Breastfeeding is just a different experience than bottle feeding. That’s why many moms who have exclusively breastfed their babies have a hard time transitioning their little ones to bottle feeding. The trick is knowing which bottle can best mimic a breastfeeding experience. Here’s a nifty guide on how to transition from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding when going back to work!
Why Breastfed Babies Have A Challenging Transition from Breastfeeding To Bottle-Feeding
All babies have the natural reflex of suctioning. You give them their finger or a pacifier, and they will surely be sucking on them! Babies that have been exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months have especially mastered the skill of latching and suctioning. But why does it become difficult for them to suck from a bottle?
Several infant bottles actually have poorly shaped teats that don’t resemble the shape of a mother’s nipple. Usually, they have pointy and narrow nipples, which is opposite of a mother’s breasts. This subtle difference can make a child refuse a bottle.
Tips To Transition From Breastfeeding To Bottle-Feeding
When you are a mom who plans on going back to work a couple of months after giving birth, you must be thinking about a plan of how to transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding.
Exclusively breastfeeding from 0 to 5 months maybe be difficult for you to transition to bottle feeding. The reason behind is because bottle nipple is really different from the breast. This is why it’s really important to choose the right kind of feeding bottle to use.
6 Important Tips to Help You Transition From Breastfeeding to Bottle-feeding:
Purchase the right bottle.
Pay close attention to the bottles you’re going to use to feed your child. The goal is to find one that mimics the size and shape of your breasts to ease them into the transition of breastfeeding to bottle. I personally recommend Avent’s Natural Flow bottles as they have wide teats.
Find a teat that imitates your breast flow.
The flow of milk from the bottle nipple should also resemble that of your breasts. Start your baby with a bottle nipple with the slow and gradual flow (around 2 small holes in the teat). This helps them transition better and also promotes breastfeeding alongside bottle-feeding.
Try using sippy cups.
Sippy cups, even at a young age of 4-6 months, can be a good alternative to a bottle. Most sippy cups nowadays have soft and bendable straws, which also closely resembles a breast. What I like about sippy cups is that they’re spill-proof and easy to clean!
Test out different bottle feeding positions.
Sometimes the reason why your baby is having a hard time bottle feeding is because of the position.
Have somebody else bottle feed your child.
When your child is feeding on you, they have the tendency to prefer your breast over a bottle. That’s how strong a breastfed baby and a mother’s connection is! But if you want to ease the transition, try having somebody else bottle feed your child.
Avoid being stressed and anxious.
Breast milk can carry over your mood! So relax and avoid being stressed! Being enthusiastic and excited to transition can also help your baby in their weaning period.
Watch this video to learn more about Stephanie’s recommendation on which bottles to use best.
Also watch: How to Gently Wean Your Baby?
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