When to start a bottle-feeding a baby

All babies are different, eat differently, and reach different milestones at different times. So, it’ll probably come as no surprise that there isn’t a set rule for when to introduce bottles to a breastfed baby. There are many factors that you’ll need to consider when making this decision to start bottle-feeding your baby.

Some parents introduce bottles to their breastfed babies because they need to return to work. Others might need to give their babies formula because they’re taking medications that are contraindicated while breastfeeding. Many moms like to store breast milk and bottle-feed it to their babies later, and others need to supplement with formula while they increase their milk supply.

Seeking a Physician’s advice on Bottle-feeding

Physicians recommend exclusive breastfeeding until your baby is six months old, but they also advise that the most important thing is for your baby to be well fed. Sometimes, this requires bottle-feeding.

If you need to bottle-feed your baby from an early age, most doctors recommend that you wait until your baby is at least three weeks old. This will allow them to learn how to breastfeed properly before switching to a bottle.

Bottle-feeding involves different tongue and mouth movements than those required for breastfeeding. So, if you’re planning to go back to work, try starting to bottle-feed your baby at least two weeks beforehand. That way, your baby will have enough time to get used to the bottle.

Troubleshooting of Bottle-feeding

Bottle-feeding tends to decrease your milk supply. This is okay if you won’t be breastfeeding anymore, but not if you’re planning to continue. To keep your milk supply from becoming too low, you’ll need to manually express or pump breast milk 8 to 10 times each day.

Babies who drink formula exclusively are more likely to have gas and constipation problems. Make sure your baby is well hydrated and burp them after each feeding to avoid these issues. In some cases, you might need to switch to a different formula until you find the one that fits your baby’s needs.