EBF to Formula

[CupcakesAndCastles]

Hi all,

Not an AIBU but posting here for traffic. Have also posted in Weaning.

I’m planning to switch from EBF to formula at 6months.

I’m due to go back to work PT at 7months and despite trying have never been able to successfully express (couldn’t get much milk out/baby refused bottle). This means I will have to switch to formula.

As DS does not like a bottle I’m thinking of weaning him using a cup.

Can anyone help with some advice/tips to help a FTM with the switching process?

Thank you smile

Following not because I have any knowledge but I'll be on a similar time frame and whilst I might be able to express it doesn't hurt to know what to do if I can't.

Following. I was mix feeding but since weaning baby has decided to only accept breast.

You wouldn't have to completely switch over. My daughter used to have formula during the day when I was at work and breastfeed when I was at home and in the evenings/overnight.

I would recommend getting someone other than you to offer him the formula, at first at least. You smell like milk so he will want breast milk if you are there. Do you have a partner who can help with this?

I would try a sippy cup with a soft teat, such as a mam trainer bottle or tommee tippee sippee trainer. It's like a cross between a bottle and a cup and may be more suitable for a 7 month old, than a hard spouted cup.

I'd recommend a Doidy cup (assuming you want completely free-flowing) although a 7 month old would need to be closely supervised with one. Or a Tommee Tippee free-flow spouted cup possibly, which can be used a bit more independently by a baby. For non-leaking options a 360 or weighted straw cup is a possible option.

Regarding your DS not taking a bottle, you may find he'll cooperate eventually, particular if offered it in a completely new setting (nursery of childminder) when you aren't there. So may be worth keeping options open. I know my childminder has had lots of success giving bottles to previous bottle-refusers.

I'd also highly recommend partial weaning, if you haven't already thought about it. It doesn't need to be all or nothing when returning to work. Although obviously if you simply want to stop BF then then please disregard that point! kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning-partial/

We had real difficulty introducing a bottle with my now 9 month old. She was a hue refuser. My husband had to feed as she would always go the breast with me.

We put her into a routine and started with one bottle a day, gradually increasing to two/three etc. Eventually she took it, but I really didn’t think she would.

I kept up two beast feeds a day; the first and the one before bed and then reduced to just the first of the day. Two weeks ago she dropped it and is now on three bottles of formula a day.

Only advice is to find a routine, try on bottle when baby isn’t starving, and stick to this routine. Eg a bottle feed at 11am every day.

You have to give it time and commit. It will work.

Good to start earlier than your return to work, good luck!

I went back to work at the same stage with a bottle-refusing EBF baby, she never EVER took a bottle if i was near by (and belive me I tried) but i had to go to work so i ended up just leaving her at nursery warning them she wouldn't take a bottle and then rushing off hoping for the best! Turned out she would take a bottle of she knew i wasnt their, and she was eating some solid food too which helped. I continued to breast feed when she was with me and she took a bottle at nursery or with my mother in law if she was hungry enough but i never once saw her drink formula!

My DD was a bit older (10.5 months) but we went for replacing one feed with a bottle, then the next week adding another and so on. Do whatever works for your timescale just obviously don't switch all at once. My DD took MAM bottles so no advice on cups sorry (because she still uses the bottles at 18 months 🤦‍♀️). Just to add, she would take ready made formula but absolutely refused powdered. Such a princess 🙄

Turned out she would take a bottle of she knew i wasnt their

Mine was exactly the same.

The other suggestion I read that worked for us was, whoever is trying to feed them with a bottle, get them to offer it before they're hungry, so they can learn there's milk in there before they get hungry and then progressively more upset as this strange thing is shoved in their face! Apparently DS face was a picture when he realised milk was coming out of the bottle!

Why can't u do a bit of both?

Thank you for all yoursuggestions they are very helpful!

Regarding doing both, I’m a paramedic so work shifts so once I go back
I don’t think I’ll be able to do both as I won’t have a set shift. Luckily husband works from home which is why formula seems the easiest way.

If you are keen to keep breastfeeding I don't think shift work should be a problem. Feed her when you are there are formula when you are at work, whatever times you work. If you are keen to keep going it's definitely worth a try.

My baby is now older and sometimes feeds once a day (occasionally not at all in a day) and sometimes 3 times and my supply seems to keep up with it. Once supply is established, it seems remarkably flexible.

Of course if you are happy or want to stop feeding her now, there's no reason why you can't switch fully to formula.

If you want to keep breast feeding shift work shouldn't matter at that age - your supply will be pretty well established so not having a "routine" shouldn't make too much of a difference. Up to you and your baby though. Good luck x

Definitely agree that shift work shouldn't be a barrier to partial weaning and still BF when you are together, assuming that's the only reason you plan to stop BF. My DC was very flexible with breastfeeding once I returned to work, and although it was a set working pattern it meant that some days he had no feeds, and other days had lots, my supply adjusted accordingly. Obviously if there are other factors in the decision to stop, that's another matter.