https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 30 May 2026 15:30:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637935 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:20:58 +0000 Tidybee 637935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: How did I miss that K was here?!!? Congrats!!<br /> It's easy to get stressed about the mipple confusion, and I'm sorry your family did that without your consent.<br /> LO and I had major breastfeeding issues, and I was so sad to have to give her the bottle when she was a week old. My LC assured me that with the playtex drop ins, slow flow, and to position her sitting up that there wouldn't be any nipple confusion. She shared that in her experience in being an LC for many years, babies will always go back to the boob and she doesn't really believe in nipple confusion.<br /> I had to bottle feed with pumped milk for a few weeks and would work in a few breastfeeding sessions until she was about 6-7 weeks. Time and craniosacral therapy helped her/us to get the hang of it, and she even went through a time when she refused the bottle. Now at 4 months and in daycare, she has no problem going back and forth. Worry not! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637915 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:10:40 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 637915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 weeks this time around with no issues. I waited til 6 weeks with DD and she hated the bottle - it was so stressful for me bc that meant I couldn't be apart from her more than 2 hours at a time. I definitely wanted to introduce the bottle sooner this time around and at least once a day every day. </p> <p>Like others have said, I think you'll be okay even though your LO is only 1 week old. I know how it is being a first time mom though, I was so scared of nipple confusion too and really tried to follow so many things "by the book", but it only caused me to stress out unnecessarily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637840 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:45:48 +0000 PrincessBaby 637840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: oh I didn't know she was jaundiced! Glad her bilirubin went down:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637831 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:41:51 +0000 shopaholic 637831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: Oh man! I was so scared I would have to go through all that jaundice/formula stuff too! Luckily, her tests came back better yesterday! And our bottles are slow-flow (to the point a lot of reviews said were too slow even!)<br /> Glad H is over the nipple confusion &amp; jaundice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637824 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:40:19 +0000 PrincessBaby 637824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>H got nipple confusion bc I didn't know to use slow-flow bottles and Homegirl got lazy! She didn't want to work for the boob when the bottle just dumped it in her mouth...That was during our jaundice nightmare when she was a couple of weeks old. The second time we had to temporarily put her on formula, I used the slow flow playtex dropins and she was fine...The nanny uses those now to feed her and there's been no nipple confusion. Just make sure it's always slow flow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637811 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:36:01 +0000 shopaholic 637811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for everyone's responses and reassurance! I have been back to the BFing today and her latch is better than yesterday's. I think the soothie from our photo session may have been more of an issue than the bottle. I'm glad so many of you didn't have nipple confusion since it seems like that magic "6 week" number is everywhere! I might have freaked out a little too easily about it this morning. </p> <p>@littlebittyhouse: @ladyfingers: @runsyellowlites: Thanks for those links! I will have to watch some of them when I get some downtime!<br /> @runsyellowlites: I did tell DH about the bottle and how to get her to latch on. I will try to get him to watch the video with me. Because it WOULD be helpful if he could do one of the night-time feedings while I get a break!</p> <p>@photojane: Thanks for that tip. Our hospital is so "baby-friendly" and pro-BFing, anti-paci. When my milk wasn't coming in yet, they gave us a syringe to feed her with while sucking on a finger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-637024 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:34:54 +0000 Bluebonnet 637024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is EBF. She got her first bottle at 2.5 weeks and we've had no issues whatsoever. We also gave her a soothie paci at the hospital and that didn't effect BF.</p> <p>Don't beat yourself up. Many babies get bottles and don't have any issues with breastfeeding. </p> <p>If you don't want LO to get a bottle, you need to be very clear with your husband and ILs. Going behind your back is not being supportive, its causing you additional stress and that is not good for you or LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636995 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:29:07 +0000 mrsjyw 636995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Day 3? we gave him formula for a day and also used a soothie. I did have one day of nipple confusion and a hard time getting him to latch back on (was using a shield for my one boob). And I ebf'ed, no paci/no bottle for a couple of weeks until we were in the groove until we used a bottle again.