I've always heard that you shouldn't give a breastfed baby too many bottles because they will like the faster flow and then won't want to nurse, where they have to work harder. My 8 week old seems to be the opposite. She nurses pretty quickly - about 10-15 mins - but when DH gives her a bottle at night, it takes her 45 mins to take down 3.5oz. And he says it's difficult to even get her to take that much. Should we be trying a faster flow nipple? These are Level 1. I'll be going back to work at the end of August, so she'll be primarily bottle fed at that point.
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Sigh...I have a almost 4 month old who when she takes a bottle takes about an hour to take a couple ounces. She hates them, she nurses in 10 minutes and is really efficient. I really wish I would have introduced the bottle way earlier because daycare is starting to get frustrated.
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No advice as DD HATES bottles
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@LuLu Mom: Your daycare is frustrated? I'm sorry
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@LuLu Mom: Ugh that's my fear. I can't imagine day care will be able to spend 45 mins getting her to take 3oz. This is all new to me, as my son (who was formula-fed after 6 weeks) would suck down 6oz in about 10 mins!
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@SeptMomma12: Do you have lots of milk and possibly a fast let down? If so your LO may not be used to working too hard for the milk, it may be just basically flowing into her mouth after a little suckling. That being said Level 1 flow is usually fast enough for a small baby, although all brands flow levels are different from each other. You could always try a level 2 and see what happens or a different brand bottle.
Also at 8 weeks old, I'm guessing your breastfeeding relationship is pretty well established, so you don't really need to worry about limiting bottles too much.
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@FaithFertility: Frustrated might be the wrong word, our provider (in home) just feels bad because she can't get her to take it. She's scared she's not getting enough and I think it is starting to wear on her. Which it is me too and I'm not with her 9 hours a day like she is, so I don't blame her!
@SeptMomma12: DD1 was bottle fed from the beginning, she refused to latch so this is all new to me too! I introduced the bottle when "they" said and she took it for a week and then I skipped a weekend and then "BOOM" refused and has been for about 2 1/2 months now. Everyone says "she will give in" well my stubborn little girl is proving everyone wrong, she's been at daycare for over a month and she will take maybe 4-6 oz a day from a bottle unless they syringe feed it to her.
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@LuLu Mom: I ask because DD starts in home care in a few weeks and barley takes 5oz a day from a sippy I gave up on bottles! She is older almost 7 months but that is my fear that she wont do it
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@LuLu Mom: Ughhhh sounds like your DD is just like mine!!!!!!
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@FaithFertility: Yep we've tried a sippy cup too, she will take a few ounces from it here and there. We've had the best luck with Tommee Tippee bottles but it's pretty spotty. our in home has enough kids that there are almost always 2 people there, but still I feel awful that one person is spending so much time trying to feed my baby. Our provider must have the patience of a god because I give in and give her the boob after 15 minutes of the screaming. She will randomly take 4-5 oz with no issues and then go right back to her stubbornness.
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My guess would be that it has more to do with your LO just having a preference for the boob rather than the flow of the nipple (in theory breastfed babies should remain on level 0 nipples so they don't develop a bottle preference). I would try introducing some other bottle brands and do at least one bottle a day. She may get faster as she get more used to the bottle.
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We had exactly the situation @lady grey: described. Daycare asked for faster nipples and I was nervous, but level 2s ended up being perfect for us and we never had any problems from then on.
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@lady grey: @PurplePeony: I don't necessarily have an oversupply but I do have a very fast letdown. Maybe the Level 2s are worth a try!
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