I had/ have that fear. Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think anyone could take care of my son the way I do, not even my hubby. But, my hubby never asked to feed him, not even in the hopsital when we HAD to supplement! My son is 10 months old, and the longest I've ever left him was about an hour. He stayed in the waiting room with my mom, while I had my yearly exam. I don't think it's post partum, I think it's just protective mommy instinct! I'd prolly ask dad to wait a few more weeks to give a bottle, but don't be too hard about it. If he disagrees, you might have to give in. Reassure him that babies can't hold their own bottles until they are several months old, especially if they have never had one to speak of. But you need to remember that if you wait too long to introduce a bottle, your little one might protest it later on! This happened to my son, and he wouldn't take a bottle until he was over 7 months old! It makes it harder to leave them if you aren't sure they will take a bottle. My son went as far as to act like he couldn't figure out how to eat from one! Good luck, your a great mommy!

I think it is hard. I'm not our daughter's biological mom, but I am the one who stays home with her. It's very hard for me to let go on weekends and in the evening when my partner is home and it's her turn to care for the baby. In fact, I leave the house on Saturdays because it's so wearing on me to be home and not caring for the baby!

However, I would encourage you to rethink bottle-feeding. If you are planning on ever being able to leave the baby for more than a few hours at a time in the next year, he needs to be able to take a bottle from his dad or another caretaker. 12 weeks is late to start bottle-feeding, but if you wait any longer it will be even harder. I think it's important that your husband check with you before offering a bottle unless he knows you won't be home for a few hours, and I think he needs a thorough lesson in what is ok/not ok to feed a baby, but he needs to feel like he is part of taking care of the baby and I think it's admirable he is taking the initiative to help out. I bottle-feed our daughter and my partner breastfeeds her, and we each have our own special time while feeding her, but her breastfeeding doesn't change my attachment to the baby, and my bottle-feeding doesn't change hers.

I know it's very hard, but try to think ahead a little. Right now, you are completely attached to the baby and don't want anyone else to help you, but in a few months you might want to go out for a day and it will be harder on everybody if you haven't been practicing. And if you keep discouraging your husband from helping out, he might stop trying to at all.

I understand, but at the same time i feel its okay because I am the one who gets most of the bonding time. Daddy has had a few bottles to feed my little man. They also want that bonding time to, and as much as it is our child its theirs to, so maybe you can agree to let him do a bottle or two a week which he is still probably nursing 8-10 times a day. And that way when you are ready to use the bottle, The baby will be somewhat adjusted to it. I use playtex nursers and LOVE THEM! used them with our daughter too. I understand where he is coming from. I am not saying you dont have the right to feel the way you do, and you may feel like something is being taken away from you, but he also may feel like he is missing out on something, its your choice, My baby maybe gets a bottle once every week to two weeks. And i am usually out so hubby does what he needs to do! I guess with me I consider it a minor break, and I pump and give it to baby too so no formulat! Good luck and God Bless!

I had to laugh a little even though I though the situation is serious. But, dad actually gave him grape jelly??? What was he thinking? What is funny, with my first child, her dad wasn't interested, my husband, he wants to be supper dad, and I am having a hard time letting go.

i laugh now when i talk or think about it. our babe is like a B. F. Skinner kid. lol!
thanks ladys for the understanding and clarity. i think this week or next i'm going to plan to visit some friends and leave babe with dad and INSTRUCTIONS! ha! he's a great dad!

I can see his point of view, sort of. But I do not agree. I see how you feel, but the bottom line is htat to be a good dad, he does not have to give a bottle. He can do other things. He can sing, play, bathe, walk with her, whatever. In about another 3 mths, she will be ready to start solids....and you can avoid the whole bottle thing altogether. IMO, it is not a sin for a baby to refuse to take a bottle. As a matter of fact, it is a sign of a smart baby! This is not to say, of course, that there are not moms who really do need to have someone give bm in their absence because of work, for example. However, you can still get away of giving it in a cup, as opposed to a bottle. Bottles can create a whole set of their own problems, like nipple confusion, overfeeding, etc.

here is a link for u:
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53:what-to-feed-the-baby-when-the-mother-is-working-outside-the-home&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

thank you for that! i think though, that i will go to the gym on weekends and give dad the opportunity to feed babe while i enjoy hours of wonderful sweat! maybe. :)