This is a very important decision to choose breast or bottle and one that will need to be prepared for, well in advance. I believe that breast is best, however you may decide to bottle feed and this is okay too. If you breast feed you will need to have breast pads to wear for when your milk comes in. You will need to decide if you are going to feed on demand or if you are going to schedule feed. Contact your local La Leche League for help and support with breastfeeding.
If you plan to bottle feed you will need a supply of newborn bottles and nipples and formula. Be sure to discuss with your baby’s doctor which formula to use. In either case, let the hospital staff know of your intentions to breast or bottle feed, so you will start off at the beginning carrying out your wishes.
My choice is for breastfeeding. As previously mentioned, I successfully breastfed my first baby for 12 months, my second for 19 months, and my third for 16 months. I am currently breastfeeding my 4th as well.
With my first baby, a son, I went by the book and tried to keep him on a “schedule”. What resulted was a fussy baby who stayed up all night the first three months of his life and a tired, frustrated mommy who almost gave up on breastfeeding altogether.
It was a rough year with my son because I was determined to stick to the “schedule”. He turned out okay, and he finally started sleeping throughout the night at three months. He slept in his crib and room at seven months. What I do feel is guilty, guilty because I let him cry waiting for my milk to come in and for that appointed time on the “schedule” to arrive.
So I learned from that experience for when my second baby was born, a daughter. I was much more relaxed and determined to do things differently. From the very beginning, I allowed her to nurse on demand. She turned out to be such a docile baby, sleeping through the night from day one and always in a good mood.
I found that nursing on demand did not spoil her at all. In fact I had no problems when it came time to wean her. Everything went smoothly. The same went with my third baby.
Now that I have my fourth baby, I have been breastfeeding on demand from the moment she was handed to me after she was born. She too is docile and calm. I have learned from my experiences and will advise any mom who wants to breastfeed, to do so on demand.
Once you decide on breast or bottle, do you have everything you need for baby? What about a playard? A bassinet? A changing table? Have you looked at the Graco Modern Pack ‘n Play Playard with Bassinet and Changer?