How to Help Your Baby Take a Bottle After Exclusive Breastfeeding
Whether you are returning to work, looking forward to a date night, or just running errands, there may come a time when you need your baby to take a bottle. Introducing a bottle can provide you with flexibility and allow someone else to feed your little one when you aren’t together. While some parents worry about how their breastfed baby will adapt to this change, most breastfed babies adjust well to bottle feeding with opportunity, practice, and experimentation. Below are a few tips to help make this transition go smoothly for everyone involved.1,2,3
- When: Introduce the bottle after breastfeeding is well established, usually after the first 4-6 weeks.
- Timing: There is no “right” age to introduce a bottle. Even older babies can learn.
- Preparation: If you haven’t started pumping or collecting your milk (in a milk “catcher”) give yourself a few days to collect enough milk for a feeding.
- Pumping: Pumping in moderation for about 10 minutes, once or twice per day after feedings, is unlikely to interfere with breastfeeding.
- Nipple Flow: Start with a “slow flow” or newborn bottle nipple. You may need to experiment to find one that is the right flow for your baby.
- Nipple Shape: Bottle nipples with a gradual slope may allow your baby to get a deeper latch than a wider “breast-shaped” nipple.
- Paced Feeding: The flow of milk should never be overwhelming to your baby. Holding your baby more upright and the bottle more horizontally can help to slow the flow of milk, making bottle feedings comfortable and less messy.
- Volume: Three to four ounces is an average-sized feeding for a baby over one month old.
- Experiment: There is no perfect bottle for every baby. You might need to try a few different brands or styles to find one that works best for your baby.
- Warm the Milk:
- If your breast milk has been refrigerated or frozen, thaw and warm your milk to take the chill off.
- Some babies don’t mind cold milk right out of the refrigerator.
- When to Offer:
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- Begin by offering the bottle when your baby is calm but slightly hungry.
- A sleepy baby may be more receptive.
- If your baby only takes a small amount, any leftover breast milk is safe to offer again within the next 2 hours.
- How to Offer:
- Some babies may prefer mom to offer the bottle.
- You can also try having a partner or caregiver offer the bottle while you step away.
- Try Different Positions:
- Experiment with different feeding positions to find what makes your baby comfortable.
- Some babies prefer being cradled, while others like a more upright or even forward-facing position.
- Movement – like rocking, gently bouncing on an exercise ball, or walking may help.
- Be Patient:
- If your baby refuses the bottle initially, don’t force it. Give it a few tries over several days or once per day for a week or two.
- Offering small feedings more frequently may work better when babies are just getting started with bottle feeding.
- A Lactation Consultant is an infant feeding specialist and can help with bottle feeding, too! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help.
- Alternatives to Bottles: Bottles aren’t the only option for feedings when you are away.
- There are many different ways to provide milk to your baby.
- Young babies can be fed with a dropper, syringe, or medicine cup.
- Babies older than about 6 months can use a sippy or an open-mouthed cup, a straw, and even solids.
- Depending on the age of your baby and how often they need supplemental feeds, you may decide to use these alternative methods instead of bottles.
What If I Have Questions?
If you are interested in learning more, these Aeroflow classes expand on some of the topics discussed above:
- Pumping 101
- Navigating Your Maternity Leave
- Moms Circle
To register for these classes, log into your portal or click here.
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