Breast feeding baby refusing formula

[Blueeyedbear23]

Hi :)

I really need some advice and reassurance. My baby is coming up to 8 months and is breast fed. She has had little bits of formula in the last few months and she used to drink expressed milk from a bottle.

However, now she completely refuses any milk apart from if it's from me. She's got 6 teeth now and it has become uncomfortable to breastfeed and is bringing me down. She also starts nursery in September.
She refuses to take milk from anyone. I've tried it in a cup that she drinks water from but she completely refuses it. I've tried bottles and 4 different brands of formula. If I go out she can go hours without drinking.
I really want to stop breast feeding now but run out of ideas and don't know what to do.

Any suggestions, support or advice would be appreciated.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

If you want to stop, I’d give one of the Bfing Helplines a call Blueeyed they will be able to talk to you about stopping, bottle refusal and how to make Bfing more comfortable until you do stop

[PotteringAlong]

Will she have milk / water out of a sippy cup?

[reallyanotherone]

I wouldn’t worry about nursery. She’ll be fine without milk in the day, and can bf before and after if it comes to it.

You may have to go cold turkey. If she’s 8 months presumably she’s eating a varied diet? Offer bottles, and add lots of dairy- milk on cereal, cheese, yogurt etc. Bottles when she hasn’t eaten- so on waking before breakfast, or after a nap. Usually hungry and sleepy means they’re more likely to accept.

It doesn’t have to be bottles either. Milk from a cup will be fine too if she prefers that.

[Blueeyedbear23]

Thanks for the advice regarding one of the bf helplines I did consider that and will give one of them a go.

She takes water from a 360 cup really well but completely refuses milk from it.
I know it is silly but I feel like she's never going to let me stop haha

[PotteringAlong]

Then I wouldn’t worry about it. You’ve another 7 weeks before September so she’ll be nearly 10 months old. It’s cows milk time at 12 and if she doesn’t like it to drink it’s not the end of the world - my 17 month old is a complete cows milk refuser (although is still breast fed, which probably isn’t what you want to here ) at it’s fine with a varied diet and lots of other dairy.

[Mammyloveswine]

My 6 month old was like this... I tried an nuk bottle with a latex teat.. and aldi mammia formula (the follow on stuff as they didn't have the first stage... he had turned 6 months). He only has 3.5oz mid morning whilst I'm at work but it keeps him going!

[Blueeyedbear23]

Thank you. I do need to keep reminding myself that it will end at some point. I'm just finding it difficult at the moment. I did enjoy bf but it's starting to become difficult.

I have tried both Aldi formulas and she didn't like either. She's so fussy!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I think the key to helping you with this is to make Bfing more comfortable in the short term. If her teeth are bothering you, is the latch deep enough? Have a read of this on Kellymom.

It may feel overwhelming now but at one you can night wean and baby will be fine with a feed first thing and one at bedtime.

Both of mine were bottle and formula refusers. I went back to work at 10 months and they were fine with cows milk from a cup while I was away and feeding from me when I was.

[Hatstand]

Another vote for nuk with latex teats!

[notanaturalmum]

I could have written this. At 10 months I was done with breastfeeding and it was getting me down. My DS refused all formulas whether it was mixed with my milk or on its own.
So I persevered a bit longer and then night weaned at 10.5 months which then gave me the courage to go away for the weekend at 11 months. When I returned, he was happily drinking C&G and we never looked back.
Hang in there, it will happen, but it might just be later than planned. You could probably get away with cold turkey at this stage or in a couple of weeks. I was nervous for doing it, but according to my husband the baby was fine and didn't seem to mind.
Good luck xx

[Chuffingchuff]

I had the same issue with my DD. She would take a little from a bottle and then would refuse and continue the cycle. I started her offering her a bottle about 7 months old but she just point blank refused after a few weeks. Even though she would drink water from a cup, she would not take formula from a cup or expressed milk. I might weaned her at around 10 and half months, and I had to keep going in the day until she was 12 months and then started to think about weaning. In true DD style she refused cows milk. She was completely weaned from breast milk at 14 months. It was hard going, i felt completely chained to her and her house where as DH was going out and having fun, etc and I just couldn't because I knew I would get a phone call within an hour to say she was screaming. But...time goes quicker than we think and it's all over now. You will get there too. I tried every bottle under the sun, the NUK, the minbie, everything. Nothing worked. All I can say is be strong, it won't last forever.

[offupop]

Can you pump/express and mix formula with breast milk and gradually change the mix? Could try a sucky cup too with same mix?