The Bottle-fed and Breastfed Baby

It is often necessary to leave your baby with caregiver, so teaching baby to use a bottle as well as being nursed plays an important role in the life of both mom and child. Here are a few tips to help make this a smooth transition.



The day finally arrived and now you have begun the journey known as motherhood. You (and your baby) have successfully learned how to nurse, and are becoming accustomed to the "routines" of being together. But, unfortunately, the days of maternity leave are drawing to a close and it will soon be time to go back to work. Thankfully, though, you have a Madela breast pump, so your baby will not have to do without the many benefits of nursing. However, if you are concerned about making the transition from only nursing to including a bottle, there are several things you can do to make baby's feeding times easier for everyone involved.



Tips for Combining Nursing and Bottle Feeding

1. Select a bottle nipple that resembles, as closely as possible, the shape of your nipple. Look for one that has a slow flow and its designed with a wide base and slowly tapers to the nipple.




2. Be sure that when you introduce the bottle, that your baby latches onto the bottle's nipple the same way he/she does when nursing.




3. Interact with your baby when you bottle-feed just as you would when nursing. Remember, feeding time is one of the best opportunities for social interaction.




4. If your baby refuses to take a bottle from mom, have someone else (dad, grandmas, etc...) feed baby until your baby gets used to the "faux" nipple. This problem is usually easily handled, and before long, baby will be as comfortable with the bottle as with nursing.




5. Be careful not to confuse the baby by holding him/her as though you are nursing, when you are not. It may be necessary to hold your baby in a baby sling, baby carrier or even walk around when feeding with the bottle to keep confusion to a minimum.




6. Warm the bottle's nipple in water to make it pliable.




7. Allow baby to suck on your (or caregiver's) finger in between feedings as this will help to satisfy baby's need to suck.




8. Do not prop the bottle up, and then leave baby unattended in the crib or an infant seat, as it can be unsafe.




9. Be sure to use bottles that don not allow your baby to swallow excess air. There are a variety of bottle styles on the market, so if the first one you select does not work, there are several others to choose from.




10. Babies know when they have had enough-don't feel obligated to always have baby finish the bottle.

Making the transition to, or combining bottle-feeding with nursing, does not have to be stressful. With a little patience, you can soon have your baby happy and contented, regardless of the feeding method being use.