Best bottle for breastfed baby combi-feeding

[Bugs22mk]

Looking for real experience on which bottle brand was best for interchanging bottle feeding (breastmilk and formula) and breastfeeding.

and if you successfully combi fed, when did you introduce a bottle?
my first baby we were told not until 6 weeks and that really f*ed us because she then completely refused a bottle no matter what we would try and I couldn’t even leave the house without her for 20 minutes.

thank you!

I have used Mam bottles with both of mine and had no issues! I think we introduced from 4 weeks on HV advice because you need to wait until your breastfeeding established but not so long that they can’t adjust x

I used the Philips Avent without issues.

I started giving it around 4 months as I wanted to go out more, no issues. I went back to work at 6 months full time and continued to pump. Baby got breastmilk in the bottle in the day, no issues. However he didn't love it. He drank just enough to satisfy immediate hunger and would wait for me to come home and have a BIG feast on the boob.

My baby never saw a bottle before 3/4 months. So I don't think it's necessarily the fault of people around you, it was just the baby's temperament.

There is a very real risk when you introduce a bottle very early that they develop a bottle preference and if there are any BF issues, that would be the end of BF.

I also have a friend who gave a bottle here and there early with no issues and then baby started refusing it around 5 months. It was a nightmare as she also had to go back to work around 6/7 months.

I don't think there's a hard and fast rule here.

Tommee Tippee were fine for mine. I started with a bottle a day on day 2, plus top ups after long breastfeeding sessions (like 45+ minutes) when baby was still rooting. Baby was jaundiced and initially not feeding very effectively, which really improved between weeks 2 and 3, and we just kept up the bottle at bedtime regime while I went to bed early.

Gave first tommee tippee from days old due to feeding issues/ jaundice/ weight gain etc. Gave them adhoc after that until they started refusing them at about 4 months. Tried every bottle under the sun and they wouldnt have any.

With second I tried them with a mam bottle at 6/7 months and they absolutely devoured it! We were shocked after the experience with our first and just tried on the off chance to see if they would like it.

Really think it is down to personality, but i think doing it from fairly young and consistently is key. Theres some reaply helpful breastfeeding pages on how to successfully combi feed to protect supply. I did it much earlier than they would normally advise and it was vital to pump every 2-3 hours regardless of what i was giving baby. Good luck!

Mam bottles! DD was in SCBU when born and all the nurses there recommended Mam bottles.

Yes, you do have to let the baby cluster feed as much as possible to build up your milk supply. And try to make the feeds between midnight and 6am breastfeeding too. I gradually changed round the time of day of bottle feeding to keep my supply going (like doing the 2am feed without top ups once baby was sleeping better). I combi fed to 8 months.

Fraupow do specific combi-feed bottles, worked for us!

Thank you - yeah definitely does depend on the baby.
I had an awful time at the start of my breastfeeding journey with my first - so much pain, tongue tie, seemingly low supply and baby dropping weight but would not accept a bottle even with the help of the feeding team at the hospital etc to the point where they said the next step would be a feeding tube if she carried on dropping. Luckily breastfeeding picked up and she was fine but with my next baby I’d prefer for them to get a bottle preference and pump/give formula than be in that situation again.
hopefully I have more success this time!

Thank you this makes sense - I will have to try and find one of those pages.
I think starting earlier is going to be my only option as I can’t risk not being able to bottle feed this time.

It sounds like you had a really hard time and I'm not invalidating that. But babies are all different, and second time around is often easier when it comes to breastfeeding in particular. You've been there, done it, most babies don't have a tongue tie. Not being able to leave for more than 20 minutes is unusual. I managed to get my hair done at 4 weeks post partum which involved being out for 2 hours - I'm not bragging, I just had a good / easy feeder.

All I'm saying is don't be too terrified of breastfeeding again. It's actually handy to not have to make bottles all the time when you're chasing a toddler.

Congratulations and good luck!