Combining Breastfeeding and Bottle-Feeding

Overview

You may choose to breastfeed and use a bottle for some of your baby's feedings. It is best to wait until your baby has been breastfeeding well for several weeks before you try feeding your baby from a bottle.

Sometimes the shape of the nipple plays a part in how well your breastfed baby adjusts to bottle feedings. Many types and shapes of nipples are available. You may need to try a few different types of nipples until you find one that works best for your baby.

Some babies have problems transferring their sucking patterns back and forth between their mother's breast and a bottle. Sucking a bottle requires different tongue and jaw motions from those needed to breastfeed.