stupid formula questions

[weebairn]

Sorry these are really daft!

My baby is 8.5 months old, has been bf throughout, never bothered expressing either so not had a bottle. She'll have a bit of water from a sippy cup, not a lot.

Going back to work shortly and was hoping she'd be ok with just water and food like her sister was, but I think she may need some milk in the day (dd1 was a fantastic eater, dd2 not so much). I am just doing some 9-5 days in July, but will be doing longer shifts and possibly night shifts in August.

Can't face expressing. I'm just going to buy some ready made formula for ease (I know it's pricey but she'll still be mainly bf on my days off and at night etc).

How much should I give? Any tips for getting her to take it from a bottle or cup? How long can I keep it for if she doesn't have it all? Do I need to sterilise a bottle or is that just for younger babies? Should I not use bottles or do babies of this age do better with bottles?

Currently she feeds roughly 8am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm (bedtime). 2-3 times in the night. No idea how much milk though, obviously.

Sorry i know this is dumb but most of the formula info I find is aimed at newborns and I'm getting muddled!

[coniferssilhouette]

I have no idea of the answers to most of the questions as I ended up needing surgery, couldn't pump enough beforehand so tried to give formula and my son point blank refused it, but I know that all bottles need to be sterilised if being used with formula.

She may well just go with food and water during the day, I ended up going back to work and had to do a few long shifts and he refused all expressed milk as he didn't want a bottle/cup and just had food and water. I've heard of this happening a lot with other babies too.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

I probably wouldn't bother introducing a bottle at 8.5 months, a sippy cup would be better. Otherwise you just have a battle on your hands to give up the bottle at a later date (I am talking from experience ).

[Daffolil]

I used pre made formula (sma) and I understand it recommends the small bottles are used within 24hrs, the large within 48 as the nutritional value drops after that. I used the teats that fitted the sma bottles and gave them a regular scrubbing in hot soapy water. It didn't cost more than buying powder as the tins aren't meant to be used after they've been open for a month. I took dd's lead on how much she wanted to drink, by 10 months she was having water and solids at the child minder, and then having a boob-fest after I picked her up

[Milkyway1304]

Hi there, I went back when my DD was 10months. I suspect we do a similar job given your hours and changes in August! She was still feeding roughly every 2 hours in the day at that point. She refused all milk (ebm/formula) from cups or bottles and was eating almost nothing before starting in nursery. However she managed fine. She ate more solids, drank plenty water, breastfed when we were together. She's 13.5months now and still feeds morning and evening when I'm home, manages ok when I'm not. I'd be inclined to try her with the small, ready made bottles (around 7oz-should be plenty if gone 8-6). Doubt it matters what receptacle you use, but our nursery did require sterilised equipment for formula feeding before 1year.