How do I switch from breast to bottle?

Changing from breast to bottle is a big decision – physically and emotionally. And once the switch has been made, it’s very difficult to reverse.

If you want to move to bottle-feeding, give yourself plenty of time. Your breasts stop making milk gradually, and it can take up to a week for them to adjust to dropping just one feed! It’s best to switch over one feed at a time, to give your breasts time to adjust and stop them becoming too swollen or engorged. If your breasts feel as if they’re full to bursting, you can always express some milk to relieve the pressure.

The best time to introduce bottle-feeding is at some point after breastfeeding is established at around six to eight weeks.

Getting their baby used to bottles can be a big worry for mums. But the more relaxed you are about switching to bottle-feeds, the more relaxed your baby will be!

To prepare for switching, make sure you have all the equipment you need: bottles, teats, sterilisers etc., and read the instructions for making up your feeds carefully.

Not every baby takes to bottle-feeding straightaway. If they’re reluctant to give up the breast, there are some things you can do to help them along:

• Express some breastmilk to bottle-feed with – to help your baby get used to feeding from a bottle.
• Try different temperatures – some babies will drink from a bottle at body temperature like breastmilk, others prefer it cool or at room temperature.
• Experiment with different teats – your baby might find it easier with a different type or make, such as a latex teat.
• Express some breastmilk on to the teat of the bottle to get the sucking reflex started.
• Feed your baby while they’re propped up somewhere safe, maybe strapped into a bouncy chair, rather than in your arms, or ask someone else to feed your baby for a while when you have left the room – the further away they are from your breasts the less they can smell or see them!
• Distract your baby with a toy or music – if you’re lucky they may not even notice they’re feeding from a bottle!
• If your baby is over six months, try feeding from a beaker or a training beaker – many mums find this works better if their baby is reluctant to use a bottle.
• Relax – this might be easier said than done when you have a hungry, frustrated baby, but if you’re relaxed it will help them settle down too.
• Try, try and try again! It might not feel like it’s ever going to happen, but your baby should get used to feeding from a bottle eventually.

If you’ve tried everything and your baby is still not happy feeding from a bottle, speak to your health visitor or give us a call.

Babies love the closeness of breastfeeding. So make sure you give your baby lots of skin contact when you’re bottle-feeding them. Make plenty of eye contact, and don’t be too shy to talk and sing to them too!