Anybody tried introducing a bottle yet?

[dex_millie]

Yesterday I tried to gave DD a bottle of pumped breastmilk but she gave us a look of confusion. She seems like she was trying to get it or maybe she was pushing it out w/ her tongue. The nipple kept bending in her mouth. I am using the Platex Naturalflow nipple. I used those for DS, he took the bottle like he was always getting one and I introduce him to one 2 weeks older than DD is now.

Any advice. I went out and bought 2 new nipples to try (NUX and Dr. browns own)

[fairymom]

We tried one last week (Caleb was 5 wks) w/a little water in it. It was so hot here (97) and he wasn't waking to eat and looked as if he was getting dehydrated. He may have drank 1/2 an oz.But it was real hard to wake him to drink even that. Dad did the honors.


ETA: we use the Avent bottles- used them with the past four los.

[Peony]

I introduced one right at 3 weeks. I was floored when Julian took it, gulped down all the milk, and was looking around for more! I plan on giving one about once a week or so just to keep him used to it. None of my other children ever took a bottle so I would love for this to continue. I used a Soothie bottle and nipple.



You can try different bottles and nipples. Some babies might take a bottle from mom, others won't if you are in the same house as them! Warm nipple or cold nipple. Holding baby in different positions other how you normally would to feed, some don't want to be held at all while getting a bottle. And then there are the ones that never take a bottle no matter what you do. If you need to get BM into these babies other then from the breast, you can try tiny cups or syringe feeding them.

[wobblykate]

we tried at 5 weeks. as nancy would say, it was totally fail.

we're continuing to try with different nipples about every other day.

[racie0417]

We tried at 4 weeks and it was a total failure. I have no interest in trying again. I don't have time to pump and watching breastmilk go to waste bothers me (although we did mix the breastmilk with ODS's whole milk so at least he drank it). With ODS, we tried several times a week and he wouldn't take one until 6 months, and then he'd only take one if he could nurse afterwards. This time, I'd rather save myself the hassle and just nurse.

[dex_millie]

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!

Dr. Brown Natural Flow worked. Hope it is not a one time thing. I just tried a little breastmilk so I don't have to waste it, may around 1/2 ounce. With the other nipples (comfortlatch and playtex natural flow) she didn't know what to do w/ them, she kept trying to put the whole nipple in her mouth and then choking on it, also she would bend the nipple in her mouth w/ her tongue as she was trying to figure out how to suck it - I know those are suppose to be the more breastfeeding nipples that is why I had them w/ DS. This nipple is the complete opposite to them(small and basically the whole thing goes in mouth), but this nipple seems just as natural, the whole thing goes in her mouth and her sucking looks normal. I am going to continue a few times a week to make sure. We are going to my home and would like the grandparents to take care of the kids while we go out for a 2 hour, as DH will be there only a week and I am staying a month.

I will try again the other nipples as a have a few. Also I liked the Platex liner bottles. Oh well at least we find one that works (crossing fingers that it continue).

[momma2be_k]

Originally Posted by dex_millie

Yesterday I tried to gave DD a bottle of pumped breastmilk but she gave us a look of confusion. She seems like she was trying to get it or maybe she was pushing it out w/ her tongue. The nipple kept bending in her mouth. I am using the Platex Naturalflow nipple. I used those for DS, he took the bottle like he was always getting one and I introduce him to one 2 weeks older than DD is now.

Any advice. I went out and bought 2 new nipples to try (NUX and Dr. browns own)

are you using silicone nipples? Latex (brown) ones may be a little tougher and probably don't bend as easily. My LO takes a latex nipple on a glass evenflow bottle.... no problems since 3 weeks. We were giving him 1 bottle a night for a few weeks.... but we've gotten on a schedule that I'm not so tired and so I just breastfeed him now. But he's all set to take a bottle if I have to go into work on the weekend and leave him with DH.

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by momma2be_k

are you using silicone nipples? Latex (brown) ones may be a little tougher and probably don't bend as easily. My LO takes a latex nipple on a glass evenflow bottle.... no problems since 3 weeks. We were giving him 1 bottle a night for a few weeks.... but we've gotten on a schedule that I'm not so tired and so I just breastfeed him now. But he's all set to take a bottle if I have to go into work on the weekend and leave him with DH.

I tried the latex for the platex Natural flow also (have the silicone and latex for it), she treated them the same. At least we found one that works, although I will try the other nipples from time to time since I already had a decent amount from DS baby days and over 100 bottle liners for the Platex bottles.

