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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

The Back to Work Bottle- does she just need practice?

2 replies

LittleLight82 · 23/06/2014 18:16

What it says on the tin really- I'll be starting back to work 4 mornings a week when DD is 3 months old. She's EBF at the moment and I'm hoping to keep this up for maybe her first year or so, but I'm worried about the bottle issue.

She's now 7 weeks and DP has just tried her with a bottle of EBM. She didn't refuse but she couldn't quite figure out what to do. There was sucking, spluttering, growling, and a lot more milk on her bib than in her tummy.

This has been the pattern on the 2 or 3 other occasions we've given her a bit and she isn't keen on a dummy either- as in, will spit it out repeatedly before eventually sucking on it maniacally for several minutes and then spitting it out again. Hence the dummy is currently gathering dust somewhere.

I wonder if this is just a matter of practice or do I need to consider the whole sippy cup option (even though I can't imagine how she'd tackle that). TBH I think part of the problem is that I resent having to give her a bottle at all, especially if it's a bit of a struggle for her. But that's something I have to just get over. Realistically we're looking at her needing at least one boob-free feed a day while I'm working.

So, any advice dear mumsnetters? Can my remedial bottle user turn things around with a bit of patient coaxing or will I have to just leave my boobs at home while I go to work?

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CMOTDibbler · 23/06/2014 18:21

I'd express just a bit of milk (like 1oz, with a wide mouthed bottle you can hand express direct into the bottle), and then remove yourself totally while your DP (or anyone who isn't you) gives it to her. If you do that every day she will get the hang of it, but I think the best thing I ever did was to never give ds a bottle myself - it divided things clearly into me with the norks, dh with the bottle

LittleLight82 · 24/06/2014 14:36

Thanks for that CMOT. I think part of the problem the other day was that I was there for the bottle attempt. I'll remove myself the next time and see if she'll manage it better from the no-norker!

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