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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

why do people bottle feed?

406 replies

stitch · 28/02/2005 14:28

first of all, i dont want this to become a slanging match. i am honestly curious about the reasons.
im asking about those women who do not even try breastfeeding. the ones who think that it is an equal choice between breast and formula. i dont want to judge anyone, i just want to know how these women can justify denying their babies species specific milk.
my eldest was mainly bottlefed, my younger two were exclusively breastfed till they were weaned. and moved to formula around the eight month mark.

OP posts:

soapbox · 03/03/2005 12:47

Actually, if you bothered to read it - no one is now Other than those people arguing with those people who think that people are still arguing about it - ha! ha! ha!

misdee · 03/03/2005 12:48

aloha, thats one of my worries, the school run. i dont know anyone who lives close by so id dd3 wants feeding when i get there i'll have to ask for a quiet spot in the school to feed her, what if they say no? its a good 20-30min walk home.

oliveoil · 03/03/2005 12:56

Why do people bottle feed? - Because I couldn't stand b/feeding a minute longer, there, think that's me off the fence.

I b/feed dd1 for about 4 months but with dd2 I found it really really hard and got very down when she refused bottles and I had to continue doing something that, tbh, took up too much time and meant I couldn't leave her for more than 2 hours.

Since she has gone on bottles she is a much more settled baby (may be a coincidence) and I am a much happier mum.

As for the jars debate, oh ffs, how many more things can we be guilty about.

Be a good enough mum, not some fictitious supermum, that's my motto.

northerner · 03/03/2005 13:01

OliveOil! Good to see you girl!

oliveoil · 03/03/2005 13:04

Cod · 03/03/2005 13:05

Message withdrawn

moondog · 03/03/2005 13:22

I admire the honesty of people who just say that they couldn't be arsed with breastfeeding (and God yes, it can be a real hassle in the first few weeks although IMO it's worth it for the obvious reasons as well as the fact that it quickly becomes ZERO hassle.) I couldn't have done all the travelling and moving around that I have done in the 8 mths since ds was born if I had been bottlefeeding. The travelling meant that we could be with dh-good for all of us!

It's interesting to hear the opinions of those who NEVER tried it. I'm all for doing everything-at least once!!!
(Who said you should try everything once apart from golf and incest?!)
Some of my bottlefeeding friends often quietly admit (without tears and breast beating) that in retrospect the would have liked to have had a bash, but having said that they were going to bottlefeed,felt silly about changing their minds.

The b/feeding focus group I am part of has recommended that m/wives don't ask women how they will feed their babies as many feel backed into a corner with their choice.
I felt really 'squeamish' about b/feeding before I had my two, desite coming from a family of breastfeeders!!!

Noggermum · 03/03/2005 13:25

I reckon we should be changing the tack on this slightly to why does the NHS ram this breastfeeding thing down your throat to the point of making every mum feel endlessly guilty - either for choosing bottles or because they hate breastfeeding and only continue under sufference. I breastfed DD and fortunately it worked out OK - but I was still v. gald to stop at 5 months or so - even then the health visitor vigorously questioned why I was stopping. The NHS is supposed to support mums decisions whatever they are, surely, and if formula wasn't a valid substitute it would have been banned years ago!

My latest tirade is the authorities attitude towards weaning - you have to wait 6 months? Speaking as the mum of a 9.5 lb baby at birth - there was no chance she could have gone that long before needing the baby rice! I know this, anyone with half a brain could have figured it out, so why are we made to feel so guilty....

mears · 03/03/2005 13:34

Noggermum - if you look past over the past few days in the breast/bottle section you will find the answers to your questions.

ps weight of baby does not determine when solids are needed.

moondog · 03/03/2005 13:46

nogermum, the baby would be getting more calories weight for weight from the milk than she would from the baby rice.

moondog · 03/03/2005 13:46

nogermum, the baby would be getting more calories weight for weight from the milk than she would from the baby rice.

NotQuiteCockney · 03/03/2005 14:03

misdee, I fed DS2 in the (mostly deserted) school yard, on a bench, lots of times. Also in a local park, on a bench. My school run is about 15 minutes each way, so now that DS2 is 5 months, I don't really feed during the school run, but when he was tiny, I had no choice.

NotQuiteCockney · 03/03/2005 14:05

Oh, and noggermum, you're after a different thread, there are a few recent quite combatative ones on weaning, I suggest you have a look at those.

(Somehow, Canadian babies of all sizes make it to 6 months without solids, no problem.)

misdee · 03/03/2005 14:06

notquitecockney,dont fancy feeding in the playgound, its too cold atm!!

NotQuiteCockney · 03/03/2005 14:08

I know what you mean, it was just getting cold then. If your baby is a fast feeder, I'd just sit in a stairwell for a bit ... or ask a teacher you get on with about using their lounge?

HappyMumof2 · 03/03/2005 14:08

Message withdrawn

Chandra · 03/03/2005 14:08

ZZZZZzzzzzzzz! Groundhog day again...

misdee · 03/03/2005 14:20

i guess its if i have dd2 there as well. gonna be hard keeping her under control lol.

moondog · 03/03/2005 14:27

But your babe is so small misdee. You can just clutch her to you while taming the other! (That's what I do and ds is 18lbs. Very good for toning the arms!!)

moondog · 03/03/2005 14:28

Even if you bottlefeed you still have that issue to deal with surely? And aren't both hands full?

misdee · 03/03/2005 16:53

dd2 is 40lb tho lol. when i used bottles i was very good at holdiong baby and bottle with one hand. its a good balencing act, tho not recommended. think i'll just leave dd2 at hoem with dh as much as possible for the school run. either that ort learn to drive quicker!

northerner · 03/03/2005 17:01

I breast fed my ds for 6 days and hated every minute of it. I had sore, painful niplles which were cracked and bleeding. I was going round the bloody bend, he fed for about 40 minutes every 2 hours. dh came home from work one day to find me making up some bottles with tears streaming down my face, as I couln't do it any longer.

For me, bottlefeeding was a god send. Not sure I'd even attempt it again tbh.

However, I do feel I got no support from my midwife, who I did call on 2 occassions. All she said was keep changing position.

northerner · 03/03/2005 17:02

Not sure I'd attempt breastfeeding again I mean.

HappyDaddy · 03/03/2005 17:03

I bottle feed cos my nipples don't work.

hercules · 03/03/2005 17:21

hmmm, not sure if that's much of an excuse, happydaddy. Men have been known to produce milk yer know.....

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