Okay, so I know that I'm supposed to put off introducing bottles for at least 6 weeks. I also know that I should wait the same time to start pumping as I'm not going back to work and don't need to build a supply up. The thing is my husband may be returning up to a month early from deployment and will most likely want to take me out since we missed some really important holidays. Could I go the cup feeding method, and just teach my sister (the one that doesn't have the baby) how to do it? I do have some playtex nurser bottles as well for when she reaches the age that I can try introducting bottles (got them hand me down--btw, I did sanitize them). Should I do the cup feeding method, or just have my sister try the bottle and give her the correct info on that? I'm afraid of flow preference and nipple confusion. BTW, she will be about 4-5 weeks old by then. Oh, and with driving and everything I would say that we will be away a max of 3-4 hours. I plan on nursing before we leave and right when we get home. Thank you. 
Edit: Should I invest in new nipples for the bottles? I sanitized them and they look okay.
I'm a military wife and spent 15 months away from my DH - 2nd child was 8 months when he got back. So I understand that aspect.
Both my boys had bottles before 6 weeks for different reasons. Never given by me and always small amounts. We didn't have issues.
One bottle at 4/5 weeks given by a different person MAY cause issues, but it's not likely. Just make sure your sister knows the rules for bottle feeding a breastfed baby.
I wouldn't mind, but I think DH wants an evening alone.
Quoting GoodyBrook:
But you might want to consider taking Baby with you! She'll likely just cuddle the whole time...
I think mom not giving them and not overfeeding are the most important aspects.
I do have the playtex nurser drop in bottles with the slow flow, wide based nipples. Any other bottles I should look into besides also the breastflow?
Quoting larissalarie:
I should also say that my 2 children who got bottles were getting them by 2 weeks when I went back to work and we never had issues. My oldest liked breast & bottle both, and my middle hated bottles and merely tolerated them.
I think mom not giving them and not overfeeding are the most important aspects.
Quoting MonicaV1982:I do have the playtex nurser drop in bottles with the slow flow, wide based nipples. Any other bottles I should look into besides also the breastflow?
Quoting larissalarie:
I should also say that my 2 children who got bottles were getting them by 2 weeks when I went back to work and we never had issues. My oldest liked breast & bottle both, and my middle hated bottles and merely tolerated them.
I think mom not giving them and not overfeeding are the most important aspects.
Quoting MonicaV1982:I do have the playtex nurser drop in bottles with the slow flow, wide based nipples. Any other bottles I should look into besides also the breastflow?
Quoting larissalarie:
I should also say that my 2 children who got bottles were getting them by 2 weeks when I went back to work and we never had issues. My oldest liked breast & bottle both, and my middle hated bottles and merely tolerated them.
I think mom not giving them and not overfeeding are the most important aspects.
If baby takes well to nursing right away... go for it! Leave a bottle and have a GOOD time! :) My second took a FULL 6 weeks to really get the hang of nursing, so I would not have given him a bottle at 4 weeks.... but he was also 5 weeks early, so that probably had something to do with it!
If you're both doing good, then no worries...
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In ER with baby
- MonicaV1982
on Feb. 17, 2012 at 1:18 AM