Introducing a Bottle

One of my patients came in the other day, breathless with worry about 
returning to work and trying to pump enough milk for her baby.  She's 
going back in March, so has some time.  Her baby is 4 weeks old.  Her 
timing is perfect.

Maybe you have to return to work and have to pump your breastmilk for 
your baby.  Maybe you need to supplement with formula. Maybe formula 
is the best choice.  Whatever the circumstances, the vast majority of 
moms need to be able to give their baby nourishment from a bottle at 
some point in the first year.  How do you get a baby to take a bottle?

Here’s the key.  Babies are flexible and will drink from a bottle and 
still be able to breastfeed.  But there are a few important aspects 
that will help you avoid tears and keep everyone happy.

#1  Introduce your baby to a bottle between 3 and 6 weeks.
#2  Offer one bottle each day.  It can be pumped milk, formula or a 
combination.
#3  If it’s only one bottle, they’ll be able to breastfeed and not 
have nipple confusion.
#4  Sometimes, it has to be someone other than mom who offers the 
bottle.
#5 Don’t wait until the baby is crying in hunger.  Anticipate when 
they’ll be hungry and offer a bottle when they’re still happy and 
beginning to think about food.

Good luck. I'd like to hear about your experience with introducing a 
bottle.  What worked?  What was challenging.  Check out our videos for 
more helpful information and how to’s.