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Infant feeding

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

Want to give one bottle a day

12 replies

Greylilypad · 20/07/2017 21:13

I would like to give my baby one bottle a day but not sure whatye best time to do this?
My last child was a bottle refuser, and I found the whole thing really stressful. We tried absolutely everything to get her to take a bottle but she was having none of it. She was nearly 10 months before she would take milk from anything other than me.
She was around 11 weeks when we first tried so think maybe that was too late.
Anyway to avoid that happening again, I would like to give my new baby one small bottle a day. He is 5 weeks.
When is a good time of day to do this? Should you breastfeed first and then offer bottle as top-up? Do I really need to pump at same time as offering bottle to keep supply?
I expressed 3oz during let down with the haaka pump earlier so could in theory do this every afternoon as it's much less faff than the regular pumps.

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ElizabethShaw · 20/07/2017 21:18

I did a 10/11 pm bottle (dreamfeed) with both mine as DH could do it and they slept longer after it! Maybe from about 8 weeks. I could go to bed at 9pm and sleep til 3/4am.

ElizabethShaw · 20/07/2017 21:19

I just gave formula though, couldn't be bothered with expressing.

Spam88 · 20/07/2017 21:22

I give the bottle first and then offer boob if she finishes that. I tend to give it at 10pm ish just because that's what I find easiest. When my husband is home he gives a bottle in the morning (8ish) instead so I can sleep.

Chuffingchuff · 20/07/2017 21:23

My DS stated having a bottle at about 10pm when he would wake for his last feed from about 3 weeks old. He would sleep longer after it, and meant I could go to sleep before he woke and my DH could give that bottle. I never expressed instead as this feed would always be a bottle feed. When I decided to stop breastfeeding at 8 and half months it was never an issue for him to take the bottle during the day.

Sparrowlegs248 · 20/07/2017 21:23

Dc1 was a bottle refuser, I know the stress! I went back to work at 9 months and worried a lot. He also fed very frequently prior to weaning so couldn't leave him at all.
Dc2 had his first bottle at about 5 days old. I was determined to crack it. I expressed in the morning (I don't do well expressing,) and he had the bottle from my mum.or his dad while I put our other son to bed.

Once he took more than 2Oz I gave him formula as I can't express more than 2Oz a day.

He is 5 months now and still has a bottle most evenings. Also once a week in the mid morning while I do an activity with Dc1.

I didn't express after about 6 weeks, if that long. Supply is fine.

Pixie2015 · 20/07/2017 21:25

DC now over 6m ever since 4w have given a bottle after his bath at around seven - this has always been ready made formula for convenience - DP always gives this feed so I can faff around for a bit - following this I breast feed to get to sleep - he won't take bottle of me just wriggles x

Greylilypad · 20/07/2017 22:56

Ok thanks for advice. I think we will try one when he wakes next! Fingers crossed it works!

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Greylilypad · 22/07/2017 20:03

Ok so tried last night and twice today - he didn't take it. Please tell me I have not made the same mistake again leaving it too late!!!
I was told 5 weeks was ideal.
Or does it usually take a few goes for them to get used to bottle?!

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Sparrowlegs248 · 22/07/2017 22:30

I think it can take a,few goes. Ds1 was about 7 weeks and refused but I could have tried harder.

Try feeding him yourself then switching to bottle after a bit, this was the only way I could get ds1 to take one. Or dream feed?

Make sure he's not too hungry.

MrsJW15 · 23/07/2017 07:31

Did you give the bottle? If so, can you get DH or someone else to?

CoxsOrangePippin · 23/07/2017 11:20

We started giving an occasional bottle (of expressed milk) at 5 weeks and it took a few goes before he got the hang of it.

Now I want to do like you and swap the expressed milk for formula.

Does anyone know if we can vary the times for a formula bottle like we do with the expressed bottle or if there is a reason it would have to be at the same time each day?

Greylilypad · 23/07/2017 11:35

Well he took it last night at the dream feed. But he was really sleepy so not sure if this means he will now take it when awake!
I think I will give it at dreamfeed for 3-4 nights and then try during the day.
DH is away for weekend, back tonight so will get him to try tomorrow.

Cox - not sure about that. Can't see why you couldn't vary but as a bottle never passed the lips of my older child, I don't have the answer!!

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