when do you introduce the bottle to a breastfed baby?

[MichellemyBelle]

My baby is three weeks old, and just wondering when is a good time to start pumping milk and trying the bottle. I will have to go back to work in January, so I just want to make sure she has it down by then. Also, any tips on getting her to take the bottle is much appreciated too, I've heard it can be tough sometimes.

thanks

 

[mama]

I didn't introduce a bottle until she was a month old. I wanted to make sure breastfeeding was going well and I didn't want to cause nipple confusion.

I suggest buying low-flow nipples. They are supposed to be the most like a mother's nipple in terms of flow. A lot of times, a breastfed baby will start to favor a bottle because it's easier to get the milk out so they don't have to work as hard. This could cause issues in getting the baby to breastfeed. Slow-flow nipples should help with this.

 

[Pippin]

4-6 weeks is the recommended time, and should allow plenty of time for her to get used to it.