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Infant feeding

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

Propping a bottle?!!!?!?!!

12 replies

Catbert · 19/11/2004 19:37

My sister and I were due with our first children on the same day. Her DS was born 6 days after my DD. I always hated the fact there was always going to be comparisons between us and our children and the way we raised them, and I have always made a conscious effort not to do the bossy big sister thing and comment on anything she has ever done with regard to what I did. I b/f she bottle-fed. No biggy.

But what really shocked me was that when he was still v. small, she told me she had started to prop his bottle on a cushion, so she could go and do other things, instead of feeding him. Including at bedtime... I'm talking before he could manage to hold his bottle by himself - so very small.

Now this is all water under the bridge now, our children are nearly 2 1/2 yrs old. But it was the only thing I found it hard not to contain my absolute horror about. Apparently she got the idea from other friends who had done the same!!!

Even now, I sit with DD at bedtime snuggling up and reading a story whilst she drinks her milk, albeit from a spouty cup.

I only mention it now, because it is the one thing I have never heard anyone discuss on MN. Is it because it really IS a bizarre thing to do?

(In complete sucurity that DSis doesn't have an internet connection.)

OP posts:
MummyToSteven · 19/11/2004 19:40

i have seen this occasionally when out and about shopping in the city centre- so obviously not that unusual - and the baby books iirc warn you not to do it - so again it mustn't be that unusual. never done it myself, or seen any of my friends/acquaintances do it tho. i think the main safety issue would be whether or not a baby was left unattended to feed, and choked.

bonniej · 19/11/2004 19:40

I think it's lazy and bad parenting. The best part of feeding a baby whether bottle or breast is the closeness and cuddles. Also very dangerous IMO.

Catbert · 19/11/2004 20:26

well, precisely. She got very defensive with me when I obviously looked shocked...
I just thought "What can be sooooo important that it takes you away from cudding your wee baby..."

OP posts:
Tickle · 19/11/2004 20:31

I know only one friend who did it, and I was shocked... feeding time is the best time of the day to sit and cuddle - baby's quiet after all. Stuff the washing up ;)

There are probably more dangerous things, but I wouldn't want to do it.

ChicPea · 19/11/2004 20:58

I had a friend who did vountary work in Africa and when 4 of them had 20 babies to feed they would prop up the bottle to feed most of the babies. Sounds weird but got the babies fed.

Catbert · 19/11/2004 21:07

However, I do feel that feeding 20 babies in need in Africa kinda gives her the "let off clause"! I also suspect that at least one of the 4 of them were monitoring them at all times!

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Gobbledigook · 21/11/2004 13:55

Think that's terrible. I've just seen it once on a programme on Discovery Health but never seen anyone in RL do it!

hmb · 21/11/2004 14:02

This was not uncommon in Dundee when I had dd (nearly 8 years ago)

Not only was the hospital trying to up the rates of breast feeding they were also trying to stamp out 'prop' feeding

katzguk · 21/11/2004 14:04

have seen it on tv but then the mum has sextuplets!! and had them all in car seats in a row and had a special foam device which held the bottle she then stood in front of all 6 babies and watched them. in her case it was for saving time btu she stayed present the whole time

munnzieb · 21/11/2004 14:12

one of the DH's here has done it b4 whilst having a 'lad's night, the DD concerned was about 6months if that, it was viewwed easier for him to contiune playing his pS2, whilst apparently encouraging her to be independant??

Demented · 21/11/2004 15:12

LOL hmb, between that and discouraging putting mince and tatties in the bottle too!

KateandtheGirls · 21/11/2004 16:00

Oh, I've certainly heard of it and seen it. I even mentioned it right here as a reason why sometimes bottlefed babies aren't held as often as breastfed babies.

It's sad though, for both mother and baby. Nothing beats that snuggle time. I still have a snuggle every night with my two girls, aged 5 and 2.5 while they drink their milk in a sippy cup before bed. It's my favourite part of the day.

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