Introducing Bottle Feeding

I started out with orthodontic nipples which I found to be best for my children. I am now 41 and our youngest are 13, but one of our older daughters had twins almost 6 months and both prefer the nuk bottle and nipple. She still nurses them and has tried various bottles and nipples and they still prefer the nuk style. I hope that this helps and congratulations. M.

we waited until nearing 3 months to introduce the bottle (going back to work) and we had quite a difficult time. Our daughter did not like any of the nippples on the market - we tried absolutely every combination of bottles, nipples, adiri etc. She eventually took the bottle with the soft Similac rubber nipple that the hospital gave us when she was first born for formula supplement for few days (my milk didn't come in until day 5). Even then she resisted initially. She is now 4 1/2 months and has no problem with drinking breast milk from a bottle even when I am in the room. We tried to introduce a different kind of nipple few weeks ago and she flatly refused. So with our daughter it is all about the nipple texture. Good luck!

we started our girls on bottles around 5 weeks. We used the playtex drop ins. I really liked them. They still nursed and bottle fed. They had a little issue with choking on the milk at first since it comes from the bottle faster than it comes from the breast.

I have Dr. Browns and I love them. They look funny and have extra parts to clean but my baby has never had gas problems! That is good enough for me.

The best way to introduce a bottle is to choose one feeding per day for a few days and see how he does. If he does ok, and depending on the reason you're switching from breast to bottle, you can increase the number of bottle feedings each day. Please please please be sure that if you're going to keep him on breastmilk that you PUMP whatever feedings you give your son a bottle, otherwise you're going to lose your milk supply!!! If you're switching to formula, then you don't need to worry about pumping.

In my experience, one bottle is as good as another. It's the nipple that makes the difference. Most nipples in the stores will have an age on the label from preemie to newborn to older babies. Try for a slower flow nipple, especially if you're going to continue breastfeeding. He's beyond the age of nipple confusion, but that doesn't mean he won't refuse the breast if the bottle makes feedings too "easy." What baby wants to work so hard at the breast when it can pour into his mouth from a bottle? And babies hold their tongues differently while breastfeeding vs bottle feeding. Hope this info helps!

Hi C.- I have a number of options for you based on my sisters and their babies. The one sister uses playtex drop in bottles- the nipples are supple, and almost feel real. She does use much else and they work great. The other sister uses those Dr. Brown bottles. They are extremely expensive (baby shower gifts for her). She nursed, but with twins, she had a hard time doing both. Now, to keep her sanity and to get some sleep, she pumps and uses those. She says they relieve almost all gas issues.
-E. M.

I totally agree with Tasha. I too LOVE LOVE LOVE the Dr. Browns bottles. I used them with my first son and he NEVER spit up or had colic. Plus his DR put him on Simulac Alimentum ready made which is wonderful. Little pricy but made him super happy. No gas or anything. He was a great little sleeper and now at 3yrs old he still sleeps 10 plus hours at night. I have a 7 month old little boy now and he went right to the Dr Browns witih the same formula. I even used the Dr Brown's sippy cups for my old son when transitioning him from bottle to cup. I have tried Avent, which i can't stand and leak horrible and just tried a 6month sippy cup for my little guy. BAD......leaks all over the place like the bottles. I tried the drop ins with both kids.....what a joke. If run out of the drop in bags, then what? Bottle is no good just something else to buy. UGH!!! waste of money.

Its a guessing game and each baby is different so you might have to try a few to find out what works. I did like the Playtex airflow that are bend at the neck which I used at times.

Good luck to you.

SAHM/zombie 40yrs old 2 amazing little boys.

We LOVED the Born Free bottles. No nipple confusing, no gas issues. Just perfect.

With my son he liked the Playtex Nurser with the drop-ins. We started him with those, with the slow nipple, and then the rapid nipple. He took to the bottles and nipples right away. Later I tried the Born Free bottles, we received as a gift, and he HATED them. It's been Playtex Drop In's all the way! Good luck and congratulations on the birth of your son!

We started our daughter at 3 wks due to work issues. She did best with Dr. Browns. It really seemed to cut down on gas. I used expressed milk an made sure to have someone other than me feed her the bottle to start. She actually did great and has been receptive to bottles or breast ever since. Good luck!

I used Playtex drop-ins premium, clear nipples. My daughter didn't have much colic with them at all and she adjusted to the nipples quite easy. When I have another child I will use them again :0)

T.

C.,

I don't know if you plan on continuing to breastfeed, but if you do-- the Adiri bottle is great- it is shaped like a breast and most babies like it. I also like Advent BPA free bottles--

Good luck!

M.

I personally like the Dr Browns Bottles. My daughter seemed to have less gas, lighter burps, and hardly to no tummy aches (that I know of). She did spit up but that was probably due to her using formula.