Bottle Feeding for a break???

[Jewels06]

My DS is almost 6 months and I knew enough to not give him a bottle for the first few months to avoid nipple confusion but I'm wondering if there are any issues with giving a bottle now. I'm mainly asking for sleep purposes, to see if maybe DH could take him 1 night a week so I can get some sleep. Does anyone do anything similar? TIA!

Julie

[sapphire_chan]

I'm almost certain I've read about mamas doing that.

My only caveat is that getting that bottle of ebm (expressed breast milk) can be difficult and might take up more of your time during the day than you're saving at night.

If you need a break, my first inclination would be to see about your dh handling the morning time with your baby, waking up, diaper change, and so forth. Also assuming you're already doing side lying nursing and have the baby in bed with you with enough room to move away from him when he's not latched on.

Which is not to say "don't do the bottle thing", just sharing what I've done that made it so I don't need a break at night. (although it's lovely to wake up and hear how dh took care of her toileting needs during the night. )

[Norasmomma]

I've done this with both of my children. I actually started bottles of EBM at 1 month, to avoid nipple confusion and bottle rejection. I've heard of more problems with waiting too long to introduce a bottle. Your baby may not take a bottle now, I've seen that happen.

With DD I was working a little when she was 6 weeks old, so the bottle was a must do. With DS I have been at home, but I like to go to the store or just have a needed break, also I like to have a milk stash for those what-if moments. I want my babies to be a little flexible between bottle and breast.

I personally think it is very healthy to have DH or someone else be able to feed the baby. I enjoy having a break now and then, for me it is very beneficial. We co-sleep and I do side nurse, so my right breast is full in the AM, I then pump my 4 ish oz when we get up. I take fenugreek to keep my supply high to have that extra "feeding" with the pump. For myself I have to be diligent with pumping every morning, but the benefit outweighs that 10 minutes I take to pump.

It works well for us.

[dislocator3972]

I have DH give DD a bottle so I can get a break every now and then. I have 60oz in the freezer and we've gotta use it up somehow!

How many times does your baby get up at night? It wouldn't be hard to get a bottle's worth or even two if you spread it out over a couple of days, but some mamas have a lot of trouble with pumping. . .

[akind1]

I agree w/ a PP that sometimes you can wait too long to introduce a bottle. we did a bottle far sooner than recommended, but thankfully did not have nipple confusion issues. I say give it go! it is worth it to be able to leave baby for longer than between nursings and to have a break.

[Llyra]

I think the only real problem with a bottle to give you a break occasionally (assuming baby will take it) is when it becomes a slippery slope kind of thing, where it's so easy or convenient that you start doing it more and more often, and before you know it, baby's weaning. As long as you're aware of that risk, and conscious of not letting it happen, I see nothing wrong with it at all. A few babies here and there may still develop a preference for the bottle, even at this age, so if baby begins to reject the breast, or nurse less efficiently, you may have to discontinue the bottles. I think it's pretty unusual for that to happen at this age, though.

Some kids won't take the bottle. My DS was like that. It helped a lot if he didn't know I was in the house when DH offered the bottle. If he thought I was around, he'd hold out for me. You can have your DH try different positions and different nipple types, to find one that baby likes.

[aylaanne]

At six months, if your LO won't take a bottle, and you have expressed milk, you could always try a sippy cup. I agree with all the PPs that giving a bottle for a break at this stage is absolutely fine.

[belltree]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

I've done this with both of my children. I actually started bottles of EBM at 1 month, to avoid nipple confusion and bottle rejection. I've heard of more problems with waiting too long to introduce a bottle. Your baby may not take a bottle now, I've seen that happen.

That's what happened to us. And I didn't know that this exists. We tought him how to drink out of a glass and that works.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by belltree

That's what happened to us. And I didn't know that this exists. We tought him how to drink out of a glass and that works.

Yeah my dr at the time with DD was a big breastfeeding advocate, she also was a pumping mom with her own DD. She informed me to wait at least a month before trying a bottle of EBM, but to not wait to long because then they may refuse and only "take it from the tap" so to say. I know a lot of women who have waited until later and then the baby just won't take it.

I never worried about it becoming a crutch or interfering with my breastfeeding, I guess if I had latch issues or supply issues I may have more concern. For me it was a godsend with DD, she was a 3 on/3 off kid and so it was rough at times sleep-wise. DH could often get up with her, especially at the 4am wake up-that was so rough on me. He was much better with that time of the AM then I was. That was with full co-sleeping, continual nursing, I just felt sucked dry and so sleep deprived, it helped me get through her being a babe.

[mommy212]

My dh and I go out for 3-4 hours every saturday and my mom will usually give him a bottle if he needs it before we get back. My LO is 6 months. It certainly hasn't given us any problems, and I have certainly never had any supply issues so it didn't affect me to skip a feeding once a week. I haven't tried it at night but be prepared for some engorgement in the morning!

[Alisse]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

I've done this with both of my children. I actually started bottles of EBM at 1 month, to avoid nipple confusion and bottle rejection. I've heard of more problems with waiting too long to introduce a bottle. Your baby may not take a bottle now, I've seen that happen.

You are one smart mama. I wish i had introduced a bottle early and kept it going. This is something i'll definitely do if i ever have another baby, as soon as i'm sure the latch is well-established.