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Original poster

Exclusively Bottle Feeding

134 replies

Hjudge56 · 30/04/2023 08:51

Hi All,

I’m 27 weeks pregnant with my first baby, a little girl! I will be exclusively bottle feeding my baby and wanted to hear from any fellow mumma’s who have done the same previously/planning to do the same. Do you have any recommendations/tips/experience/reassurance haha? Thanks!

OP posts:
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loverrr · 30/04/2023 14:18

Little one from me- take a starter kit to the hospital with you. Its a pack of pre made formula with teats. Bottles are really small so not much waste xx

Faz469 · 30/04/2023 14:31

I'm 29 weeks and physically can't breast feed. Thanks for posting this OP. The tips have been a god send 😊

Original poster
Hjudge56 · 30/04/2023 14:41

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and information! It’s been really incredible reading through everything :) I’m not going to give any attention to the irrelevant comments as this thread was intended for strictly bottle feeding experiences to be shared, so thank you everyone who gave their input on that!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 30/04/2023 14:43

I never had any intention of BF either of my 2 babies and never did.
I found it easy and convenient to use formula and they both thrived. No guilt or regrets at all here

Redebs · 30/04/2023 14:49

Emmamoo89 · 30/04/2023 12:27

No one acts it. Its only cause breastfeeding releases a higher level of oxytocin. Not saying bottle feeding doesn't. It does just not near as high as breastfeeding. I've bottle fed and breastfed my son. Bottled of expressed milk. Ime I prefer breastfeeding as its more close and cuddly. The smiles are amazing when I catch his eye when he's suckling and he tries not to smile back. But always does in the end. It's adorable.

Show quote history

You are more closely bonded to a baby who you breastfeed, absolutely proven.

Fair enough this is a formula feeding thread, but when people start spreading misinformation like 'it's no difference' or 'it's only a small difference in intelligence' that needs to be challenged.

Feed your baby, but don't spread lies on the internet where it could influence someone else's decision.

Redlarge · 30/04/2023 14:52

Buy ready made as back up/taking out and about.
100% do cold water sterilising I faffed about with all kinds and this was the easiest and the best.

rattlinbog · 30/04/2023 14:57

@Redebs I did breastfeed but what is the evidence for this?

Parker231 · 30/04/2023 14:58

Redebs · 30/04/2023 14:49

You are more closely bonded to a baby who you breastfeed, absolutely proven.

Fair enough this is a formula feeding thread, but when people start spreading misinformation like 'it's no difference' or 'it's only a small difference in intelligence' that needs to be challenged.

Feed your baby, but don't spread lies on the internet where it could influence someone else's decision.

Show quote history

The OP has already decided to use formula - she has not asked about breast feeding.
Research shows that bonding isn’t linked to breast feeding - I’d not had any bonding issues by using formula - lots of love and cuddles

https://news.lincoln.ac.uk/2022/03/29/maternal-bonding-not-linked-to-breastfeeding-new-study-suggests/

Maternal Bonding Not Linked to Breastfeeding – New Study Suggests | News and Press

Browse through a range of inspiring news stories from the University of Lincoln, featuring leading research, campus events, and student and alumni success stories.

https://news.lincoln.ac.uk/2022/03/29/maternal-bonding-not-linked-to-breastfeeding-new-study-suggests/

Redlarge · 30/04/2023 15:00

Redebs · 30/04/2023 14:49

You are more closely bonded to a baby who you breastfeed, absolutely proven.

Fair enough this is a formula feeding thread, but when people start spreading misinformation like 'it's no difference' or 'it's only a small difference in intelligence' that needs to be challenged.

Feed your baby, but don't spread lies on the internet where it could influence someone else's decision.

Show quote history

'You are more closely bonded to a baby you breastfed'....Ah if only some people had the choice.

This isnt what the thread was for. Do you not think mums would love to be 'more closely bonded' but may not have the choice to, and already feel awful.

