If your baby is breastfed, when should he or she be introduced to the bottle? The best time to introduce a bottle to a baby is between 2-4 weeks of age, according to many lactation experts. As a breastfeeding mother, the first few weeks are all about establishing a strong nursing relationship. It is much easier to transition from breast to bottle after your milk supply is established and breastfeeding is going well.
To support continued breastfeeding, here are a few tips when introducing the bottle:
Make sure you choose a slow flow nipple so the baby needs to exert effort to get milk from the bottle, replicating the nursing process. Breastfed babies cannot be given the “best” bottle. You may be able to find the right bottle for your little one by trying a few different options. If a bottle is easy for a baby to latch on to, does not leak around his lips, and allows him to feed comfortably, it is the best bottle for him.
It should take 15-20 minutes for a bottle-feeding to take place. The flow is probably too fast if the infant consumes the bottle in less than 10 minutes. The flow may be too slow if it takes your baby 30 to 45 minutes to drink from the bottle.
Try alternative feeding postures or moving around while feeding the infant if they continue to reject the bottle. The baby may start feeding as a result of this diversion, and once they start, they are more likely to finish.
It may also be helpful to warm the nipple under warm water or place a drop of milk on the outside of the nipple for the infant to taste.
Introducing the bottle can be a period of significant change and frustration, whether you’re returning to work full or part-time or simply want your child to be able to take a bottle from another medical assistant so you can spend an evening out with your husband. Hopefully, these pointers will enable you to get off to a good start!
The inner environment and behaviors of your infant, breastfeeding, sleep and your own mental health are all linked together. At Ruaa Healthcare we will provide you with comprehensive, fact-based support so that both you and your child can flourish at home.
Call us to book a nurse at home for your newborn.
