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ginger22 
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Joined: 24 July 2012
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 Topic: When / if to introduce bottle feeding?
Posted: 15 March 2013 at 7:35pm |
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Hi,
Our little man is almost 6 weeks old, having been born 7 weeks early.
We are thinking about introducing the occasional bottle feed, but don't want to confuse him, or mess with feeding as weight gain is still so crucial for him.
Also, I am using shields, and at this stage, unsure if I will ever have the nipples to be able to go without.
Part of me thinks it will be best to stick with exclusively breast until he is a fair bit older.
Anyone have advice / tips / experience they could share?
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Bizzy
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 15 March 2013 at 8:13pm |
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Sorry i'm no help, none of mine ever had bottles. If you dont have to bottle feed him then i dont see a reason to start really.
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Rexy
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Joined: 28 February 2012
Location: Hastings
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Posted: 15 March 2013 at 10:11pm |
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I introduced bottles early (3 weeks)because my daughter needed top ups and she has no problems switching between breast and bottle. I used the tommee tippee closer to nature ones, and they work well. I've used a shield since birth too, which may make it easier since they kind of feel the same!
I've heard its best to introduce bottles early as it is harder when they get older. Also good for Dad/Grandparent/Babysitter doing the occasional feed.
If you are planning on returning to work while he is still breastfeeding then I would reccommend starting him on it soon so he is used to having expressed milk in a bottle when the time comes. It helps to start at night when they are not totally awake.
Good luck :)
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Ellyanor
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Joined: 03 February 2013
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Posted: 20 March 2013 at 4:10pm |
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Hi there. My bubba wasn't early but I introduced the bottle for one feed a week at 6 weeks. Possibly you could introduce a bottle at 12 weeks? I used the Chu Chu teat with the Medela bottle as I had to do expressing at first to get my supply up due to c-section. Just my opinion, but it doesn't seem to pay to introduce when too old (if you need to go back to work or have more than 4 hours away from baby) as sometimes babies seem to reject the bottle if you start too old. In relation to the shields, my friend started off with them and seemed not to need them after 2 months or so, but hey if it works it works!
Good luck.
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Dot2012
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Posted: 22 March 2013 at 7:52am |
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I introduced a bottle when my baby was about a week old I think? I was also using shields at that time so would top her up with expressed milk as she was losing weight (can happen with shields apparently). I loved having the option of using a bottle as it gave me a break as most days she had one bottle a day (of EBM) given to her by her dad as a dreamfeed so I could climb into bed early, ready to do the night feeds. My girl never got confused between breast or bottle and happily switched between the two. When I was ready to wean her onto formula (about 7mo) she couldn't have cared less...was more traumatic for me! Oh and I managed to drop the shields quite quickly, you will find as your baby gets bigger they get much better at feeding so hopefully you will be able to as well, makes life much easier. I also used the Tommy Tippee closer to nature bottles & electric pump and couldn't have been happier with the results.
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MummyM
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Posted: 29 March 2013 at 5:46pm |
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I started out much the same as you using shields and I was topping up with bottle as he was low birth weight so trying to fatten him up. I had to drop the shields when he was 14 weeks because he was pulling my nipple the end of the shield and through the holes on the end which hurt heaps. Within a day he was latching onto the boob without a problem. With the bottles at about 2-3 months he stopped taking them completely and it's only in the last month he's now 9 months that he's been taking a bottle again. If you can introduce a bottle do because it will make sure you will be able to get a break sometimes. The months that he wouldn't take a bottle got really stressful sometimes because I couldn't be away from him for more than 4 hours at a time during the day. I've completely weaned him now and it's fantastic!
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When / if to introduce bottle feeding?
