It has been found that newborn babies, who are bottle-fed regularly, often forget how to suck milk from the breast. They may even need to relearn being breast-fed. Experts are still trying to find an explanation for this behavior. Therefore, it is best to introduce bottle-feeding only after breast-feeding is well established. If you want to avoid using a bottle, you could try spoon-feeding your baby or use cups specially made for babies. It has been found that babies, who use these cups, comfortably take to breast-feeding later on. However, it is important to learn the correct technique of using this cup from a trained person. Mothers are often concerned and wonder whether bottle-feeding will affect the health of the child. However, bottle-fed babies grow to be just as healthy as breast-fed babies.
Introducing Bottle To Breastfed Baby
- You could try using different kinds of nipples or teats. Making the teat soft by boiling it or using different types of teats may help. Often the babies who refuse the bottle are the ones who have been breast-fed.
- You should hold the baby him the same position while bottle-feeding him/her, as you do while breast-feeding him.
- You should encourage your partner or baby sitter to bottle-feed the baby, as he/she will not expect to be breast-fed by them and may take to bottle-feeding more easily.
- Try changing the formula you use, as there is a chance that the baby dislikes its taste.
- Research has shown that if the bottle is introduced early, when the baby is about six weeks old, even for just one or two feeds a week, the baby is more likely to accept being bottle-fed on a regular basis.
Breastfeeding vs. Bottle-feeding
Breast-feeding does not ensure that you child will never fall ill. Although studies show that they are more resistant to common ailments as compared to formula-fed babies. Colic in babies, in both cases is more or less the same. Where sleep is concerned, it is true that formula-fed babies, sleep better and longer at night. One possible explanation is that, formula milk takes longer to digest than breast milk. Therefore, babies who are bottle-fed sleep longer between feeds. Therefore, mothers may use formula milk to ensure that babies sleep through the night. On the other hand, breast feeding the infant during the night may be slightly inconvenient for the mother, but she doesn’t need to get up and prepare bottle-milk in case the baby needs it during the night. Ultimately, it is for the mother to decide what the best option for her and her baby is.
Breast-feeding does not ensure that you child will never fall ill. Although studies show that they are more resistant to common ailments as compared to formula-fed babies. Colic in babies, in both cases is more or less the same. Where sleep is concerned, it is true that formula-fed babies, sleep better and longer at night. One possible explanation is that, formula milk takes longer to digest than breast milk. Therefore, babies who are bottle-fed sleep longer between feeds. Therefore, mothers may use formula milk to ensure that babies sleep through the night. On the other hand, breast feeding the infant during the night may be slightly inconvenient for the mother, but she doesn’t need to get up and prepare bottle-milk in case the baby needs it during the night. Ultimately, it is for the mother to decide what the best option for her and her baby is.
