Introducing formula

[NoTeaForMe]

I would like to start using bottles of formula soon. At the moment I am exclusively breastfeeding my 6 month old. She has some expressed breastmilk too. I'd like to stop pumping and give formula in those bottles instead. Do I just stop one and start the other? Or do I do a couple of days of half and half? What's the best way to do it? At the moment I'm pumping twice a day. Can I just stop?

Thanks.

[Jiltedjohnsjulie]

If you pump twice a day I'd drop it to once and then drop the other in 2 weeks to give your body time to adjust.

You could just try her with a bottle of formula but if she won't accept it I'd try adding the formula one ounce at a time, so if she usually has 5floz of ebm, try 4floz and 1floz of formula then gradually increase the amount an ounce at a time.

[NoTeaForMe]

I think I'm over-thinking this? Should I not give her her first bottle of formula at bedtime? Should I just do a bottle of formula now, should I mix it with breastmilk? I think I'm overthinking it all...but I'm too tired to know!

[tiktok]

You can give her a bottle of formula whenever it's convenient for you...there are no rules :)

I agree with JJJ - drop one pumping session first and then after a gap drop the other (2 weeks is prob not necessary if you want to speed things up a bit....established bf is pretty flexible).

[NoTeaForMe]

Thanks. I'm down to one pump a day as I had a bit of stock!

I won't be stopping breastfeeding too quickly, I had mastitis with my first baby and generally a horrible breastfeeding experience. I've managed to get to 6 months this time, purely with breastmilk so I'm actually quite proud of myself! Feels very odd to start thinking of stopping, but I'm ready for a bit of a break!

[samebutdifferent]

Congratulations on getting to six months this time around :) some people say the first six months can be tough and from around now is when you start seeing how easy and convenient in can be to carry on. Sometimes it can feel like the only way to get a break is to stop or cut down but if you feel strange stopping now, there might b ways you can still get the break you need.

Some people find that the addition of food and water from now on means that in a couple of months time, your LO will be happy to wait a bit longer for a feed from you and this can give just that little bit of breathing space - just when you might really need it!

Some people find spending a whole day or weekend away with friends/shopping/sport etc while just coming back for feeds really refreshing.

Someone else I know started booking a massage every couple of months with the money she felt she hadn't spent just to keep her going!

Breastfeeding is pretty robust and flexible by now that it should b totally possible to tailor it to your needs, while keeping the convenience of milk on tap and the protective nature of your milk :) as your LO gets more mobile!

• it doesn't have to be all or nothing, its up to u :) some people also just give a bottle some days when they need a break and don't bother on other days.