katie

With all three of my children, I know that I was producing enough milk to have breasfed, even though I opted for bottle feeding. I had heard that there is a stronger bond between mother and baby if they are breastffed. Is this true?

mama.waddle

Well it certainly is true that if a child is solely breastfed, he is only bonded to mom for feeding. I don't know about the truth of it though. I think if you lovingly hold your child close for every bottle feeding, don't prop the bottle, you will have the same bond as a breastfeeding mother. It's about the closeness and the intimate moment more than the food. It's just easier to be lazy about it with formula.

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-Becca
mom to Jason (1/03), Rosie (6/05), and baby blue due in August!

Karis

I think breastfeeding is great and it is definitely a great way to bond, but it isn't the only way to bond with your baby. I personally breastfed because I heard babies grow up healthier, and that was true, my son till this day is one healthy child.

PurpleFDU

I'm not sure about early on in life but I know I was breastfed and am still closer to my father. Maybe there is a better chance for bonding but I don't think its a magic wand for closeness. I've known plenty of parents who bottlefed and are just as close as their peers who breastfed.

katie

My kids and I are pretty close. When I fed my babies, I always held them close. They seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. I never propped a bottle for them, it always seemed too dangerous. I had heard they are healthier too when breastfed, but my kids are pretty healthy too.

LoveMaGirl

My daughter breastfed exclusively for about nine months, and the bond between us is very strong. I cannot speak of the exclusion of others since I am a single mother. Others can bond with a baby in other ways-it does not have to be through feeding. Babies need lots of things done for them (all of which I did, so perhaps that's part of our strong bond).

mom2only1

My daughter breastfed for 3.5 years, never once took a bottle. It was perfect for us, our sanctuary, quiet time. When she was a busy toddler, I would nurse her and it was like the world would stand still.

Mommy2Five

You can have just as close a bond with a bottle-fed baby if you make sure to follow the advice that others here have given. Its not the method of feeding, just ask an adoptive parent, its the interaction during the feeding. A mother could breastfeed and ignore her baby in the process and be less bonded than a mother who bottle-feeds while snuggling, cooing, making eye contact, etc. The only thing is that there is more comfort to the baby when there is skin to skin contact. But simply wearing a low cut shirt while holding baby close to you will do that trick.