Introducing the bottle

[Summertime]

Hello,

I would like to start introducing the bottle to my 5 1/2 month old DD. I will only need her to take it once at the end of this month for a party and once in Dec for a concert I am going to. It would also be ncie to go on a date night with DH at some stage too. I will express while I am away from her, and I will be giving her EBM in the bottle.

So I have a few questions -

How do I go about introducing the bottle?
Should I try once a day?
Once she takes the bottle should I make sure she has one a day so doesnt 'forget' how to drink from one?
Should I try a sippy cup instead (if so, which one? the ones I have the milk doesnt drip out at all, needs that sucking motion).
What is the best time of day to try?
And should I do it before or after feeds, or in between breasts (DD takes both in one feeding)?
Is it all too much with starting solids as well? (We have started, sweet potato, Farex and pear but DD is not keen on eating, just spits it out)

Thanks very much for the help and advice!

[HotI]

How long will you be away from bub? Is it at a time when she is normally awake? hungry? unsettled?

If it is only for a couple of events, i wouldn't be offering her a bottle every day. It would be a lot of work, and no guarantee that she is not going to reject the bottle at sometime anyway or it could lead to reduced breastfeeds.

My Little One was never keen on the bottle, or taking breastmilk from anything other than me SO i won't give you advice but you might find these links useful.

Australian Breastfeeding Association -
Australian Breastfeeding Association - Cup-feeding
Australian Breastfeeding Association - A Caregivers Guide to the Breastfed Baby

[onthefly]

At this age you could skip the bottle and try a sippy cup or straw cup instead. As HotI says, it's one of those things. Might work, might not. Often it has a way of working itself out somehow or other.
Just express when it suits you - plan to start that some time in advance as it can be a learned skill that takes time to master. If you're not getting anywhere, try a better pump, also.

As for solids, if she's spitting out then she doesn't need it yet. She'll let you know when she's ready to eat

[Summertime]

I will be away from bub for about 8 hours, it should just be one feed, as she will go down to sleep for the night. DD is pretty good at night, just starts to get a little grizzly when she is hungry and tired, but as soon as I feed her, she is asleep.

I have been offering the bottle every day but she just chews on the teat, doesnt suck.

I might try a straw cup and see how that goes.