Did you buy bottles? - ...eventhough you were planning to BF

Lynda836 wrote: I haven't started to doing the baby shopping yet, but am trying to figure out what I need. I'm planning to BF, so I figured I wouldn't bother buying bottles....if I need them later I'll buy them but not initially. My mom thinks I should buy bottles and some formula anyway...just in case, under the reasoning...what if you can't get him to breastfeed...and if I have bottles hubbie can help feed.

My thoughts were, if I bought bottles/formula, it's too easy to give up if BF isn't a smooth start. I've also heard that that using bottles during breastfeeding can cause nipple confusion and make BF more difficult.

What have other people done?

ammommy replied:
This wasn't true for either of my kids. I bf DS for 11 months and DD for 6 months (I finally gave up the fight but that's a whole other issue) and they had no problems switching from breast to bottle. I waited for 3-4 weeks until nursing was established to start, though. That may have something to do with it.

I'd go ahead and get the bottles, but not the formula. That way, if you need the bottles for expressed milk, you won't have to go out to a store right away. You will be given tons of samples of formula if you want it at the hospital and the ped's office. It's too expensive to through away, IMO.

maestra replied: I agree. After a few weeks, when bf is established, you can use a bottle and give them expressed breastmilk (like if you need to go somewhere and have to leave baby at home). I had to return to work at 6 weeks, and my 5 month old started using a bottle at about 1 month. She still nurses just fine when I am home.

As for the formula, I signed up with the formula companies. They send you free samples (like a free can or two of formula) and that is what I keep on hand, just in case. I haven't had to use it yet, but I know it is there if I ever needed it, and it was free.

huggybugboy replied: I wouldnt buy formula in advance, there are too many varieties, you dont know what your baby might need, plus it expires. I got some free formula samples in the mail that I may start with when I decide to supplement. I only breastfed for about 4 weeks before introducing a pacifier. (I gave ds one at 2 weeks and he had a hard time at the breast- nipple confusion?) Then around 5 or 6 weeks I gave him a bottle and he really hasn't had a problem. At first he wouldn't take it from me, only dh or grandma could give it to him, but now he will breastfeed and then take a bottle right after! Just make sure you get nipples that are designed for babies who are switching back and forth. I like playtex natralatch. Good luck!

Maddy'sMom replied: I had planned on exclusively BF as well, but I did buy bottles before she was born, so that I had everything ahead of time. I went with Playtex Nursers w/the Natural Latch nipple-SLOW flow. In my opinion, these are best to use with BF.

I would make sure you have a pump, and IF you do have difficulties with BF early on, you can still pump to keep your supply going, and feed baby expressed milk. It is much better than giving formula early on, because you will most likely resolve your issues within a few weeks. I had TONS of problems with BF and only made it 6 weeks, mostly pumping and feeding by bottle- there was one night I had hit the bottom, with exhaustion and frustration, and we had formula from the hopsital, and DH suggested we feed that to her, to get her satisfied and let me rest. In my opinion, it was the beginning of the end...

You will hear some women say BF is way easier than bottle feeding, no parts to clean, bottles and formula to make, etc..but for me I felt like BF was the hardest thing in the world. It just didn't work for us, and when I suddenly had the bottles and formula as a back up, it saved me!

Next time, I would like to have a few bottles, in case I need to give expressed milk, but I am hoping to deny the formula "gifts" at the hospital!

It is a good idea to have bottles on hand, you are so busy and tired after the baby is born, who wants to go shopping?

Good Luck to you!

3_call_me_mama replied: I bought bottles before hand, with both kids. But they were breastfed, no formula for either. But I did keep the formula that the companies sent me . Never used it an dpassed it on to a friend before it expired. It is good to have bottles, like others have said, so that you can pump and they have something to drink it out of. Kathleen has only had a bottle about 4-5 times in her whole 9 months. She started on a sippy cup at about 5 months and LOVES it. So i was glad that I had only bought a couple bottles for her (2 of the avent ones) plus i replaced the nipples in a couple of cameron's old ones but she never got around to using the 8 oz ones.

mom2tripp replied: Tripp has never had formula but I just saved all the samples that I received in the mail just in case breastfeeding didn't work for us. He had a bottle around 1 month old and has never had a problem with expressed breastmilk or water/juice in a bottle. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the playtex nurser bottles and so does he, he didn't like the Avent bottles at all--wouldn't really take them. I say buy a couple of bottles just in case. You don't want to be up at 2 AM and breastfeeding not working and the baby screaming and you don't have anything to feed it you know?

MomToMany replied: Nope, never bought any beforehand. Never kept any formula in the house either. Too easy and tempting to use when things might get difficult.

coasterqueen replied: I bought bottles beforehand, but made sure I had no formula so it wouldn't be tempting. I did buy a pump as well, but I knew I would be going back to work.

Jamison'smama replied: I bought bottles but no formula and declined the hospital formula. I didn't want the temptation--we saw a lactation consultant the second day home because I was determined and didn't want the late night "I can't feed my baby" temptation of formula. Bf is so very very hard in the beginning for some people (it was for me) and I just knew that her sweet face might tempt me into formula when she couldn't latch at night. Glad we worked though it--no formula in her 22 months of nursing.

JAYMESMOM replied: I had a supply of bottles since I would be going back to work and wanted my DH to have a chance to feed Jayme with my expressed milk. I had samples of formula but did not buy any before hand.

I used the Avent bottles with the slow nipples and it worked perfectly. We introduced the bottle within the first week but never from me. She never had any confusion between the two and looked at the bottle as what anyone besides mommy gave here. She was several months old before she would take a bottle from me since she was always holding out for Mr. Nummies. LOL.

I did not find having the bottles or samples of formula to be tempting for me to give up even though we had a rough start. It just depends on how determined you are to BF but there is nothing wrong with bottle feeding if BF does not work for you.

kit_kats_mom replied: I bought some Avent bottles and the Isis pump for pumping. I also had some of the free formula which I intended to donate to charity but I'm really happy that I had it on hand. I was hospitalized when DD was one week old and my DH supplemented what I had pumped & frozen with the formula.

You will probably want to bottle feed expressed BM (other people can feed the baby and you won't be tied down) after about a month. My first never took a bottle or paci and we nursed for almost two years...that's two years of never being away from her for more than 2 hours. UGH!

ALso, keep in mind that when they start solids, you will most likely want to mix the cereal with BM which you will need to pump. You could hand express but a pump is faster IMO.

I'd get maybe the isis pump since you intend to nurse mostly. It's a good one a day, occasional pump and it comes with a few bottles too.

MommyToAshley replied: First of all I want to say congratulations, and good for you on your decision to BF!! It may take a little adjustment period to get the hang of it, but you'll be a pro in no time!

I did get some bottles at our baby shower, but then when she was around 4 or 5 weeks old I picked up a few bottles that were supposed to keep air out. She took the bottle of expressed milk right away, but we didn't keep up with the bottles so she later refused them. I suggest waiting until between 4-6 weeks, after you have established BF, and then offer the bottle.

kimberley replied: i don't think i ever bought bottles but was given some at baby shower's. i exclusively bf but plan to use bottles this time around. i have 3 other kids and the honest truth is, i just don't think i can be the "cow" 24/7 for this baby. i am still nursing my 21mo daughter and will likely have to work shortly after the baby is born. i will definitely wait until bf and latch are completely established (maybe 4-6wks) and will not use formula but will invest in a decent breast pump. good luck with whatever you decide.

Lynda836 replied: Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. There's so much information out there, it's nice to hear what works and what didn't for Moms