When is it "safe" to introduce a bottle?

[gracefaith]

I'm going to have to go to block feedings for an OAL issue, so I'll be pumping the unused breast to relieve the pressure. I'm sort of toying with the idea of saving the milk, in case I ever need DH to feed him. How soon could I do that without causing any problems?

[White Star]

They say once nursing is 'firmly established' or 4-6 weeks.

I think I waited too long because DS never took one.

If you save and freeze it you can save it to mix with baby food.

[Lainey]

We gave Ben a bottle the day he hit 6 weeks, which is what my doctor had suggested and what I had read in most books. He never had a problem taking a bottle at all and still nursed as well.

[octoberdaisy]

definitely if you plan to, introduce around 4-6 weeks. I waited 4 months with my first and she refused for WEEKS. And freezing it for babyfood is a GREAT idea too!

[crash]

We did it at 5 weeks. But only gave him one bottle per week for a while, and I kept him on the Avent size 1 nipple until just a week ago (3 1/2 months) I just switched him to size 2. I wanted him to have to work for the bottle milk, so he didn't reject me.....who knows if it helped or not.

I mainly bf, and so far he only rejects the bottle every once in a while during a day feeding, and will not accept a bottle during the night.

They say don't wait longer than 6 weeks.

Bottles certainly make long outings easier. Now that he wants to pause and look around and talk.....meanwhile I'm spraying everywhere, it's hard to manage sometimes.