OP didnt ask about that. She asked for some hints and tips on formula feeding.

overworriedmum · 30/04/2023 15:01

@Redebs can you post a link to the studies which absolutely prove this? There are, in fact, no absolute proofs in anything related to bottle/breast fed babies because in order to conduct robust studies that control for all of the various factors you would have to put in place measures that would be totally unethical. Not a lot of oxytocin being released by a breastfeeding mother who is stressed to the hilt I reckon 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Hjudge56

  1. ready made formula at the start
  2. Tommy tippee perfect prep
  3. Tommy tippee perfect prep
  4. Tommy tippee perfect prep Just make just to buy their branded filters and change regularly as per instructions 🙂

Congratulations and good luck 🎉

Sissynova · 30/04/2023 15:02

@Redebs *You are more closely bonded to a baby who you breastfeed, absolutely proven.

…..

Feed your baby, but don't spread lies on the internet where it could influence someone else's decision.*

Oh the irony!

If it’s so absolutely proven feel free to post this proof.

Redlarge · 30/04/2023 15:04

Hjudge56 · 30/04/2023 14:41

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and information! It’s been really incredible reading through everything :) I’m not going to give any attention to the irrelevant comments as this thread was intended for strictly bottle feeding experiences to be shared, so thank you everyone who gave their input on that!

❤️ i loved my travel mini cold water sterilser. Little box, bit of milton, bottle in, pop under pram and its ready. Water can be reused too so just carry another clean bottle and pop that in when you take sterilised one out. I also used it for dummies, which dont need to be sterilised but if one was dropped or got a bit icky when out and about I would give it a clean and pop it in.

Controversial but i very rarely if ever heated up the ready made cartons, unless they felt cold. They were both fine with this. Obviously the ones made fresh at home were warmer.

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 30/04/2023 15:05

Best of luck with the new arrival! The first response was pretty much spot on. The only thing I would add is to make sure you make the formula as per the instructions on the tin, as two posters have already given unsafe advice. Enjoy the newborn cuddles!

dig135 · 30/04/2023 15:08

I remember asking the midwife at an antenatal appointment if I could combi feed and she looked at me as if I'd suggested lacing the bottle with cyanide. (Which is ridiculous as it discourages some people from trying to make breastfeeding work for them). When it came to my second, I expressed and pretty much bottle feed throughout and I used formula on occasions for both.

Echoing the other suggestions - don't get too many bottles of one brand, the made up formula can be useful if you're out and about and the plastic decanters to dispense the right amount of powder came in useful.

There's lot of advantages of bottle feeding, irrespective of whether it's formula or expressed. You get to delegate some feeds and at times, you're desperate for an unbroken night's sleep which helped me cope with the daytime far better. You get to go out and have a break from parenting. The grandparents were able to spend extended periods with their grandchildren without me around.

Credit to those who are willing to feed on demand for a year. I couldn't have, particularly with a toddler in tow. Don't be made to feel guilty, it's your choice and you don't need to defend yourself.

Arxx · 30/04/2023 15:19

I did last time! I used mam bottles, they were great and I’m buying them again this time. I used hipp organic formula and took the ready made bottles into hospital but I think because they were called he just wasn’t interested at all. I barely took any at all until we came home and he got a warm bottle. He loved it from then on in! I used the tommee tippee machine and would highly recommend it too

Arxx · 30/04/2023 15:19

*cold

Redlarge · 30/04/2023 15:25

TheBirdintheCave · 30/04/2023 09:06

Buy a steriliser that isn't a microwave one as we found the steam caused the inside of ours to go rusty 🤦🏻‍♀️ We bought the Tommee Tippee standalone steriliser after that.

We used premade milk for the first two weeks (as we were planning on breastfeeding) and then switched to powder. For night feeds we would half make bottles up to put in the fridge (cold water and powder) then top them up with pre boiled water from a thermos as and when they were needed.

Also! Use a cocktail spoon to stir the powder into the water rather than shaking as it creates fewer bubbles. Just make sure you sterilise it with everything else :)

You should always pour hot water on formula. Never cold then warm up.

You would have been better pouring fresh hot water on the formula and topping up with cold boiled water from the fridge. The opposite way round to what you did.