[Murph12334]

anything but a boob in his mouth and he gets pissed like you are hurting him.

he's not fooled by imitation no matter how much we've tried. dd didn't take one until 3 months

[secondimpression]

We introduced the bottle at 2.5 weeks but I had to go back to work 6 weeks PP, no choice there. We're using the Medela bottles and nipples with no confusion, preference or gas issues. DH has noticed though that Xander really does seem to need his mama while I'm at work. We work opposite shifts to minimize the time X is with a sitter but it still breaks my heart that I can't be home with him. And do believe me when I say that I spend every moment at work trying to think of a way to make that happen

Ugh, sorry for the tangent...but yeah, we're doing fine with the bottle, save for a sad baby and some accidental over-feeding.

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by wobblykate

we tried at 5 weeks. as nancy would say, it was totally fail.

we're continuing to try with different nipples about every other day.

Z was toggling with Avent #1 starting at 4 days old.
He decided that the bottle was more productive, but I could have kept nursing. His latch was still good and as long as food came out, he was reasonably happy.

I like the Avent, because the base of the nipple is wide. If he ever had to latch again, I bet we could make it work.

We're still supplementing the piglet, and are on the bottle full-time. He's cool with it.

[ms.shell]

we have tried the bottle several times.
Daddy is so good with ds that we wanted him to be able to feed him and then I could leave baby with him to go grocery shopping or other errands. But Daddy had absolutely no luck getting him to eat. I think he gave up kindof easily-i think he (daddy) thinks like me that it is mamas job to feed the baby. On a growth spurt day when he was nursing like crazy and my nipples were killing me I actually mixed a bottle of free sample formula (cuz I hadnt been pumping and have stored no bm). Baby looked at me like I was crazy when I tried to give it to him. he did taste it and made funny yucky faces.
However, because I noticed dp's dad uncomfortable about breastfeeding right away, I have pumped a bottle before we go over to their house twice. Both times, Terran very happily drank the whole (4 oz) bottle given to him by Grandma (and once was immediately after he nursed quite a while in the bedroom first). I feel sure he would also take one from his other grandma or an aunt if for some reason he needed to.

[goodmomma76]

DD will take a bottle. We introduced it fairly early on, but she's only taken a few. But I give her the gripe water to suck out of the nipple of a bottle, she chokes on it otherwise no matter how slowly you squirt it in her mouth. Also, it should help her keep adjusted to the bottle I think. She starts next week staying with my mom for 3-4 hours 3 days a week while I work, so I wanted her to be able to eat if she needed!

[BethSLP]

just wanted to chime in and encourage any of you that are planning to go back to work or want to be able to leave your baby with a sitter, grandma etc. for any length of time to give a bottle once a week.

seriously, don't get lazy about it.

I did with DD and it was a NIGHTMARE. we introduced at 3 weeks. Seemed fine. Got lazy. She COMPLETELY FORGOT how to do it. And we struggled with it all summer. I was in full panic mode about how I was going to go back to work with a baby who didn't know how to take EBM out of a bottle. We tried 8 zillion kinds of bottles (including the one that looks like a boob). NOTHING worked. She FINALLY took it at the last minute when there was zero choice.

I think a lot of my postpartum anxiety came from this issue and worrying about when I went back to work.

With my son, we are not making that mistake again.

It happened to my best friend also. I know pumping is a PITA when you are home with the babe, but take my word for it. I would hate for you to experience a similar hell

XOXO
B

[ShineliketheSon]

Glad you seem to have found something that works!!!

I'm not planning on doing any bottle feeding but I figured if I change my mind I was going to try these Adriri Natural Nurser bottles...

http://www.littlepaddedseats.com/cat...p?category=162

[wobblykate]

I was looking into the Adiri, too. Some folks say it's a bit of hype with a nice design. If you end up using it, let us know if it works!

[BethSLP]

We tried the Adiri. Not impressed. Expensive and still not really like a breast. And DD had no idea what to do with them. I think its a gimmick really.

In the end, the bottle DD finally ended up taking was the old school playtex nurser with the bizarro square nipple that goes in and out and is a horrid latch for breastfeeding. I almost think she liked it better because it wasn't like breastfeeding to her???

Once I got her taking that old weird bottle (1970s style), then we were able to move her to a regular Playtex nipple later.

I honestly think DD had no clue how to manage a bottle, suck/swallow with drips coming into the mouth, etc. This is why I think its important to keep them practiced if you want this later at all.

XOXO
B