Stay at home moms--Do I HAVE to use a bottle?

Question

So everytime I meet someone new, and this also includes both our families, they ask if I breast feed and so on, and then they ask if I pump when I go out.

No, I dont I just feed him wherever I am. SO many insist that I try and introduce the bottle so I can go out.

Well, I dont work or drive (we only have one car) so I dont see the point. My son has refused the bottle since 3 weeks old, now he is nearly four months and whats the point?

I dont go anywhere without him so why? Do you use the bottle. Is there any benefit that I am missing out on here?

Answer 1

you don't have to at all.

just in case there is one time you need to, like if you HAVE to go somewhere without him, its probs a safe bet to let him be introduced.

but if your happy breast feeding then only like introduce it once a week or every couple of weeks, so he is aware it is there, just in case.

but you don't have to at all =]

Answer 2

My youngest was exclusively breast fed until just before she turned 7 months old.  I never pumped and didn't even own a breast pump.  If I was going out, I would nurse her before I left and time my time away to be back before she was likely to eat or I would take her with me.  About the time she began eating solids (we did baby-led weaning with her) we offered her water in a cup.  It wasn't my agenda, but she began to self-wean about 14 months and never had a bottle.  Every mom and every baby is different.  If you are happy being with him all the time and don't feel the need to pump then don't do it.  You aren't missing out on anything.  When people question you or make suggestions just be polite and say something like, "Thank you for sharing your view point with me.  What I am doing with my son works well for us."  Then, either change the subject or excuse yourself from that person.  Seems like everyone has an opinion and some are quite willing to share it with you whether you asked or not.  I went the no-pumping route, no-bottle route with my daughter and was extremely pleased and happy doing it that way.  It won't work for everyone, but if it works for you then feel confident doing it that way.

Answer 3

No, of course you don't have to use a bottle. If you are usually with your baby, you can just breastfeed. As you note, he'll be taking a sippy cup eventually, so you can use that to give fluids (including pumped breastmilk if needed) if you need to be away.

(My daughter too never took a bottle.  I tried a few times early on, but she didn't like it, so it wasn't worth the hassle.  I just managed to keep my times away from her brief, and she started a sippy cup at 7 months.)

Answer 4

My daughter when she was a baby, refused the bottle also. She never took the bottle and I couldn't wean her from the breast until she was 14 months old.

She hated cows milk and would only drink water out of a sippy cup.

It made it difficult for me to go out even to the store because she was one of those every hour on the hour. She still doesn't like cows milk much and prefers water over everything else, (except sprite)  She is now 4 but very healthy and I don't see a problem if you don't have one.

Who cares what everyone else thinks, you are mom and you know best.

Answer 5

There is absolutely no reason to introduce bottles to a breast-fed baby outside of the possibility that at some point you may want to leave him with pumped breast milk should you and your husband want a night out at some point OR God forbid something were to happen where you were hospitalized and HAD no choice but to be away from him...this is the reason I got my breast fed babies used to a bottle...Fortunately they  never had to be used  except for when my husband and I did go out from time to time...it made it much easier on the babies as well as their Gramma or Auntie...whomever was watching them~~

Answer 6

I started my child on a bottle at about 8 months...but it was mainly because she was getting to long and big to hold.  She wouldn't stay put..and she preferred to hold a bottle herself and drink it.

Answer 7

There are a million reports out there to read.  What I have taken from the reports that I have read is that a certain bond goes on between a child and a mother during breast feeding. This bond is crutial in the development of a child and can help with psyhcological problems in the long run.  I have read a few seperate reports about serial killers, molesters, and things of that nature that say a person develops these sort of psychological problems because they weren't breastfed, didnt crawl long enough or whatever else.  So, with that I have taken that the longer you can sort of "baby" your child and not rush it into things, the happier your child will be through out its life.  In some psych wards one of the things that they do is "re-start" the life of a person who has these problems.  They place the person in a cushioned place to make it feel sort of like the womb then they re introduce the person to crawling and then to walking and this is supposed to purify the mind.  I think as long a your child is happy and doing well with what you are doing, you should continue that path.  Not all children will take a bottle not all will start eating hard food when they "should" so, dont force your child out of its norm...slowly introduce things.  If you for some reason need to start working or are going to take your baby to a day care, you should slowly introduce a bottle or sippy cup, but dont immdiatley cut that bond that you are having with your child.

