When is the best age to introduce a bottle??

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

I know it's still very early days (I'm only 10+3) but I know that at some point DC3 will have to have a bottle (bit difficult to breastfeed and play the organ at the same time ).

Haven't decided yet whether to mix feed, or to express. Expressed LOADS of milk for DS1 and threw ALL of it away (I worked out that by the time I'd given up trying to give him expressed milk I'd thrown away nearly 2 pints of my hard expressed milk ) - so may try expressing for DC3 but also may just get some formula in for when I'm not in a position to feed. Also will be back at work by the time they're 9 months(ish) old and therefore will need to take a bottle of some description anyhow.

We tried every bottle and teat going for DS1 and he wouldn't take any. Don't know whether that's because we introduced too early/too late/didn't try frequently enough.

What is the 'best' age for introducing "milk" (regardless of type) to a breastfed baby?

[hatwoman]

million dollar question. having had a battle royal with dd1 to get her to take a bottle we thought we'd learnt our lesson. so we gave dd2 a couple of ounces every day from the very beginning - just so that she'd know how. when she was a few weeks old we went away - for one miserly little weekend - and couldn't be bothered to take bottles and formula and sterilising stuff. two blummin days without a bottle and that was it! she'd lost the knack and refused with as much vigour as dd1 before her. so in answer to your question I don;t know, but take heed from my cautionary tale...

[hana]

with dd1 we introduced a bottle at about 3 months ( wanted to get a social life back haha, still tryinhg and she's 5.....) and it took ages, with lots of different types styles etc etc. got htere but it was a real pain

dd2 was slightly earlier at about 10 weeks with no probs
dd3 had one at 6 weeks with no probs again - I think the earlier the better but once bfding has been established (if you are going to bf I mean) dd3 has had a bottle a handful of times - sh'es 8 weeks now and no probs with confusion
hth

[olivo]

hrh - we give dd a small amount of ebm every evening from a bottle and started trying at about 6 weeks. it took a while to find teats that she'd accept but now is fine.i give her whatever i express in the morning - anything from 1 to 4 oz. we are going away in a few weeks and intend to take the pump with me so she doesnt forget how to do it!

[amijee]

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! And keep going on a daily basis otherwise they will refuse it.

Seriously, imho, once milk supply and feeding are established, very soon after that. And don't go away without your breast pump ( like me) or you will end up with bottle refusal after weeks of taking it fine.