Introducing A Bottle To Your Baby

By Kimberley Fernandez - CLD, Baby-Led Sleep & Wellness Specialist

Kimberley has been working with pregnant and new families in their birth and postpartum journey since 2006, and currently supports families in the early days of life with their newborn and sleep support up to age four. You can find out more on the website. Sleep Support  Postpartum Support

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Introducing a bottle to your breastfed baby is a truly personal choice. Whether you are choosing to offer bottles right in the beginning at a few weeks old, at 4 months or at a year, lets talk about how you can do that with minimal stress.

NOTE:

Now, I generally recommend that if you are wanting to introduce a bottle early but breastfeeding is the goal and you have no other issues that require baby to be supplemented, that you hold off on the bottle until after that three week growth spurt, and feeding is well established and you have a good supply. This will less the likelihood of breastfeeding being compromised and baby refusing the breast.

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When deciding to introduce a bottle and retain breastfeeding, make sure to choose a nipple that is a slower flow to help mimic the flow of the breastmilk. When babies refuse the breast after the introduction of a bottle it isn't because of "nipple confusion", it's an issue of flow. The bottle can be a faster and easier flow for baby and babies are brilliant. If they can get fed faster and easier then they will want it that way. Breastfeeding is work for them, fast flow bottles are simple and easier for them.

You also want to be careful with the style of nipple you choose that will be similar to the breast. You can do this with the triangle test. The nipple should gradually slow down to the base, not be prominently nipple then flat base. See the pictures here.

A slopped nipple to base for baby to give a wider mouth and lessen the likelihood of bottle feeding changing baby's latch

See the prominent nipple and no slope can make baby change their latch on the breast to a shallow, nipple only latch with a small mouth.

Once you've chosen a bottle to use, try to remember that many babies may be resistent to feeding this way. Especially if you are choosing to introduce it months after breastfeeding has been established. So it's important to have some patience and be consistent with how you approach the introduction. It could take just a couple of tries or take up to a couple of weeks.

If you are still hoping to breastfeed and to avoid the flow confusion you can try Paced Bottle Feeding. So baby isn't gulping and over feeding. Paced bottle feeding more closely mimics the way baby feeds at the breast.

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My first tip to introducing the bottle is have anyone other than the breastfeeding parent offer the bottle. This way, baby will identify the breastfeeding parent with one way of feeding and the non-breastfeeding parent with the bottle. That lowers the likelihood of any confusion on baby's part.

Next, don't wait until baby is screaming for food to offer the bottle. This will just make them super frustrated and angry. And then this feed will be a complete mess. You can try when they are actually a little sleepy so they don't necessarily notice the change.

You can try a bait and switch technique. Start them on the breast and then slowly slip them off and add the bottle. This won't work if sliding them off causes them to fuss and scream. So start with just a small amount of bottle contents, (breastmilk or formula) and after a decent feed and they are a little chill and sleepy, finish the feed with the bottle.

Gassy Baby Handout

Consider warming the milk to body temperature to again mimic what they are receiving from the breast.

Like breastfeeding, you want to tickle baby's upper lip with the bottle nipple and gradually insert the bottle while baby pulls it in with their tongue. Forcing it in can cause baby to get upset and refuse it.

You also want to make sure baby is sitting more upright when you feed them. While breastfed babies are basically laying down to feed, bottle fed babies need to be sitting more upright to avoid choking and over feeding.

If baby is in the 9-12 month range or older, you could try skipping the bottle altogether and go straight to a straw cup. This can make things easier if they will be heading to daycare.

Finally, while making this transition, make sure that your baby is still producing the same number of pees and poops so we know there isn't any potential weight loss happening.

Still need more help and you are living in the GTA? Schedule a postpartum visit with me.

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