Introducing a bottle to 6 wk old... any advice?

[MrsJenM]

Hi, my DS is 6 wks old and I want to introduce a bottle. I will continue to BF but want to give myself a break occassionally and let someone else feed him.

I've tried a couple of times and whilst he hasn't cried about having the teat in his mouth, he hasn't got the whole sucking thing going (BF's really well, btw), although happily swallows the milk when it is squeezed in.

I realy struggle expressing (couldn't do it with DD, ended up BF for 15mths, and to be frank, didn't really enjoy it) and hate doing it, so it will be FF.

Not loads of advice to suggest except that he might well just take a good few goes before he gets the hang of the different suck. If he takes the milk ok when squeezed in at least it's hopeful that he doesn't mind the different tastes! Mine went from nipple to bottle fine but struggled going from bottle to trainer cup and it took a good few weeks before getting the hang of that - and it's the same principle isn't it - maybe he's just not quite sure what to do with his lips yet!

Have you tried different brands of bottle? Might be worth borrowing some from friends etc, see if a different one is easier for him. I didn't need to try that myself but my SIL did and her baby couldn't get the hang of Avent bottles at all, but was fine with Tommee Tippee (if anything, in my house it's the other way round!!)

I mixed fed and I think it was the best thing I ever did - went from being on the verge of giving up at 8 weeks to carrying on for 9 months! Like you, I just needed the break here and there.

I reckon keep trying for a while longer and see if he gets the hang of it.

Good luck x

Thanks Caserole. I haven't been at it for long, but wanted to get some thoughts before I carried on... find out if there was some sort of simple magic trick other than just perseverence (although why I would think there was when there never is for anything else in parenting I don't know! ).

I've got Avent and Tommee Tippee bottles so I'll try both.

Did you have to try different FF's or did you just stick with the one?

When I tried it with my DD 3 yrs ago I just couldn't get her to take anything from any bottle at all. I was suffering PND at the time so couldn't really cope with it all, so I'm determined this time (and a lot more chilled about it).

I only used SMA - I think I was lucky though, he's pretty laid back and so didn't mind what he had or what out of!! Every baby's different though.... like I say, the closest I had was that it took my little boy best part of a month to accept a sippy cup after the bottle...

Sorry you had PND last time but glad you're more chilled this time around. I think that's got to be the key!

Hopefully someone else will come along with some better ideas... x

bumping for you