</p> <p>No regrets tho- I needed the break and A does wonderfully with all three ever since then (paci, boob, bottle) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636987 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:27:00 +0000 teamjse 636987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Day 1, my milk didn't come in and baby was fighting jaundice, so we got him on formula to supplement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636942 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:14:29 +0000 immabeetoo 636942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1 week! He was a champ breastfeeder so I was more worried about bottle rejection. He gets one a week now and ever since- when we moved and skipped a few weeks it was definitely a fuss to get him back on one. Sorry they did that without asking though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636814 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:39:46 +0000 hilsy85 636814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1 week with no resulting issues (and then we stopped and now he refuses bottles!) but I'm upset for you that your family kind of went behind your back like that. Whatever you decide to do make sure you and hubs are on the same page! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636798 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:37:16 +0000 Freckles 636798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She started on day 2 because my milk hadn't come in yet. I actually took a month off of bottles because i was having issues with supply and that really hurt me because she didn't want bottles after that! I think 1 bottle a day won't hurt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636758 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:30:11 +0000 MamaMoose 636758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We gave her a bottle on day 5 of life. She has never had any issues going back and forth between breast and bottle. I knew I had to go back to work so I much as I was (and am!) committed to a breastfeeding relationship from my perspective I would have rather had her refuse the breast and have to go to exclusively pumping than have her refuse the bottle and be in real trouble when she started day care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636744 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:27:42 +0000 cascademom 636744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first couple of days because my milk supply wasn't in and we supplemented with formula. After my milk came in, we discontinued bottles until daycare. He had a bit of issue with bottles at first, but got used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636740 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:26:38 +0000 yerpie110 636740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was given both a bottle and pacifier in the NICU before I was out of recovery to see her! Luckily, she had no nipple confusion and breastfeeds like a champ. We give her a bottle every few days to make sure she still takes and have had no problems. </p> <p>My good friend started at 4 weeks and so far her baby has refused and she isn't sure what to do when her daughter begins daycare in a couple of weeks. She wishes she had started even earlier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636738 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:26:29 +0000 oahujeni 636738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebittyhouse: thanks for that link and I will check it it today. I have read a ton of articles, watched videos, and even got great advice here but nothing is working. I am willing to try anything! Sorry for the thread jack @shopaholic... Hope your LO does better with her latch issues. It may not be related to the bottle or paci at all, though, as my LO changed up his latch often during the first few weeks as we were learning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636734 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:26:09 +0000 runsyellowlites 636734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The recommendation is to wait to pump until 3+ weeks (given baby isn't a premie or you aren't soon returning to work) &amp; to introduce a bottle between 4-6 weeks. This ensures enough time at the breast to build supply &amp; to avoid any latch issues (nipple confusion) or other feeding issues (laziness at the breast).</p> <p>Many moms introduce earlier just fine, but some end up with issues that compromise the breastfeeding relationship whether by supply or by latching/nursing issues.</p> <p>Personally, we introduced pumping &amp; a bottle at 5 weeks. I had oversupply issues so I tried to stay away from pumping so as not to cause other issues. If I had needed to build a stash for returning to work I would've started keeping my overflow earlier though. After P stayed at my moms a couple times we had issues with laziness at the breast due to HOW she was bottle fed &amp; so we try to avoid it now OR are careful with technique.</p> <p>Kellymom has some tips on bottle feeding the breastfed baby &amp; at the bottom are other links about introducing the bottle, etc<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636732 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:25:27 +0000 pl0508 636732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when he was about a week old! no nipple confusion. he loves the playtex ventaire bottles - the nipple is wider than the medela ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636719 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:22:56 +0000 ladyfingers 636719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started around 3 weeks, just to give me a break, and we really only do a few a week, no more than 1 a day, slow flow nipple and only if I have to be gone somewhere for a few hours without LO.