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Original poster

Should I get bottles?

29 replies

Wotsitagain · 12/07/2022 09:40

I'm hoping to breastfeed my baby but obviously, I don't know how successful that will be so do I need to stock up on things like bottles anyway (in an ideal world, at some point I'd like to express some milk so baby can be part bottle fed).

There are lots of really good deals as part of Amazon Prime Day on Tommee Tippee anti colic bottles and I'm wondering if it's worth while just ordering some? If I do, are they actually good bottles to go for? Are there better ones to be looking at instead? It's a minefield! Advice very welcome.

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Boating123 · 12/07/2022 09:42

Don't buy them unless you need them.
There are always deals around, you can get them if breastfeeding doesn't work out.

gogohmm · 12/07/2022 09:42

I didn't, unless you live in the middle of nowhere it's possible to buy it gem from any supermarket easily. Most women can breastfeed, do ensure you have some support, ideally a friend who has successfully breast fed, it's invaluable.

honeybooboo33 · 12/07/2022 09:45

I never bought any bottles as I wanted to EBF but that didn't work out so it was a mad rush getting bottles once baby arrived. So it's definitely sensible to have some as a back up, especially if you want to express as well. I have used Tommee Tippee bottles for all my dc and never had any issues, a lot of people don't seem to like them though. The anti colic ones can sometimes leak if there's too much air in them but apart from that they are fine. I also use the microwave steriliser which is really easy. Good luck!

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tealandteal · 12/07/2022 09:49

If you buy bottles, you need a steriliser, and if you buy lots of one type of bottle it might not be one your baby gets on with. If you want to, buy a “hospital pack” of formula. They are small bottles with sterile teats you can attach and the pack has enough for about 24 hours. I never used the teats with DS1, just topped him up with a 5ml syringe until my milk came in. With DS2 I am mixed feeding so did use one of the teats. Then if you really don’t get on with breastfeeding, you can order what you need on next day delivery.

Honaloulou · 12/07/2022 09:52

I'd get a few of the ready made bottles with teats. If you suddenly need formula you don't want to be faffing around working out how to make it and sterilise things.

I got some ' just in case' bottles that were used maybe three times, and a tin of formula that mostly went in the bin.

Stevienickssnickers · 12/07/2022 11:02

I found tommee tippee bottles to be crap so I wouldn't buy that brand tbh. I think the started packs of formula are a great idea and then you can always buy some bottles if you need some.

Mimbus · 12/07/2022 14:52

I think it is a good idea to get a couple bottles and a couple bottles of ready made formula just in case and have a sterilisation method ready to go. Also the number of a lactation consultant.
I had problems with BF in the first couple days and the hospital put baby on formula. Then when we got home in evening from hospital it was really stressful trying to figure out how to sterilise bottles when extremely sleep deprived and emotional and my husband had to go out and find formula. It would have been even worse if we didn't have the bottles as well.
(it did all work out in the end after seeing lactation consultation ASAP. Never used formula other than the first two weeks and am still breastfeeding after a year)

Nat6999 · 12/07/2022 14:58

Get some bottles, a steriliser & some formula, I had an emcs & my milk never came in, take a pack of prepared formula & bottles to the hospital with you.

yikesanotherbooboo · 12/07/2022 15:00

I wouldn't spend money just in case.

Dogtooth · 12/07/2022 15:07

Personally I wouldn't buy now, but have a look round and make yourself a list of what you would get if you need to formula feed - steriliser, bottles, formula etc. Then you can send someone off with a list or get them off Amazon easily if you need to. I'd do the same with a pump.

If you buy a load of stuff, you risk never using it, or your baby might not take to that particular teat. Plus having it handy might make you think it's easier not to persevere with bf.

I needed to give formula for the first few weeks alongside bf, the hospital gave me the bottles of ready made formula.

Original poster

Wotsitagain · 12/07/2022 15:32

Some mixed responses but I appreciate all the advice. Some of you have highlighted one of my concerns, which is if I find I can't breastfeed for whatever reason I don't want to have the stress of having to get things together bottled feed when I've just had a baby.

A friend is giving me her steriliser as she won't need it by then so I won't have to pay out for one (if I don't use it she will just have it back and sell it).

I will look into the pre-made formula packs so I I know I've at least got some sort of back up in a worst case scenario.

OP posts:

Cocowatermelon · 12/07/2022 15:36

Get 1 bottle + 1 small tin of formula if you live somewhere with no 24hour supermarket option. Stick them in the cupboard and don’t worry about it unless feeding goes super badly or you randomly end up stuck away from your baby longer than planned (eg. You get stuck behind a car accident/on a train/bus after popping out for something and leaving baby at home with dad/grandma).

