Roll-call... bottle or breast
 

- Which method of feeding did you rely on when raising your family?

- Any particular reason as to why you chose one over the other?

- Did anyone make their own homemade formula and baby food?

- Did you use glass or plastic baby bottles?

- Did anyone opt for the smaller 4 oz bottles at the start?

- As an added question, did you use cloth or vinyl bibs at feeding time?

Bottle feed for both children, because I had to return to work after 8 weeks - maternity leave is much better now. I used dried baby formula and made up enough bottles for a 24 hour period. I used plastic (or similar) bottles, and a steriliser tank/bowl (Milton solution) for bottles and teats. I think the bottles were 8oz size, and I used cloth bibs.

I saw your post about nappies/diapers yesterday. I used cloth/terry nappies, with a liner; I think these were quite new then. This was 40 years ago. Disposables were available 35 years ago (I think), but were expensive.

Interesting research topic!

Both my girls were bottle fed 50+ years ago. Breast feeding was not encouraged back then. I used glass bottles, powdered formula and water which were put in a sterilizer pot and boiled on the stove. I started using 4 oz bottles and then increased to 8 oz. I used cloth bibs.

i used glass bottles had to go back to work after 6 weeks sterilize bottles, formula was boiled?? gosh i don't remember but i know it wasn't instant like today where you just add water or do they even do that, i cooked and pureed his food only thing baby food he ate was cereals and applesauce cloth diapers and bibs.............gosh that was 48 yrs.......my one and only

well in the hospital i breast fed my son. at home too for six weeks. Bottles after that, plastic if I remember right.
Bibs if I had them were probably plastic.

Which method of feeding did you rely on when raising your family?
Breast for all 4 babies. I had a good supply of milk (sometimes too good, but that's another topic). Nursed the first till he was 8 months, then found out I was 4 months pregnant with baby 2 (again, that's another topic. LOL) Abruptly weaned baby 1, and he went straight to cup by his choice. Nursed baby 2 till she was 18 months , I think. Baby 3 nursed till was 2, and baby 4 till he was 3. (I know, I'm ridiculous. But I had waited 10 years to be able to have him, and I was gonna enjoy the time all I could (or should I say ,"milk it for all it was worth"? LOL) Of course he was also drinking from a cup during the day and only nursing at bedtime, but still, I shake my head. I had the mindset that I'd wean him like Hannah weaned Samuel--on his third birthday, and I did.

- Any particular reason as to why you chose one over the other?

See above.


- Did anyone make their own homemade formula and baby food?

No. I had 3 babies in 4 years. I was up to my elbows in baby mess of every kind and didn't have time to make food. If it didn't come from my boobs, it came from a jar until they could handle Cheerios and soft fruit.

- Did you use glass or plastic baby bottles?

Plastic


- Did anyone opt for the smaller 4 oz bottles at the start?

I probably did if they were shower gifts, but only for water in the early days if it was hot-hot and the babies weren't hungry-hungry. Seems they all graduated quickly to more than 4 oz of diluted juice once they started drinking from a bottle. So the 4 oz bottle wasn't worth buying.

- As an added question, did you use cloth or vinyl bibs at feeding time?

For the tiny infants, cloth, because they had no neck and they needed breathable material. Once their necks became noticeable, I could put the easy-clean vinyl (snap-on or velcro kind only) bibs on them.

Enjoying reading everyone's additions. Thank you for them.

- Which method of feeding did you rely on when raising your family? Bottle, mostly, though I breastfed my oldest two for a period of year. Youngest two were bottle-fed exclusively.

- Any particular reason as to why you chose one over the other? Having done my fair-share of bottle-feeding baby siblings, the bottle was an automatic choice for me. Also used to babysit a lot, and that, too, was always bottles.

- Did anyone make their own homemade formula and baby food? Absolutely, formula and baby food alike.

- Did you use glass or plastic baby bottles? Glass, at the newborn stage, plastic, when my kids started crawling and walking.

- Did anyone opt for the smaller 4 oz bottles at the start? Indeed I did, though using the 4 oz version was short-lived.

- As an added question, did you use cloth or vinyl bibs at feeding time? Vinyl always, even remember using a flannelette diaper on occasion.

I babysat for a family from England in the early 70's (don't remember what region they were from), but the mom used British towelling squares (that I had to fold), pins, and plastic pants. They resembled big bath towels.

I remember standing in front of the stove, holding glass bottles suspended in a pot filled with water, waiting for the water to heat and warm the milk, and every few minutes checking the temperature of the bottle by tipping the bottle over and allowing a few drops to escape from the nipple and land on the inside of my wrist. Outdated by today's standards (I'm sure), but common back in the day when I was helping with baby siblings and babysitting around the neighbourhood.

I remember supplementing homemade baby food with cereals, too, but not all the time. Used cloth diapers, too.

Plastic bottles were so carefree, and as a mom I never worried over breakage, one of my worst fears with glass.

I wouldn't have been able to keep up either.

