Read time: 3.5 minutes
TL;DR
- Even if you plan on exclusively breastfeeding your baby, it’s important to introduce a bottle so that he or she can be fed pumped milk or formula if the need arises.
- Your baby will need to transition if you plan on going back to work, need a break from nighttime feedings or are ready to transition to bottle fully.
- Nipple confusion refers to a baby who has a difficult time switching between breast and bottle.
- Look for bottles that have a wide, soft nipple. This will make your baby have to work a little harder to get the milk out, which will make transitioning back to breast go smoother.
- Ameda Direct can help you get a breast pump at no cost to you through your health insurance. Contact them today to find out which pump is right for you.
Your baby has you wrapped around his or her tiny fingers. Breastfeeding is a unique experience that has bonded the two of you. At some point, however, you are going to need someone else to take over some of the feeding responsibilities. Introducing your new little one to the bottle at the right time and selecting the best product is key in being successful during this transition.
Why Introducing a Bottle is Important
Even if you plan on exclusively breastfeeding your new little one, it’s important to introduce a bottle so that he or she can be fed pumped milk or formula if the need arises. This is necessary because you may:
- Plan on going back to work full- or part-time
- Need to take a break from all of the nighttime feedings
- Want to go out with your partner or friends and leave your baby with a sitter
- Have a medical procedure done that requires anesthesia
- Want your partner or other children to take a turn feeding the baby
- Be done with nursing and are ready to transition to a bottle permanently
Questions About “Nipple Confusion”
If you talk to your friends about introducing a bottle to your little one, someone is going to throw out the term “nipple confusion.” Nipple confusion refers to a baby who has a difficult time switching between breast and bottle.
Nursing and bottle feeding require that a baby sucks in different ways. Because of this, many lactation consultants recommend exclusively breastfeeding for the first four to six weeks. If this isn’t possible, don’t despair. With patience and the right bottle, your little one will be able to switch from breast to bottle in no time.
Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies
Fortunately, many bottles and nipples are designed to help babies transition from breast to bottle. Finding the perfect bottle and nipple for your little one can take a little trial and error. Look for bottles that have a wide, soft nipple. This will make your baby have to work a little harder to get the milk out, which will make transitioning back to breast go smoother. The following options may help make bottle feeding easier for your little one.
The nipple on the Como Tomo bottle is wide, made with soft silicone and has a slow flow. The body is soft and squeezable, which can help prevent your baby from swallowing excess air that can lead to painful gas. Breastfed babies can easily latch onto the nipple that is shaped similarly as the breast. Bonus: The wide-neck makes cleaning a breeze.
This bottle was specifically designed to help breastfed babies take a bottle without refusing the breast. Some babies find bottle feeding easier, so when it comes to switching back to the breast, he or she may refuse it for the “easier” bottle option.
The Lansinoh mOmma is designed so that babies use a similar sucking motion on the bottle as they would the breast, which will reduce the risk of breast refusal. Bonus: The bottle’s air ventilation system reduces gas.
You probably learned quickly that a shallow breast latch equals painful breastfeeding. Some bottles require a more shallow latch, which can make transitioning back to breastfeeding and achieving a deep latch difficult. The Munchkin Latch has a nipple that stretches, which can help your baby latch deeper. Bonus: The bottle works with many pumps so you can pump directly into the bottle, saving yourself a step and some time.
Ameda Breast Pumps
Breast milk is the best nutrition you can give your new little one during his or her first year of life. Breast pumping can help you achieve your breastfeeding goals. Ameda Direct can help you get a breast pump at no cost to you through your health insurance. Contact them today to find out which pump is right for you.