SunshineAndFizz · 12/07/2022 15:42

God yes. Get some in. Especially if you're getting a free steriliser.

Hopefully breast feeding all goes to plan, but you never know what's round the corner and it's better to be prepared.

SamanthaVimes · 12/07/2022 15:47

I got a small pack of dr brown’s bottles when I was pregnant with DD. They’re still in the back of the cupboard unopened but I felt a bit safer knowing I had them (and I knew I could get formula from the garage near us which is less than a 5 min walk if I needed it)

I’m about to have DC2 and the bottles are still in the cupboard. I’m not expecting to use them but have them just in case and will probably pass them on to my sister / a friend once I’m happy bf is established with DC2.

Twizbe · 12/07/2022 15:54

I had a couple of packs of pre made. I needed them with DS and got an avent starter kit a few weeks after he was born and we continued to combi feed. Got them in for DD too but never needed them.

tulipsunday · 12/07/2022 18:02

I got a few bottles of ready made formula which I didn't use. Got a breast pump delivered next day on Amazon when decided I wanted one. Wouldn't worry about getting loads in advance.

Look into how to latch a baby correctly and local breastfeeding groups/lactation specialists so you feel prepared and 🤞 will work out

LucyWeb1 · 13/07/2022 21:59

I did buy some bottles for the same reason & also for when I expressed milk. They were handy to have but ultimately with expressing I found it too much pressure to keep up with so ended up EBF. For my next child I won’t be putting pressure on myself to express.
Before I gave birth to my Son the hospital told me not to buy any bottles of ready made formula as they would support me through breastfeeding but if I chose not to or couldn’t for whatever reason then they had an emergency supply of the ready made bottles that I could use. I didn’t take any formula with me.
I went in to breastfeeding with the same view as you- thinking that I will see how long I can go for and wondered if I could even do it. My son is now 17 months old and still breastfeeds.
Whatever you decide to do is the right choice for you & your baby.
For me I found it better to not have formula around as I knew I would use it even if I didn’t need to but remember not to be hard on yourself and if you want to go down the formula route, that is okay.
Good luck with the arrival of your little one x

PritiPatelsMaker · 13/07/2022 22:09

There's really good evidence that if you have bottles and formula in the house, you're much more like to swap to formula rather than finding appropriate BFind support.

I think it's for this reason that getting bottles and formula isn't advised

BertieBotts · 13/07/2022 22:23

The deals will come up again and branded bottles are overpriced anyway. If you just want to give an occasional bottle feed then a cheap one from the supermarket or boots will do the job fine. You can often get a free sample one from one or two of the companies too, that's what I did with my third baby and never even got the ones from DS2 back out from storage.

Also you (or your baby) might not even like a certain style of bottle so it can be a pain if you've bought a whole set of the same and they turn out to be no good.

If you do find that you need to give more bottle feeds you will at that point know whether the bottle you have is a style that you and baby get on with and you can then buy more of what works. Amazon prime is next day delivery and all supermarkets sell baby bottles. Save your money and see if you need them later.

BertieBotts · 13/07/2022 22:29

Sorry I didn't read your second post. You're likely to have a day or two in hospital getting started, so if you're fully FF by the time you come home you'll have time to tell partner to order some on Amazon or can just do it from your phone to have to hand when you get there.

Other than that it tends not to be an all at once thing. If breastfeeding isn't going well you'll still normally have a mixture of both, so there will be time to move from this one occasional feed to ok we need more bottles as I'm fed up of washing this one every time.

CuriousCatfish · 13/07/2022 22:30

Get some. You will feel better knowing they are there if it's the middle of the night, you have a screaming baby and BFing is not quite as easy as some on MN make out.

pimlicoanna · 13/07/2022 22:36

I just bought a pack of pre made formula and that way I knew I would be prepared if it was needed. I never needed it. I really wouldn't get anything else. If you do need it you can buy online and get next day delivery . It will give you something to do on the sleepless nights!

Mrstumbletap · 13/07/2022 22:37

We had trouble breastfeeding at the hospital so my husband had to leave and go and get some premade bottles from a supermarket. In hindsight would have had several in my bag ready. Wish I had thought about it before hand!

Mrstumbletap · 13/07/2022 22:37

Agree with @CuriousCatfish

pimlicoanna · 13/07/2022 22:41

Also to say it was premade formula in bottles ready to feed. Nothing else needed.

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