I would go 40/60 of each.the greater being the boiled.

TheBirdintheCave · 30/04/2023 15:37

@Redlarge I thought the order didn't matter as long as the cooled water was pre boiled (we always used cooled boiled water and not tap) and the top up water (which was always the majority) was boiling hot 🤔

To be honest I could be wrong in how I'm remembering we did it as it was a year and a half ago now 😂 Thankfully, whether I did it wrong or not, son is still alive! 😅

Emmamoo89 · 30/04/2023 15:39

@Redebs I'm just sick of formula feeding mams always making out breastfeeding mams say this and that. It's always tit for tat. 🙄 just do what you got to do. Each to their own.

SparkyBlue · 30/04/2023 15:40

I would say don't stock up on formula as you may need to change. Yes they are all basically the same but certain babies get on better with certain brands. I always found cow and gate worked better for my three. I had stated on aptimil in the hospital on dc1 and sma in the hospital on dc2 and 3.
Mam bottles are amazing. I used Avent on DC1 and 2 and a fabulous midwife in the nicu told us to get Mam when we were trying to get DC3 to feed. They are definitely much better than anything I'd previously used.
We always batch made bottles and stored them in the fridge. Then we took them out before a feed was due and gave at room temp

SouthLondonMum22 · 30/04/2023 15:42

I have formula fed from birth and couldn't be more bonded to my baby, glad you're not paying attention to the few silly comments.

Most of my tips have been covered already - mam bottles because they self sterilise in the microwave, perfect prep etc I had two at the beginning, one upstairs and one in the kitchen.

I did watch the clock and found feeding every 3 hours worked really well and helped get us into a lovely feeding routine early on. I found that if he went 4 hours during the day, his night sleep would be worse and he still does every 3 hours during the day now at nearly 5 months but sleeps all night.

I love formula feeding and have no regrets. I love the cuddles as well as the fact that others can feed him without me needing to express and I also like knowing exactly how much he's had.

Congratulations!

justme2022 · 30/04/2023 15:46

I combination fed my first. SMA milk didn't agree with her at all so swapped her to Kendamil which she stayed on and I fed my second with it from day 1. I stupidly bought loads of Tommy tippee bottles to start with but the tests where far too big for her mouth as she was dinky so I used Nuk newborn bottles for the first 6 weeks or so because the tests were a lot easier for her. Steriliser wise I had the Tommy tippee one but it took up so much space on the side along with the perfect prep machine so I swapped it for a microwave one pretty quickly.

Angrymum22 · 30/04/2023 15:56

However you feed your baby will be best for you and your baby. I think that the bonding debate probably results from the fact that breastfeeding mums exclusively feed their baby and anyone can feed a bottle fed baby.
My advice would be to try to feed your baby as much as you can in the early days to replicate the breastfeeding experience. You will have lots of people offer to feed your baby so you can get on with other jobs. I would very politely decline. Like others have said feeding your baby, whether by breast or bottle is a lovely intimate activity. If people want to help they can make a cup of tea or do a bit of ironing.
In the early days it forces you to sit down and put your feet up and take a well earned rest.
Lots of advice on here to minimise the effort needed to bottle feed. I breast fed for 20 months ( I just couldn’t be arsed with all the prep required to bottle feed). DS had Tommee Tippee bottles for evening milk afterwards and refused to give up the bottle until he was 4/5. He said that the bottles felt most like my boob. I suppose this suggests that the TT bottles are closest to the real thing.

Parker231 · 30/04/2023 16:03

I always wonder on these threads when the OP has said she is going to use formula, do some posters keep referring to breast feeding?

Febb · 30/04/2023 16:06

Mam bottles, no need for bulky sterilisers.

Pre made formula for the first few weeks and days out, the difference in price is minimal and they are so so much more convenient.

Tommee Tippee prep machine is an absolute must.

I pre-measured formula into the little tubs ready for overnight feeds so that I wasn't stood in the kitchen half asleep wondering if I had put in 4 scoops or 5. This saved loads of time.

Good luck and enjoy ☺️