</p> <p>There are bottle feeding techniques for breastfeeding babies that can help avoid issues. Mainly forcing them to latch on like with your breast and taking the whole nipple and base into their mouth instead of just nipple feeding.</p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/</a></p> <p>I would impress upon your DH - and make sure he spreads the word - that you have noticed the baby is confused and not feeding as well as he used to, and that breastfeeding is very important to you so you'd rather not anything interfere with that right now. Make sure he understands that if the baby doesn't feed from you as often in these first few weeks, it can affect your supply -- people don't realize this and they think they're helping, so you just need to educate. </p> <p>If nothing else, make sure they're doing it right with information like the above. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636716 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:22:11 +0000 Mrs. Cat in the Cradle 636716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO had her first meal from a bottle, since she was taken to NICU. There was and still is no confusion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636705 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:20:25 +0000 littlebittyhouse 636705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oahujeni: there are a few webinars on how to help a baby who refuses the bottle!</p> <p><a href="http://www.isisparenting.com/page/webinarsbreastfeeding" rel="nofollow">http://www.isisparenting.com/page/webinarsbreastfeeding</a></p> <p>my LO is a passive bottle refuser. meaning he will take it after lots and lots of coaxing but if left to his own devices would jsut reverse cycle on me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636704 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:19:53 +0000 photojane 636704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't breastfeed, but my lactation consultant at the hospital told us that if you plan to use bottles not to wait until 6 weeks (supposedly that's a misconception), but to introduce it earlier. Otherwise, you may have a baby who won't take the bottle. I don't know what the actual suggested timing is, but I just wanted to let you know that she isn't ruined for BFing, and a bottle is ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636698 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:18:53 +0000 creativemomma15 636698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS started when he was a few days old. It didn't cause any problems. There were a few times when he would nurse funny after I went back to work but I think it might have been more me reading into things and being paranoid about it because it would just be once in a while that it happened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636697 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:18:42 +0000 littlebittyhouse 636697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my LO was 4 weeks. lots of babies get bottles and soothies early on with no confusion.</p> <p>if your LO got a bottle and it wasn't a 'paced feeding' it def could have led to fustration that your breast was not as fast. </p> <p>This: <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/</a></p> <p>and a 20 min free webinar on how to bottle feed and protect the breastfeeding. look at Feb. 9, 2012<br /> <a href="http://www.isisparenting.com/page/webinarsbreastfeeding" rel="nofollow">http://www.isisparenting.com/page/webinarsbreastfeeding</a></p> <p>I had my MIL watch a lot of the Isis webinars so that she would be on board with the bottles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636687 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:15:56 +0000 Mrs. Bee 636687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Day one with both kids. No regrets. In fact olive still and always has hated bottles. I gave up after a long trip and just ebf at 10 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636684 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:15:12 +0000 oahujeni 636684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started at 6 weeks but wish I had done it sooner. He's 12 weeks now and still acts like we are pouring hot lava down his throat when we try to feed him from a bottle. Daycare in two weeks, lord help us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636681 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:13:55 +0000 loveisstrange 636681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My neighbor started from the very beginning too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636678 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:12:41 +0000 autumnlove 636678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think LO was 4 or 5 days old. There was no nipple confusion for LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ebf-moms-when-did-you-start-giving-bottles#post-636674 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:11:24 +0000 shopaholic 636674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been breastfeeding baby K (1 week old) on demand. I've been pumping once a day mostly to help I think with engorgement. Last night I was tired so everyone sent me to sleep. Found out DH and my ILs started feeding baby with a bottle last night and this morning. :(.<br /> I wanted to wait till 6 weeks. I'm kind of upset and we already used a soothe yesterday for her new born pics and I already noticed some latching changes and frustrations with baby during the middle of the night. Going to try and get her back on EBF no bottles today. It just makes me nervous like I better not sleep through any period of her hunger or they will just give her a bottle because everyone wants me to get some rest.</p> <p>At what age did you introduce the bottle and did it cause nipple confusion? Don't you think 1 week is too young? #sadmama </p>