When to Introduce a Breastfed Baby to a Bottle
How to Introduce a Breastfed Baby to a Bottle
Get comfortable. According to O’Connor it’s important that both you and baby are comfortable during feeding sessions. Set up a cozy station with a place to hold the bottle, and have a burp cloth handy. Ensure that you have sufficient lumbar support, and try to avoid leaning over, as this can cause neck and back strain. Talk to baby and make eye contact to help make feeding time a positive bonding experience.
Be patient. Baby may downright refuse to take a bottle at first, but practice makes perfect. Try to foster a calm environment for bottle feeds in the same way you would for nursing sessions.
Plan ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute, when a bottle becomes a necessity, says O’Connor. If you have a set return-to-work date, try introducing a bottle well in advance, so that baby has time to get used to it.
Position baby correctly. “Baby should be in either a fully upright position or slightly reclined in the caregiver’s arms,” says O’Connor.
Paced feeding. As they nurse, breastfed babies tend to stop and start. Paced feeding with a bottle echoes this natural rhythm. Keep the bottle in a horizontal position to avoid the fast flow of milk, and to pause for breaks.
Take it slow. “Feeding babies should be like fine dining,” says O’Connor. Carve out ample time for bottle feeding, and don’t rush the process.
