Is it possible to just give one BF a day without losing your supply?

[Bodkin]

DD2 is 6 months now, and I'm planning on gradually phasing out BF and giving her formula. However, I would like to keep the morning feed as BF, partly laziness, but mostly because I enjoy it.

Do you think it would be possible to just keep one feed a day without losing supply?

[fingerwoman]

yes, it should be fine

[onepieceoflollipop]

Yes I did this from about 10months until dd1 was a year old. I returned to work and I work in a job that isn't that compatible with expressing etc and I get called out at night. I continued with the morning feed for about 2 months.

I gradually phased out the other feeds as you are suggesting (actually she phased them out more than I did). I last b/f her on the day after her 1st birthday!

It really worked for me and I would encourage you to try it; I am sure they still get some health benefits even with just one b/feed a day.

[VictorianSqualor]

Yes, almost definitely, at 6 months your supply will be well established and will provide milk when needed quite easily. By about 8 months my DS was only having a morning and night feed anyway.

[NoMoreMaisy]

I gradually phased out BFing from 6 months on... by the time DD was 8/9 months I only did the morning and early feed and then I dropped the evening one but continued the morning feed (also partly laziness ) until she was nearly one. So, yes, it can be done. HTH.

[Coby]

I'm no expert but I would say you probably could. I did this with my DD2 when she was about 8 months and I gave up in the end as I thought my supply must have been so low it was pointless (need see-through boobs to see how much is in there really), as it turned out I continued to make milk despite not feeding for a further 8 months and I have a sneaking suspicion she was getting a good feed on just the one a day as she did't seem hungry after she had had her feed.

[Swaliswan]

My mum used to just give me a feed at bedtime for several months and we were both fine but I was probably about 8 months old at the time. I guess it depends on your supply. I would imagine if you slowly decrease the number of feeds your body will adjust.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Also meant to say that my dd1 refused any form of formula milk - my fault as I didn't try her until she was over 6 months old.

Neither would she accept ebm, again because I didn't try with a bottle (or indeed a cup) until about the same stage.

I used formula milk in cooking etc (cereals and rice pudding for example) once we drastically cut down on the b/feeding, as I worried that she wouldn't be getting much of either otherwise.

She was always very thirsty first thing and imo this was the best feed to hang on to (and in my case the only practical one anyway). She wasn't a particularly cuddly baby so this was one of the times I got to have a quick snuggle!

[laundrylover]

Yes in thoery this should be fine. Lots of people also keep doing the bedtime feed - this is what I do at 21 months with DD2.

Are you cutting down on bfeeds for returning to work BTW? If so you should also be able to feed her on the days that you are with her rather then faffing with bottles.

This works for me and lots of other MNers too - boobs are very adaptable it seems.

[laundrylover]

Lollipop, I think that all babies are different though - some take to a bottle at any age and some are very stubborn!

After 6 months it's fine to use cow's milk in cooking and cereal. With 2 bfeeds a day a baby will still be getting the majority of milk from bmilk.

In fact after 6 months, many babies go all day without a bottle, just have food and water/juice/milk from a cup until they hit the boob at pick up time.

Info about feeding beyond 6 months is thin on the ground eh? It's as if formula companies want to sell more product.

[Spidermama]

Yes. It takes longer than that to dry up.

[Pannacotta]

I would perhaps reduce your feeds to twice a day for a while before dropping to once a day as that might be a bit too drastic at 6 months (it would be fine later on).

[onepieceoflollipop]

laundrylover you are right. I am debating starting dd2 on a bottle of formula in a few weeks once she is 6 months, to do mixed feeding, a bit like the op wants to do.

dd2 seems a completely different child to her sister - aren't they all? She will take to anything so far, bottle of ebm, breast, dummy, even a mouthful of her dad's jumper if she is desperate and trying to latch on!

Yes the info is quite thin on the ground, I agree. They are keen for us all to perhaps keep the little ones on the "follow on" milks until the age of 2 years...

[laundrylover]

Yes, and then 'toddler milk' at about a pound a pint!

Mine just get milk straight from the cow as my Dad's a dairy farmer.