When did you switch from breast to formula?

[Jemima1988]

I've got a 7 week old. I am just wondering when you introduced formula? did you do it in stages or straight away? Xx

[Mrsgrumble]

I introduced it from six weeks. Just an ounce here and there and weaned off bf

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

At about 6 months because I had to go away for a night and was struggling to express enough.

[estya]

Wean when either you or your child are ready to but your own milk will always be the most suited for your child compared to formula or cow's (or other animal/plant) milk.
Some say there is no benefit after a year but that's simply not true.

Dc1 I weaned at 13.5 months. Dc2 is still breastfeeding at 2yo.

[BL00CowWonders]

Didn't use formula. Just b/f then introduced food after 6 months

[EmbarrassedPossessed]

I didn't introduce formula, just breastfed until my DS self weaned at 16 months ish.

What I think you're asking is how to move from breastfeeding to formula? It's best done slowly, one feed at a time to avoid engorgement and mastitis risk. So you could swap one feed for formula for a week or so, and then replace another feed and so on. You also don't have to stop breastfeeding if you want, you could mix feed eg keep a morning and/or evening breastfeed.

[northernmummeh]

8.5 months after 3 solid painful bouts of mastitis. The pain and upset/misery just wasn't worth it. Was close to being hospitalised with it

[rocketjam]

Ds1 at 9 months old and ds2 never had formula.

[tumbletumble]

DS2 at 8 months, I switched from fully breast feeding to fully formula feeding in about a week.

DS1 and DD never had formula.

[icklekid]

At 8/9 weeks ds just screamed every time I tried to bf him. Expressing then giving it to him in a bottle was too demoralising and exhausting. We started with formula in the day bf eve, night and morning. My supply gradually dwindled especially when he stopped night feed and hes now exclusively ff. I miss bf

[CheeseEqualsHappiness]

Just bf, dd self weaned and was eating solids by then. No formula

[Singsongmama]

9 months - swapped one feed at a time every 3/4 days. Now he only gets bedtime and one night feed and he's 10 months.

It was easy at this stage because he was in a routine and we had feed times whereas at 7 weeks he was still on demand and feeding all the time.

[Cric]

At about 7 months over a period of a few weeks.

[CPtart]

At 3 months with both DC over a period of days. I was on my knees with two hourly feeding day and day and for us, the introduction of formula resulted in them sleeping longer giving me some freedom.
I am so so glad I did bf them, but honestly, I only really felt I could get into some sort of routine and enjoy them when I stopped.

[bigbluestars]

I never used formula. You don't have to switch unless you want to.

[farmerswifey]

From my experience, you're just getting to the glory days of breastfeeding. You've put in all the hard work (the first couple of months are a killer!) and you're at the part where breastfeeding becomes the easier option. You will soon be past the all night feeding and the hurty nipples stage and you'll be able to swan around without worrying you've forgotten any feeding equipment.

By all means, if you want to introduce formula, go for it, there were so many times I thought about doing just that, but breastfeeding is one of those things that gets easier and easier as the weeks go by.

Congratulations on your little one!

[Thehedgehogsong]

Never, breastfed and introduced solids and water at 6 months old while still breastfeeding. Food gradually increased and breastfeeds slowly decreased, no need for any formula or other milk. It's totally your choice!

[gamerchick]

I didn't give formula... You don't have to if you don't want to but I would suggest maybe introduce one bottle a day and increase week by week to give your boobs time to adjust missing feeds can be agony for you.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

9 months with DS1 and DD1, 4 months with DD2 because she couldn't suck strongly enough and was losing weight, never with DS2, he was bf until he was 23 months.

[ShanghaiDiva]

No formula. Went from breast to cow's milk at 12 months with ds and 14 months with dd.

[violetwellies]

DS started on formula (not by choice I was in ICU).
By 6 weeks exclusive bf. Solids introduced at 6months.
Formula too bluddy expensive.

[NotTodaySatan]

Same as bigblue.

I never used formula with DD and have no intention of doing so with DS (14 weeks).

[Ashwagandha]

Never. Still having breast milk alongside a normal diet at three years old. There is nothing on earth which compares to breast milk and no reason why you have to use an inferior alternative if you do not want to.

[gamerchick]

On your marks.....

[Pinotgrigioplease]

We introduced 1 bottle of formula a day at 6 months then another one when I went back to work at 9months. He went onto cows milk at 12 months and have up bf at 14months.

Switch whenever you feel you want/need to. It's probably easiest to switch by one feed at a time though so it's not a sudden change for your DC or your breasts

[PollyIndia]

At 6 months when he was weaned. Stopped altogether at 8 months. I know people say breastfeeding is easy by then, but not as easy as formula was in my experience. It was so nice to have my body back. Plus he was biting me. Oh, and he went from waking every 3 hours to sleeping 12 hours straight within a week of stopping!