Nipple Confusion

Most health professionals do not recommend feeding a baby from a bottle until after about 4 to 6 weeks after birth so that breastfeeding can be well-established. A baby who is fed with a bottle too soon may develop a preference for the nipple of the bottle over the breast. This may occur because less effort is needed to get milk through an artificial nipple.

Talk to your health professional if you wish to start feeding your baby breast-milk from a bottle before he or she is 4 to 6 weeks old.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Mary Robbins, RNC, IBCLC - Lactation Consultant

Current as ofJuly 26, 2016