Couple of questions about my newborn (PIOG)

[2babys-under2]

I have a couple of questions for you ladies.

1. My daughter is a little over a week old. I'm BFing her. I want to introduce a bottle at some point, I planned on doing one feeding daily with a bottle of pumped breastmilk. But I was going to wait until she was a month old to try it. Someone told me that was too late and that she'd never take a bottle. Your thoughts on when I should give her a bottle for the first time?? Should I give her a pacifier?? I definitely want to BF, but in case of emergency, I have frozen breastmilk and hope she can take a bottle, just in case.

2. Her cord fell off on Thursday, it isn't oozy anymore, it's crusty. Can I give her a regular bath yet??

[ArmyMom2oneboy]

Quoting 2babys-under2:

I have a couple of questions for you ladies.

1. My daughter is a little over a week old. I'm BFing her. I want to introduce a bottle at some point, I planned on doing one feeding daily with a bottle of pumped breastmilk.Are you going back to work? Otherwise it is more work than it is worth IMO. You would still have to be sure to pump when she had a bottle to keep your supply where it needs to be. But I was going to wait until she was a month old to try it. Someone told me that was too late It is never too late, but keep in mind, some breastfed babies NEVER take a bottle. Mine never did. They always took a cup though.and that she'd never take a bottle. Your thoughts on when I should give her a bottle for the first time??Always wait 4-6 weeks before introducing a bottle Should I give her a pacifier??Up to you, but again, 4-6 weeks before introduction I definitely want to BF, but in case of emergency, I have frozen breastmilk and hope she can take a bottle, just in case.Understandable, and always a good idea to have some frozen, but a bottle is not a must.

2. Her cord fell off on Thursday, it isn't oozy anymore, it's crusty. Can I give her a regular bath yet??Yep! As soon as the cord falls off you can do a regular bath! SOOO fun!

Congrats on the new baby and on breastfeeding!

[goddess_alyson]

Congratulations on the new addition!

IMO I'd wait until she's at least 4 weeks old before introducing a bottle like PP said.  If you don't wait it could mess up your supply and/or cause nipple confusion.  I'd also wait on the paci for the same reasons.  Personally, my DD hates bottles and it's a fight to get her to take 1.  She does take a paci but that's only at bedtime to help her self-soothe to sleep.  I didn't introduce either until she was 2 months old.

[TeganLove]

I am breastfeeding my daughter and first introduced a bottle of expressed milk to her when she was 4 weeks old. mostly for the sake of her getting used to a bottle nipple nc i was pumping milk to freeze and knew that at some point she would be needing expressed milk from a bottle. she took it well and still breastfed well. we tried to introduce a pacifer at this time also, but she refused it. she would spit it out or it would make her gag. generally though, 4 weeks old is about right if you want to introduce a bottle nipple and  dont  want to run the risk of nipple confusion. and if her cord has fallen off, then yes you are A-ok to go ahead with a full body bath as opposed to a sponge bath.

[JocelynsMama1]

if shes nursing very well then go ahead and give her the bottle...i started my daughter on one at a week old just every now and then adn she took it great but after a few months she decided she hated the bottle and i had a lot of trouble going back to work..the earlier you start and are consistent with a bottle a day the better it will be for you both...and you can ive her a bath now....the paci decision is all up to how you feel about them....my daughter wouldnt take one anyway lol

[preacherskid]

Quoting 2babys-under2:

I have a couple of questions for you ladies.

1. My daughter is a little over a week old. I'm BFing her. I want to introduce a bottle at some point, I planned on doing one feeding daily with a bottle of pumped breastmilk. But I was going to wait until she was a month old to try it. Someone told me that was too late and that she'd never take a bottle. Your thoughts on when I should give her a bottle for the first time?? Should I give her a pacifier?? I definitely want to BF, but in case of emergency, I have frozen breastmilk and hope she can take a bottle, just in case.

Are you going back to work? Speaking as someone who pumps 2-3 times every day, don't unless you have to.  It's a pain, especially when you are available for nursing.  DD wouldn't take any bottle until she was 3 months, which is when I went back to work.  At that age, you could just as easily try a sippy.  Some tips on pumping: pump in the morning for greatest output, try pumping while the baby nurses on the other side( I never can, dd is to interested in what mommy's doing to nurse), begin pumping a few weeks in advance of when you will be leaving her with someone else (this assumes that you will at some point be leaving her with someone else), expect to get b/t 0.5-1.5 oz per side per pumping- this is completely normal and not a sign of low supply.  As for giving bottles, you really shouldn't be the one giving them b/c she will associate you with nursing and will likely not be interested in taking a bottle.  The best way to give a bottle is to give baby and bottle to someone else and leave the house.  Stick with a slow flow nipple always when she gets a bottle- this will keep her from deciding that since she gets milk much faster and more easily with the nipple, she doesn't want to nurse and do all that hard work anymore.  A pacifier can follow the same schedule as a bottle if you want to give her one, or you can give it when you feel she is ready.  We had to try several types of pacis before we found one that dd liked, and as soon as she started teething she decided she didn't want pacis anymore.

2. Her cord fell off on Thursday, it isn't oozy anymore, it's crusty. Can I give her a regular bath yet??

Yes, she can have a regular bath now :)