SUMMARY:
- 1. Encourage your baby to take the bottle with cuddles and reassuring words
- 2. Coat the tip of the nipple with breast milk
- 3. Choose a bottle that resembles the nursing breast
- 4. Delegate meal times to another person
- 5. Practice skin-to-skin while giving the bottle
- 6. Give the bottle during babywearing
- 7. Try different brands of powdered formula
- When should you stop breastfeeding and switch to the bottle for good?
- Key takeaways
You have breastfed, you loved it, but now for various reasons (going back to work, baby refusing the breast, daycare or nanny starting soon, or simply the desire to have some time for yourself...) it's time to gently transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding.
If you want to switch to mixed feeding, or even wean your child, we suggest you try these different tips to help your breastfed baby accept the bottle without too much struggle…
1. Encourage your baby to take the bottle with cuddles and reassuring words
Your child senses that something is different from usual. If they cry or scream, it's mainly to express their nervousness. To reassure your baby and encourage them to take the bottle of milk you offer, speak to them. Babies love hearing sweet words whispered in their ear, so don’t hold back… 😉
The tone of your voice will help comfort them. You can settle them on your lap or against your shoulder for a cuddle and try the feeding again a bit later.
Of course, encouraging your baby does not mean forcing them to drink. It is strictly discouraged to force the nipple into your child's mouth. This would only increase their crying and stubbornness. It's better to choose patience and persistence over frustration, which your baby, with their great sensitivity and lack of filter, can sense very well.
2. Coat the tip of the nipple with breast milk
The ultimate tip we suggest is for desperate parents who have tried everything to get their breastfed baby to accept a bottle. Please note, this technique does not always work…
But as the saying goes: nothing ventured, nothing gained! Before giving your little one the bottle, coat the nipple with breast milk so that its taste stimulates your baby and encourages them to drink. You can repeat this maneuver as many times as necessary ! Gradually, you'll notice that your child will no longer need this trick to devour their meal. 😄
3. Choose a bottle that resembles the nursing breast
If none of these techniques work, the issue may be greater than you think. So tough problems call for big solutions! If your baby misses the breast so much, why not choose a bottle with a generous shape that reminds them of your breast ?
If, on top of that, the texture is as soft as peach skin, that's a jackpot! Giving a bottle very close to the mother's breast in terms of shape helps prevent nipple confusion. On that topic, we invite you to read this article: Breast, nipple, or bottle: how to avoid confusion?
4. Delegate meal times to another person
Does your best friend dream of giving your baby the bottle? Your partner just doesn’t know how to tell you they'd love to be more involved in feeding your child? The transition from breast to bottle is the perfect time to hand things off! In fact, your baby associates:
● your voice,
● your face,
● your presence in general, with breastfeeding…
If someone else is in charge of feeding, your baby may be more willing for them than for you. Don’t be disappointed. On the contrary! This shows that your baby is accepting the change. Soon, it will be you giving the bottle. 👍
5. Practice skin-to-skin while giving the bottle
Skin-to-skin involves holding your baby close to you, making sure both you and your baby are undressed beforehand. The contact of your skin soothes your child and reminds them of those first moments after birth when they were snuggled against you. Your body heat reminds them of life in the womb and helps calm their senses.
It is absolutely possible to feed a bottle in a skin-to-skin position. To prevent leaks and getting wet, feel free to slide a terry towel or a cloth diaper under your baby's head while they drink. It’s best to dim the room a bit or soften the lighting.
A cozy atmosphere will reduce stimulation and calm your baby's nervous system.
6. Give the bottle during babywearing
As you’ve seen, close contact with mom is a special time for infants. If you feel up to it, you can offer your baby their bottle during a babywearing session, whether in a wrap or baby carrier.
Make sure your little one is positioned just as they would be in your arms to avoid any risk of spit-up or reflux. Babies carried in wraps are often more soothed by the cocoon-like feel of swaddling.
7. Try different brands of powdered formula
Did your baby reject the first bottle you offered? Maybe the issue isn't the bottle but what's in it... You might want to try several brands of formula to see if your baby responds better.
Once you find the brand that suits your baby best, it's advisable not to switch (except in cases of force majeure, such as a milk protein intolerance ).
When should you stop breastfeeding and switch to the bottle for good?
Strictly speaking, there aren’t really any rules to ending breastfeeding.
● Some mothers choose to breastfeed their children for a long time, sometimes several years.
● Others, on the flip side, find it easier to bottle-feed from birth.
● Mixed feeding represents a nice compromise.
The best time to stop breastfeeding is simply when it feels most right for you.
Whether your child is 1 month, 6 months, or 1 year old doesn’t really matter. In reality, you alone decide when to stop breastfeeding. It’s important to stop because you want to, not because of family or societal pressure.
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, and continuing until the child is 2 years old. Of course, these are just recommendations and are not mandatory. If you wish to bottle-feed as soon as you leave the maternity ward, rest assured that it will not harm your child’s health.
Your baby will not necessarily get sick more often if you don’t breastfeed. You can also choose to give only the first feeding, which is colostrum, to provide your child their very first antibodies. Again, this very personal decision should not be influenced by outside factors and is entirely yours. 😊
Key takeaways
The transition from breast to bottle is not easy and some babies can be resistant. Sometimes, a little ingenuity is needed to convince them that this new accessory is good for them. If the tips in this article don’t help you reach your goals, we recommend consulting your pediatrician or a lactation consultant.
To learn more about Elhée bottles and check out our colorful range, visit our online shop ! 🍼
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