breast or bottle?

Question

i heard that when a baby get used to the mile or bottle teat it is very difficult to switch them...i would like to try breast feeding but an worried if i plan on changing to bottle feeding!

Answer 1

i breastfed for 7 months no bottle feeings at all, then my milk serioulsy vanished. so was forced to bottle feed, he would eat from the bottle at first becasue he didnt like the nipple, once we found a nipple that he like we had no problems. and with my daughter i always switched from breast to bottle, no nipple confusion for her.

Answer 2

Inarguably, breastfeeding is best for your baby. It's possible to breastfeed and never find a need to use bottles. I've breastfed all six of my children; some I used a bottle for after the first couple of months had passed, and some never had one from birth to weaning (usually around 2 to 2.5 years old).

If you breastfeed and plan to introduce bottles, you should understand that it *can* be tricky for the baby to learn to switch back and forth. Not always, but when it happens, you really can't predict it and then you are stuck dealing with sucking problems. This is called "nipple confusion", and has been the end of many a breastfeeding experience. That's why it's best to wait until breastfeeding is WELL established, meaning both mother and child are comfortable with feedings and not experiencing any feeding-related issues, including low milk supply, and especially including any latch or suckling problems.

Once things are going well, though, you can feel comfortable introducing a bottle and seeing how it goes.

If you decide to start off bottle-feeding, you are immediately removing the option of switching to breastfeeding. Some women have been able to re-lactate *and* get the baby nursing from the breast after starting out on bottles, but those are rare occasions and require an enormous amount of determination and effort. It is possible, but difficult. Whereas, if you start out breastfeeding and it doesn't work out, or it *does* work out and you want to start some bottles later, you won't encounter any problems quite that challenging or requiring that much effort.

Good luck, and kudos to you for doing some research ahead of time. You are going to make a fine mother!

Answer 3

well when u can breast feed as often as possible but to include hubby etc u can place breast milke in a bottle to let him feed the baby , they have nipples for the bottles that resemble the size of a reg breast nipple , but the best thing u can do is offer the breast as often as possible to get the baby use to the breast maybe offer the bottle every couple feedings , or for say the baby falls asleep after nursing on the right side , well pump the other breast and place in a babg to freeze for a latter feeding , maks e sure u date the bag , they have speciall nursing bottle bags that work great for this , this way you will always have a supply of milke on hand so daddy or g mas etc can take part in feeding baby so mom can get much deservied rest , or even that wounderfull bubble or even the night on the town with hubby

Answer 4

If you start out breastfeeding, and change your mind later, it is really easy to switch to bottle-feeding. If you start out right away offering a bottle, it will be really hard to get the baby to take the breast afterwards.

My first two babies were breastfed for 6 weeks, then when I went back to work they took pumped milk in a bottle. Once breastfeeding was well established, giving a bottle when I was at work and nursing when I was home wasn't a big deal at all.

Answer 5

I had no problems with bottle after breast feeding,
I would breast feed, then express milk in to a bottle then every now and then, just give the bottle of breast milk, it’ works fine good luck,

Answer 6

You can do both! IF you can, breast feed for three weeks (it helps establish supply etc) but then, you can expres some, and give it in a bottle, that way, your baby will be used to both, and if you have to switch later, it won't be a problem.
It is rarely a problem anyway, but this way might put yur mind at rest

Answer 7

Your baby has to learn to suckle at your breast. The way a baby sucks when breast feeding is different to the way they suck when bottle feeding. If you want to be able to breast and bottle feed I would recomend waiting until you have established breast feeding properly. This will help to avoid what they call nipple confusion. If at some piont you wish to swap completely from breast to bottle then it is just a case of having to ween your baby off of the breast and on to the bottle one feed at a time. This can be tricky as breast is best and some babies like my son know it!

Answer 8

Well I work full time and returned to work when my son was 6 wks old and chose to breast feed.

The only thing was that it was impossible to feed him obviously when I was at work.

He adjusted fine to nursing when I was home and drinking from AVENT bottles any other time. (pumped at work)

I think it would only be hard to adjust if you are a house mom and only give him the breast. Either try rotating or I think stores sell nipples that are (or should be) very much like a real nipple.

Answer 9

you can do both my friend started with the breast and brought some natural bottles where the teat is like the breast

Answer 10

Start with breast. You cannot switch back to breast. Breast is best anyhow. But it doesn't take them very long to figure out the bottle if and when you decide to bottle-feed. Start with breast!

Answer 11

I breastfed both my sons. My oldest one I had no problems with what so ever. My second one was dreadful at sucking properly. I had to use nipple shields to get him to nurse properly. Neither one of my had a problem switching back and forth from breast to bottle. You just want to give them a few weeks to stay on one or the other. You don't want to be switching back and forth too soon.