement.

For what its worth TomeeTippee closer to nature bottles have worked a treat for us.

Good luck

Thanks for the hints - will try again!

I'm happy enough to continue with expressing for the moment. Supply isn't a huge issue for me - I've a bit of an oversupply problem and always manage to get a fairly big amount when I express. Not that I'm totally against the idea of formula either if that ends up being easier.

I suppose the problem might arise that I'm not planning on her having a bottle every day. Maybe just once a week, possibly even less. Just to give me some extra freedom. I wonder if that will be the problem - not using a bottle regularly.

I wonder could I use a cup at this age? (13 weeks tomorrow) and what sort of cup I would use.

Shall keep persevering in any case

Thanks all!

13 weeks probably a bit young for using a cup. Most bf babies go to a free flow cup because you don't need to suck to get the drinks out. And they just don't understand sucking a plastic teat or spout.

FWIW my DD just started taking a bottle again after 2 weeks in nursery. She gets the NUK latex tests but not the breastflow. The main change is she's now putting the teat in her mouth on her own. She knows how to suck the latex teat only. Maybe to her my nipples are odd shape like NUK teats .

Good luck.

I am v glad to read this as I am in the same position OP! My ds was in nicu/scbu and needed topping up with bottles of ebm so never had an issue with them. Now my dd is 9 weeks and I know I'll regret it if I don't introduce it at some point, but without the urgent need I don't seem able to force myself. And I hate expressing (having expressed every three hours for two weeks for my ds!). I've tried a few times so far but can't make myself do it more often. Good to hear people have had success later on.