when did you start the bottle?

[Stacie:Emma&Josh Mom]

I'm just planning ahead and wondering when you all started a bottle as either part of your routine or getting ready for daycare.  I know ds is only 7 days old, but I'm planning ahead to see when I should start expressing and trying the bottle for either dh to give or to get ready for daycare at 8 weeks old.  TIA

[mishmosh]

We began using a bottle too (with expressed bm) after the first week.
Now DD happily takes a bottle or breast - she even takes the bottle from me.

[Jennifer2e]

We started Grayson at 10 days old with a bottle.  Dh gave him the DF so I could go to bed early and get one long stretch.  I wanted to be sure he would take a bottle.  I would wait until you are sure nursing is going very well.  I would also pump to compensate for the bottle of EBM.

BTW-Grayson didn't do well with the bottle for a few weeks but he got the hang of it.  Also, my LC reccomended using a slow flow nipple that looks like your nipple.  I think the playtex nurser works good.  You just don't want him to prefer the bottle.  Another tip you can use is don't tilt the bottle back as far.  Make him have to suck harder to get the milk out to better feel like the breast.

[Erin M]

We started the bottle around 3-4 weeks and had no trouble with her taking it.  Then we stopped offering it (got lazy) and she started refusing the bottle.  So, whenever you do introduce it, make sure you're consistent about offering it (I think I've read 2-3 times a week keeps them used to it).

[tylersmommy]

We started the bottle at about 2 wks. DH loved feeding Tyler so it was easy to keep up with it...we gave at least 1 bottle each day, and Tyler had no trouble going back and forth.