Answer 8

no you don't we skipped it my son takes a cup sometimes he's 14 months old. I just breastfeed him if we are out and he's hungry. I give him the cup in the car but it's more of a distraction than a thirst quencher.

Answer 9

in a years time, there will be an event or a night you need a sitter or something and having your baby used to the bottle just makes it easier for who ever has to wtch the baby while you go do whatever it is. i think i would want my baby to at least be comfortable, just in case

Answer 10

its up to you...if you plan on staying home with your son untill you wean him off the breast, then you dont need to introduce him the bottle i guess.

It will make for a long year though, do you not plan on having anytime for just you...or does dad not ever want to feed him, or the grandparents?

its your choice what you want to do.

Answer 11

no, you dont have to. my baby would take one once in a while. now that shes 8 months, she wont take one from me or anyone if I am even in the same building. but when Im at work, she takes 1 in the 4-6 hours that Im gone. but she will drink juice out of a sippy cup (sometimes)

Answer 12

No, in fact NOT using a bottle will actually benefit your child.  Bottles are very different from a human breast and using a bottle could cause latch problems which could be very painful.  Mothers are designed to stay with their babies as much as possible in the first year(s).  My daughter never took a bottle even though we tried a few times.  It wasn't worth the hassle or the frustration of my mom/MIL to waste time pumping, finding a bottle that worked etc.  Go with your intuition and just nurse your child whenever and where ever you choose.  Only when mother nurse in public will it be perceived as "normal" and acceptable.  Also good for you for wanting to nurse past a year, we are at 19 months and still going strong! It is very rewarding and gives me peace of mind knowing that my daughter is getting the very best I can give her.  Keep it up! :-)  

Answer 13

of course you don't need a bottle.  if there were ever an emergency, you would have the person caring for your child try a bottle or a medicine dropper or a cup or whatever.  a hungry baby will eat when it needs to.  there is no need to give your baby anything less than the best if you don't have to.  my 8 month old has had a few bottles while hubby and i went to a movie, but that was hardly an emergency.

Answer 14

If there is an emergency like if you have to go to the hospital...or if he has to go to the hospital and can't be breastfed, it'd be great if you knew he was willing to take a bottle.  Plus, might his daddy want to help out and give you a break once in a while?  I'd keep trying.  My son used to take an hour to eat from a bottle (breastmilk only).  We started doing it once a day and now it takes him just as long as nursing.  Try Born Free (BPA free and nipple shaped like breast and slow flow like breast).

Answer 15

I think that you should not listen to everyone who says you need to introduce a bottle and do what you think is best for you and your son. There is nothing wrong with not introducing a bottle...before bottles were ever invented, no one used them. And if he doesn't want the bottle now and you try to force it onto him, he'll associate negative feelings with the bottle, which will lead to more problems trying to get him to take it.

The only time it might cause a problem is if you need a babysitter and want someone to feed him a bottle of pumped milk. If that were to happen and he is hungry enough, he will take the bottle. Babies will do what they need to, to eat. He'll take the bottle when he's ready. Until then, you are doing just fine.

Answer 16

Seriously, why would u HAVE to use a bottle?  U don't have to do anything u don't want to.

Answer 17

a bottle is convenient but not necessary. only thing i can think of is if you dont allow your baby to use a bottle sometimes when he/she gets a lil older they wont want to try the bottle. by then u might wanna embrace some relief and instead you will struggle.

Answer 18

No, u do not have to use bottle. You can breastfeed ur baby as long as u want to, preferable stop at 1 year old adn then start switchig to bottles. I think ppl ask u if u pump and use bottle when u go out, cuz that way u dont have to find a privacy place to feed ur baby and it is a hassle, they and i think it would be easy to pump some in the bottle and go out so that way u can just feed the baby right away with the bottle. But if were to visit a family or friends, don't need the bottle, we can breastfeed the baby in private place.  I think the whole point is some ppl may not feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, its all about respect and understand others, nothing about judging.