Best Bottlefeeding Practices

[TiredX2]

Hi all.

My SIL is no longer breast feeding. My BIL would like information about getting as many of the benefits of breastfeeding while bottlefeeding as possible. We all know that the composition of breast milk cannot be matched, but what about the other things?

I know I have read about switching from side to side while bottle feeding to mimic the eye development that babies get while breastfeeding. Other ideas? Links to place that are fairly mainstream (or have research) would be much appreciated. MIL actually asked me *for* BIL but he won't just take my word for it.

TIA!

[texmati]

I think if you google 'paced bottle feeding' on kellymom that should be able to help you. I've heard the term bottle nursing before. I thought it was odd, until I watched my dear, dear, dear husband burp and 'switch sides' when bottle feeding my son.

If SIL is interested, you might also want to suggest feeding or supplementing at the breast.

[akind1]

I don't have any links, but the most important thing we've learned bottle feeding (it is expressed bm but should work for formula i'd think) is not to assume baby is still hungry just because he or she keeps sucking on the bottle. When we first started, and DH was feeding DS, he kept taking more and more, but would spit up alot b/c he was getting entirely too much. I am guessing this is the paced feeding Kellymom talks about, just take it slow, and once baby seems content/full when you take bottle away, he or she is probably done.

If she has been breastfeeding she may want to try the breastflow bottles that encourage baby to latch and baby has a lot more control over milk flow compared to a typical bottle.

[2boyzmama]

--Breastflow bottles are great, we love them!
--Switching sides
--Look at the baby, don't be tempted to multi task every feeding
--Feed skin to skin whenever possible
--Snuggle baby to you when feeding

[TiredX2]

Any links?

I know a lot of this intuitively, but without links BIL won't listen.

He was going to have DS (just two months) CIO until I got him some sleep links he accepted.

I won't be encouraging her to nurse/relactate/use a SNS/basically anything. The bottle feeding tips need to be things anyone (not just mom) can do.

Thanks!

[CassnBeth]

I'm afraid this isn't a linkable thing but just something we figured out since DD has never latched and gets nothing but bottles of pumped milk -- we use non-venting bottles and non-venting preemie nipples from Dr Bronners. Since the bottles don't vent, my little girl has to let go in order to break the suction if she wants "a letdown." This has really let her control the flow of milk and she figured out how to comfort nurse at the bottle (getting only a couple of drops of milk or nothing at all) when she was about three months old.

[Masel]

The chapter on bottle feeding in Sears' The Baby Book is what you are looking for.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by Masel

The chapter on bottle feeding in Sears' The Baby Book is what you are looking for.

Thanks so much!

I had that book when DD was a baby, but that was 11 years ago, lol.

I'll ask MIL to pick it up for them.

[ellairiesmom]

not sure if anything here helps at all

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html