Giving a Bottle?

[pippasmum]

I am pregnant with my second now (hooray!) and my first never took a bottle. While I am totally committed to breastfeeding, it would have been nice if she would have taken a bottle once in a while so I could go out. I am nervous about what to do. My very Bf-friendly doctor suggested no bottles until 6 weeks and by then, my daughter wanted no part. Anyone here got any suggestions for timelines if I want to try the odd bottle (it would be expressed breastmilk) but don't want to interfere with breastfeeding?

[LisaSedai]

Hummm. IDK. My kid never had a problem, as long as it was milk he didn't seem to care where it came from. I did do mainly breast until I had to go back to work though (2 1/2 months) and during the begining he'd only have one bottle every day or 2. I would think it would be ok to try a bottle as soon as she really got the hang of nursing. Did you ever try DD on a cup? They make special cups for little babies too if I remember correctly from LLL.

[Pinoikoi]

Yeah, try a cup.

My youngest was my greatest bfing success. He nursed until 2 years. I worked all school year long both of those years. He nursed at night, he nursed in the morning, took a bottle or two while I was at work and nursed in the afternoon when I got home. It worked out great.

I think the key for us was differentiating the parental roles. Daddy had bottles Mommy has boobies. I never changed that. So I think he attached his emotional comfort that way.

My other kids I gave bottles to too soon and then I had bfing issues.. (I exclusively pumped for one for 7 months after trying and trying and trying to establish bf).

[elismum1908]

Like you I am very committed to breastfeeding. But I knew there would be times when I needed my son to take a bottle of my milk. We started at 3 weeks giving him one bottle a day at the same time every day. This was what my doula instructed us to do.

It worked great. He had no trouble with it and when it was clear that he was ok with it we let up on the bottles. He never refused a bottle when I was away from him. At 21 months he's still going strong at the breast, although now he refuses milk in a cup.

[Fly Girl]

As long as breastfeeding is going well, I would suggest giving a bottle around 3-4 weeks. That's what our LC advised us. DH tried giving DD a bottle around 3 weeks and she took it just fine and was able to switch back and forth from breast to bottle with no problems. I think if you wait too much longer, it can get harder to get them to take the bottle. Babies are smart. They want it straight from the tap

[pippasmum]

Thanks, everyone. Three weeks sounds good. I don't want to wait too long but I don't want to start too early, either. If I had to choose, I would rather no bottle than no boob.
We tried everything with my daughter and eventually got her onto a cup at around 5 months, I think, but until then, it was mummy and ONLY mummy!