Not wanting to be on this boat........

[Dia]

BTW, I've heard a couple of males here say that b/c their W was breastfeeding, there wasn't much they could help with in the feeding department.

Here's a suggestion:

1) Have your W pump enough so that there's always enough milk for 3-4 emergency bottles. Milk keeps in the freezer for a couple of weeks, so put a date on it and rotate your stock. If she pumps in the morning, keep that bottle in the fridge for the 2 am feeding.

2) Dad - here's your chance to be a hero twice over. You get to bond with your baby in the most intimate way possible, AND you get to let your W sleep through one of those brutal middle of the night feedings. Gaze into the baby's eyes during the feeding. It's the most loving gaze you'll ever see. A just-fed baby often has special, cooing lovey-sounds that he only makes at that particular time - you'll get to hear them.

And why should a breast-fed baby be trained to take a bottle? So that if your W is ever delayed getting home or, godforbid, too sick to nurse, injured in a car accident or some other calamity large or small, the baby can still be fed. IMHO, it's even a good idea to train a breastfed baby to take formula every so often for the exact same reason.

I realize your child may be too old for this advice now, but just cuz you males don't have the plumbing doesn't mean you can't help.