Which method of feeding did you rely on when raising your family? we tried breast, but after 5 days, Ryan couldn't latch on so I went to the bottle, reluctantly

- Any particular reason as to why you chose one over the other? My son couldn'tm latch on. La letche League made me feel about it.

- Did anyone make their own homemade formula and baby food? homemade baby food in a mill. what ever we had for dinner, so did Ryan

- Did you use glass or plastic baby bottles?glass first, then plastic

- Did anyone opt for the smaller 4 oz bottles at the start? used 4 oz bottles, but only filled 1-2 ozs at a time. He never took more and fell asleep in the middle of it.

- As an added question, did you use cloth or vinyl bibs at feeding time? I made all of my bib myself, so all cotton.

Which method of feeding did you rely on when raising your family?
I'm raising my family now, (expecting #2 in a month!) and I am big on breastfeeding. I was actually hoping to tandem nurse, as my eldest will only be 17 mon. old by the time the new Baby is born. But by 8 weeks into pregnancy, nursing was causing contractions, so my midwife told me to stop cold turkey. My daughter was already eating some solids, but I cried all day the first day of weaning!

- Any particular reason as to why you chose one over the other?
I believe it is better for both mother and baby, and it is free! A huge bonus! I am a follower of the LaLeLeague ideas, so I could give a list why I think it's better, but I won't:)

- Did anyone make their own homemade formula and baby food?
My daughter didn't like my cooking at first, so store bought organic baby food it was for the first few meals.
- Did you use glass or plastic baby bottles?
I used glass bottles for any expressed milk I had. I always had plenty of milk!

- Did anyone opt for the smaller 4 oz bottles at the start?
Yes.

- As an added question, did you use cloth or vinyl bibs at feeding time?
I use both. Whatever is closest!:)

Thanks for this thread! I would love to also know how many women had midwives and unmedicated births? I'm due next month, so babies and births are on my mind:) This is my second birth through the local birthing center and I'm so grateful to God for my midwives and their care.

Nothing at all ridiculous about breastfeeding till age 3. I had one still running around in diapers at age 4! And I'm not talking Pampers! As for bibs, I loved the easy-clean side of vinyl, too!

Your son reminds me of a nephew of mine. My SIL went through the same. Extra small feedings for the longest time. Kudos to you on the homemade bibs!

They gave you a shot to dry up your milk? How sad!! I agree with you, I personally found breastfeeding to be so rewarding. I was able to bond with my daughter in a way I could never have dreamed of.

No midwife here, just my mom and MIL when a new baby was born, which was a huge help for me, especially when it was baby #3 and #4. Having an extra set of hands to feed, bathe, and change diapers helped me get the rest I needed after9 months of carrying.

As for medication, I had an epidural for all of my children (two caesareans).

What kind of diapers are you using, NZQuilter?

I also found breastfeeding rewarding... relaxing, too. Being able to wipe down a vinyl bib after a feeding and drape it over the back of baby's highchair was the greatest! No washing, no fussing.

I wholeheartedly agree. When my oldest was born breastfeeding wasn't "in" and I was young so I think they just did that as a matter of protocol. I don't really know. But when I nursed my other two it was such a wonderful experience that I really regretted not nursing my oldest. I didn't think my youngest would ever wean :) We both loved it.

And isn't that the way it so often goes.

Like Zozee I had 3 kids in 4 years, and I breastfed all of them for between 1-2 years. The antibodies were terrific. My kids rarely ever got sick, and even as adults today are not sick often. Breastfeeding is so much easier... no formula, bottles, making sure the formula is just the right temp... none of that. And it's a special bonding time with each baby.

My kids went right to sippee cups and cow's milk after breast feeding. When mine were little (the 80's) they had dried baby food flakes for veggies and such, you just add water and mix it up. My kids liked the taste of that stuff way more than the ready-to-eat baby foods. But most baby foods were blended up from fresh food I had prepared for the rest of the family. To this day, my favorite new baby gift is a blender or mini food processor.

You bring up a lot of excellent points as to the breastfeeding side of things. I'm sure if I were to do it over again I'd definitely breastfeed more than I did, just knowing the health benefits attached.

I breast fed my first one for a few weeks. I was hurting so bad I had to stop. No breast pump then except the old silly hand one. My second I tried again but gave up after leaving the hospital. Back then moms were kept in the hospital for 3-4 days before being sent home. Came home rested and very little soreness. My Dr knew I had a toddler at home when I had my second so kept me for 8 days to get really rested before going home. Baby had a sleeping schedule by then, lots of nurses to see to that. Moms don't know what they are missing by being sent home 24 hours after delivery.

Formula has raised many healthy kids. I don't feel bad at all about using formula.

So true. I never felt guilty or bad over my kids being formula fed, either. We all do what's best, and that's what matters in the end. Love and care.

So true there, Endora. That's why I never feel like I'm a bad mom for using disposable diapers. I don't think my children will care, as long as mommy loves them:) We all need to live with what we are comfortable with. Depending where one shop (Sams Club for me) they aren't as costly as they used to be and much better quality too! And like you said, Love and Care is what counts.

