Level 1 nipple too slow?

[jenrett]

Hi all,

I just introduced a bottle to my 6week old. Well, my DH did. We tried twice. Both times, I was not in the same room/house. The first time DH and DS were not at home, and it was with a breastflow, and DS did not take it. The second time, DH and DS were at home, and DS took the bottle which is a Dr. Brown, though he seemed "frustrated", according to DH, and kept pushing the bottle away and then asking for it again. That feeding was first thing in the morning when DS is probably extremely hungry.

I have a very fast flow (think sprinklers! I often overwhelm DS who has to pop off the breast and cough! In that case, I let the spray go into a burp cloth, and then re-latch DS). Both bottles were using the slowest flow nipple.

Should I try a faster flow nipple?

I also just purchased a Born Free bottle to try, and I purchased the Level 2 (medium flow) nipples to try as well, though I thought I would start with the slow flow.

I just want him to be able to take a bottle 1-2x/day (2 at most I think!) (I will be working part time) so I suppose that even if it's a little frustrating that's ok - I definitely want DS to prefer the breast because that's primarily how he will be fed.

Please help!

[makeminepink]

I had overactive let down (and over supply too) much like you and only gave DD level 1 born free nipples. She started out flustered, but then got used to it. I did not use level 2 nipples as I was scared she would get used to the fast and easy flow of the bottle and prefer it over the breast.

She's 6 months now and still on level 1s. She still prefers mommy over bottle.

I think most babies are frustrated with the different texture of the bottle nipples when they first start with a bottle. Hopefully others will chime in.

Good Luck!

[jenrett]

Thank you!

I'm curious, too....when you introduce a bottle do you want to do 1x/day or do you want to introduce it, wait a few days, introduce it again, etc?

We did a botttle 2 days ago, but not yesterday. I am thinking of doing one today, to try out the born free, and because I want him to "get used" to the bottle. I've heard of babies taking a bottle one week and then the parents wait a week to do another bottle, and they refuse it. But I have also heard the opposite - not to do it too often at first.

Thanks!

[smpayne]

I did have to bump up to the faster flow nipples, but not until about 4 months. As baby got older, my flow significantly increased and if the bottle couldn't keep up, he got real mad. We went all the way up to level 4.

First I would have dh be the one to introduce all bottles and you should actually leave the house, go for a walk, grocery store, etc. Babies seem to know if you are still around and if they scream loud enough you will come rescue them from the crazy person trying to force this weird bottle on them.

[pumpkinhead]

I have overactive letdown and over supply issues when I'm nursing and slow flow bottle nipples made my babies scream in frustration. They wouldn't take a bottle unless the flow was similar to what they were getting from the breast. I did have to buy the faster flow nipples or both of them refused to take a bottle. Since they didn't get regular bottles until they were over a year old, they switched easily between bottle and breast and it wasn't an issue. If your baby is going to be getting lots of bottles during the day, I might keep trying with the slow flow for a bit, but if it's just going to be an occasional thing, try the faster flow.

[jenrett]

Originally Posted by smpayne

I did have to bump up to the faster flow nipples, but not until about 4 months. As baby got older, my flow significantly increased and if the bottle couldn't keep up, he got real mad. We went all the way up to level 4.

First I would have dh be the one to introduce all bottles and you should actually leave the house, go for a walk, grocery store, etc. Babies seem to know if you are still around and if they scream loud enough you will come rescue them from the crazy person trying to force this weird bottle on them.

Yeah, I don't think i made it super clear but DH did introduce the bottles and both times I was very far away - not in the house at all.

We gave another bottle this morning (tried the Born Free with slow flow) and he wouldn't take it from DH but then took it from my sister in law. go figure.

Originally Posted by pumpkinhead

I have overactive letdown and over supply issues when I'm nursing and slow flow bottle nipples made my babies scream in frustration. They wouldn't take a bottle unless the flow was similar to what they were getting from the breast. I did have to buy the faster flow nipples or both of them refused to take a bottle. Since they didn't get regular bottles until they were over a year old, they switched easily between bottle and breast and it wasn't an issue. If your baby is going to be getting lots of bottles during the day, I might keep trying with the slow flow for a bit, but if it's just going to be an occasional thing, try the faster flow.

Would you consider 1 bottle/day occasional?

[pumpkinhead]

I would probably consider 1 bottle per day occasional. Every baby is different though. Just one bottle a day might cause trouble for some. I think that if you try it and find that is becoming a problem, just cut it out.

[sunnygir1]

Ds is almost 10 months and still using a level 1 nipple for his very occasional (1x per week) bottle feeding. I never moved up because he seems to do fine with the level 1 (Born Free brand).

I don't see any reason not to try a faster flow or different type of nipple. I don't think it is likely that your baby is going to start having trouble breastfeeding because of one bottle a day, provided that you have a well-established nursing relationship, which you should at 6 weeks.

ETA: Is it possible that your baby wasn't very hungry at the time, or that the milk was too warm or too cool?

[KSDoulaMama]

One thing that sometimes gets overlooked but is worth mentioning... if the bottle lid is screwed on pretty tightly, sometimes it makes too much of a vacuum for much milk to come out. Loosening the lid just a teensy bit lets a bit of air enter the bottle as baby sucks, and more milk can come out. For our babe, if the lid is on too tightly, she will definitely refuse. (She is used to my fast flow/letdown too.)

[rhiOrion]

i use a mix of level 1 and level 2 for my three month old with no problems at all. she still way prefers mom. and she's in day care full time