Advise for dropping Breastfeeds for bottle

[Shell001]

Hi,

Just started DS on bottles again as bf for 7 months and stop and started with bottles with ebm and formula but now returning to work ive introudced a few feeds where he will take it max 4 oz though. Just as going back to work i need to know he will be ok and also have a month to set a routine in changing over to bottles.

Any tips and advise ?

[fiveanddog]

Changing to a bottle at 7 months can be hard going as babys get used to breast feeding. When I went back to work I introduced a bottle when I knew I'd be away and breastfed around work. It took a bit of doing but got there in the end by trying different bottle shapes and types of formulas and sticking to bottle feeds in the day. Your baby will get used to it in the next month and i'm sure it'll be ok. If your struggling try having a chat with your HV.

[MrsBadger]

So you want to completely swap to bottles before going back to work?

Is there any chance you'd consider bfing when you're still with her (eg morning, 5pm pickup and bedtime?)

[Shell001]

I dont mind feeding in the morning and evening and bottle feeding in the day .. DS wont really take much from me in a bottle but does with DP when im out ..
The idea to swap over completely would be nice as i dont seem to have a routine and i feel this would be best for meals/sleep and routine.

[MrsBadger]

you can have a sleep/meals routine and still bf

when I went back to work dd (then 7m) was in a decent-ish routine for naps, meals and bedtime with fairly predicatble bfs.
Nursery just added bottles into that daytime routine and we carried on as normal with bedtime and nights and during the day at weekends.

If has a growth spurt or decides to pick up night feeds for some other reason it's a lot easier not to have to make up bottles at night!

I'd also recommend checking any existing routine the nursery / cm / whoever will expect him to fit into - dd likes to sleep in in the mornings so we worked hard to get her used to an early start and an extra nap instead.

[tiktok]

Babies of 7 mths don't need bottles - they can use cups, if breastfeeding happens the rest of the time.