How To Introduce Bottle To Breastfed Baby?

If your baby is healthy and breastfeeding is going well, there is no need to give them the processed milk. You’ll be working alongside her for the first four weeks to develop and maintain your breast milk supplies while she learns to breastfeed well.

You can, however, pour expressed breast milk into a baby bottle if your baby is unable to feed directly from your breast for any reason. The expressed milk has the advantage of maintaining your milk supply and ensuring that the baby receives the benefits of breast milk.

Suitable time to introduce a baby bottle to the baby:

“When should a baby be introduced to a bottle?” There’s no specific ideal time for it. Nevertheless, some lactation consultants advise against introducing the baby bottle as soon as breastfeeding is going well since studies have shown that it interrupts the natural breastfeeding process.  So you must wait until the milk offer is good and breastfeeding is successful.

Introduce a baby bottle to her between 2-4 weeks; it will prove beneficial in the long run. In some cases (after six weeks), a baby may become so strong-willed that they may refuse the bottle completely.

How many times should I give expressed milk to my baby?

According to research, giving an express milk bottle to a baby about three to four times a week instead of daily can help him stay familiar with the artificial nipple while still carrying breastfeeding successfully.

When your baby starts putting up with the bottle more than the breast, you may need to introduce the bottle less frequently or even stop feeding it until the breast is recovered. The mother must pump to protect her milk supply if the baby receives a bottle, especially during the early months.

Furthermore, you can let your child choose how much milk they drink. The breasts don’t have measuring cups, so you have no idea how much your baby is drinking.

The actual result will hurt you if it’s not what you envisioned. Any liquid that ranges from 60 to 180 ml is fine for your child.

What’s the best way to introduce a bottle to a baby?

The first time you give your baby customized milk if breastfeeding isn’t going as well as you expected, you may encounter some challenges. Here are a few simple tips to help you succeed.

• Make sure you take as much time as you need

When introducing a bottle to your child, don’t wait until their first night or first day at work.

Several weeks before the event, strive to achieve relaxed and untidy results by introducing small amounts of articulated milk.

To achieve a full feed, gradually increase the milk content expressed from a bottle.

• The moment is yours

In an ideal situation, your breastfeeding baby should be alert, but not hungry. If she has a bottle of tailored milk for the first time, she will be as relaxed as possible.

• Slow-flowing feeding:

Slow-flow feeding with a bottle is quite similar to breastfeeding. It comes out slowly for breastfed babies because they are accustomed to struggling for food. However, bottle-feeding requires no effort and is easy. In addition, babies may become accustomed to the faster rate, making breastfeeding more difficult when they return from bottle-feeding.

If you are using a standard bottle, let the infant take five to ten sucks before removing it. Allow your infant to swallow and breathe on his or her own. Replacing the bottle and beginning the procedure all over again will complete the process. It should encourage your infant to feed more slowly as a result of this procedure.

• To assign feeding duties

When you give your children a bottle, they may be confused or frustrated, just as your baby is used to being breastfed.

As long as someone else gives your child the first bottle and you, as a mommy, stay out of the room, your child will not smell or see you.

• Position for feeding bottles

Keep your child semi-upright and feed her on demand. Do not support her when lying flat or in a bottle when choked. Go at her pace with as many breaks as she needs – you can even try to switch sides during the feed.

• Be patient

It may take a while for her to get in the bottle – this can take a lot of effort.

Try again after she has calmed down and goes back to eating the bottle. If she pushes it away or gets upset, comfort her and wait a few minutes.

After a few more minutes, wait for her to drink from the bottle and then breastfeed her normally. If it does not work, try it again later in the day.

Useful tips for bottle-feeding the baby

Here are some tips to help lighten your baby by switching from breast to bottle:

• Someone else gives the first feeding from the bottle. If there is a choice between a foreign bottle and the nearest breast, it wins. If you need to do feeding, cover your breasts.
• Wait until your child is hungry, but not when he is madly hungry. The hysterical child is more upset when the breast is not available for comfort.
• There are various bottled teats, so it can be a hit and trial period to see which one is accepted. Most bottling companies offer teats specially designed for the breast-to-bottle transition.
• Take the child out to see bushes, birds and clouds.
• Offer the breast and, when the baby becomes sleepy, remove your nipple and try to introduce the nipple of the bottle to the child.
• Once the child calms down, calm down and replace with a bottle.
• Offer the breast and once you have your first let down, switch to the bottle.
• Try singing and move while weaning from the bottle. Singing a song while breastfeeding will also be helpful. Try using the same song when offering the bottle.
• Keep a blanket or small “lovable / lullaby” with the mother while nursing, and then hold the same item while giving a bottle.

Baby’s Refusal to Drink from the Bottle:

A lactating baby may refuse to feed on an artificial nipple. It may take several weeks of practice and patience to get your lactating baby to accept a bottle.

Who should give the bottle?

• In some cases, children will refuse bottles if their mother is nearby. So, in this case, allow any caregiver to give the bottle to the baby. Mothers may have to step outside or leave the room while their babies are being fed expressed milk.
• It is also possible that the child may be more likely to accept a bottle from the mother since she is associated with feeding. In the event that she successfully feeds on the bottle, switch the middle feed so both parents can give it together.

Here are some reminders:

• Be sure to keep a positive attitude and to avoid creating bottle-feeding battles for frustrated children and parents.
• Offer the bottle when the child is a little hungry. If you wait for the child to be wild with hunger, it will not work either.
• Do not skip meals for a long period of time. It’s often said that when a child becomes hungry enough, parents will break down and take the bottle. There is usually no truth to this. There may be not only stubbornness in this. It’s just that they don’t know what to do with the bottle. Breast closure can cause great stress to both parents and children (and may lead to dehydration). Usually, patience, repetition, and persistence will help your child learn a new skill.
• Make sure dad doesn’t always act badly. You will need other people to help you feed from the bottle. Even the mother can try and is often the most successful.
• In order to be successful with a bottle-feed, it should contain all the ingredients. If your baby takes a few ounces from the bottle, he or she may end up on the breast. It’s a good start!