Introducing the Bottle

A few people have asked me to blog on how I went about introducing my daughter to a bottle. This was something I was very worried about before she was born! I knew I had to return to work only 6 short weeks after giving birth so getting Lilah to successfully take a bottle early on was essential. Every book I consulted (and the nurses in my prenatal breastfeeding class) suggested introducing the bottle at the 6 week mark after breastfeeding had been well established. This strategy was clearly not going to work for me and made me even more stressed out. My husband and I decided that we would start trying to get Lilah to take a bottle at the 4 week mark because that way we had two weeks to get it right before I returned to work. Luckily, breastfeeding came relatively easy for me and by the 4 week mark, I was feeling pretty confident. It took a few trys to get Lilah to take a bottle, but in the end we were successful. Here are some tips based on my own experience:

Tip # 1: Have a variety of nipple and bottle types on hand.

We initially tried Playtex VentAire bottles and nipples, but Lilah refused them. The only bottle and nipple we were able to get her to take (and the only one she takes to this day) were the Medela bottles and nipples.

Tip # 2: Make sure someone other than you gives baby the bottle, but have them simulate the nursing experience as much as possible.

The first few times my husband gave my daughter a bottle, he sat in the same chair that I had been feeding her in for several weeks and he tried to hold her in much the same way as I did when I was nursing her.

Tip #3: Take it slow.

Give the bottle only a few times during the first week and then slowly increase the number of bottle feedings in later weeks.

Tip #4: Be consistent.

We lived with my parents for the first 5 weeks of my daughter's life. In the process of moving back to our own place, we went about a week without giving Lilah a bottle. When my husband tried it again, she refused. He then found that by walking around with her in his arms, he was able to get her to eat. This lasted for a few days and then he was able to sit down and feed her again.

Introducing the bottle can be a frustrating experience for everyone. If you are not successful on the first try, wait a day or two and try again with a different bottle and/or nipple. And remember, don't persist if baby is upset as this will only make things more difficult. Good luck!