I nursed all 3 boys until about a year when they went to a cup. I was too lazy to mess with bottles.
Mary

When we brought our first child home from the hospital, I was breastfeeding. After a week, I began hemoraging and was admitted to the hospital for three days. I tried using the pump, so that I could continue breastfeeding, but unfortunately my milk dried up. With the second child, there were pregnancy complications that caused me to be on long term medication, so breastfeeding was not an option.

Small bottles were were used for water and were glass. Larger bottles were plastic. Cutesy bibs with plastic on the back. And with the first baby, I cooked separate meals with no seasonings, then ran it thru the blender, per pediatrician's recommendation. Second child, no time for that. Lol. Baby food and table food. I remember eating homemade soup, and feeding some to the baby by accident. His expression was priceless!

Breast fed and homemade baby food for both children. I was a regular mother earth. They never had a bottle or a jar of babyfood. Reason? I wanted the best for my children.

I read labels on everything and never allowed my first child to have anything with any type of processed sugar. At the age of two I took him to the dentist for the first time, and he had six cavities. I relaxed after that and gave up being the perfect mother. He never had another cavitity.

Breast fed both boys even though I returned to work at 5 weeks for one and 3 weeks for the second. I was a public school librarian with access to a small nearby room for pumping which I did manually. Grew up on a dairy farm, LOL! High school students were very supportive. How I love those students to this day.

I live with my son and DIL and they have a 5 month old who is completely fed with breast milk. However, he is in daycare so he gets bottles of breast milk she pumps for him. She has a huge milk production so they have a significant supply of frozen breast milk as well. My son's a Type A so he bought a generator just in case the power went out for an extended period! She is a doctor but has set times when she can pump at work.

I used purchased baby food for the most part. I would not do that today. My DIL is preparing solid food ahead, freezing in small batchest. These solids are just being introduced with success. He's really taken to prunes!

Bottles were plastic as I recall for my boys probably both sizes but I remember the smaller ones. Also cloth bibs.

For the grandson, bibs are cloth but I have bought a plastic adjustable one for future use on the recommendation of a friend that goes through the dishwasher for cleaning! We aren't using that yet. His bottles are plastic for drinking but special bags were purchased for freezing the breast milk and there's a microwave system for sterilizing the bottles that has a limited number of uses before it's replaced with another one.

Your post cracked me up!! :D

I breast fead all 5 of my children, much to my family's dismay. (they all bottle fed) I did make most of my own baby food or just ground up what we were having. Bibs were mostly plastic. The first 3 I did cloth diapers till hubby said no
more and I used disposables. I must say my mom bottle fed us formula and gave us jar food and we all grew up very healthy. She did however feed us very nutritiously as we ate table food. My dad always said" better to have big food bills than MD bills!"

I bottle fed my four babies, nursing was frowned upon when I had my kids. Always started with 4 oz glass bottles, made the formula, and sterilized it in a sterilizer, my babies ate what we ate, used blender and put food in it with a little formula for right consistency. And all cloth bibs and burp cloths.

Breast fed all my children all the way. They never had a bottle. This was 30-40 years ago. My daughter who has three children 3-5-7 breast fed hers all the way too. She had to return to work for a time after her first one was born while her husband finished grad school and she pumped milk during the day and chilled it and her day care used it the next day to feed my granddaughter. Before her daughter was a year old my daughter was able to quit work and so no more bottles of breast milk or pumping and she just breast fed.

I breast fed, but not for the best reason - I breast fed so I could lose my pregnancy weight faster. I did enjoy it, and never had any real issues. They all weaned straight to a cup around 15 months.

I went to one La leche league meeting. My 1st daughter found her thumb immediately after birth and liked it. She was sucking her thumb at the LLL meeting and they told me I wasn't nursing her enough. If she wasn't hungry she preferred her thumb, but the meeting leaders did not believe me, so I never went back.

I did make baby food - whatever we were eating. The only baby food I bought was the cereal. I think bibs were cloth for nursing, but plastic/vinyl for solid food eating.

My 11 grandchildren have all been breast fed, even the two sets of twins. My daughters were stay at home moms when the twins were born, so that helped. They pumped at work for the 1st year. After the first birthday, they put the pump away, but still nursed first thing in the morning and at bedtime, until around 15-18 months. The kids used sippy cups after they turned 1.

I breast fed all 4 of mine. I found it easier and healthier. I never had to worry about fixing bottles. I breast fed all of them until they were almost 2 years old. The only problem with breast feeding was none of mine liked to take a bottle so I could go out. I used cloth diapers with all 4 also. The first 2 broke out in diaper rash from disposables. I did use disposables occasionally when we were out. I also used disposable a little bit more with the youngest. I had 2 kids playing sports by then. There were times we were at the soccer field or tack meets all day. I did make pretty much all of my own baby food since we have a big garden. My kids were never fond of being fed baby food, they wanted to do it themselves. SO we didn't mess with baby food very long. I would chop things up really small and they would feed themselves.

I did both. I breastfed each of my kids for about the first 3 months of their lives. My milk would stop producing enough to feed them. The weaning onto formula went rather easy.

I made their baby food fresh everyday.