To ask for help to introduce formula in 9 month old

[Kingtiger101]

Sorry posting for traffic really.

DD2 is 9 months old and breastfed and now eating some solids and water.

She’s never had a bottle of expressed milk or formula. I’m at the point now where i’d like to be able to leave her for a few hours and not worry about her needing milk.

I can’t be bothered to express so I think I’d like her to have formula on these occasions. Is it worth trying a bottle? Or should I try just a cup? She’s not great at having water from a cup is what worries me.

Anyone done this? Any advice?
Thanks

I know you said you can to Express but I mixed BM with formula and gave in a sippy cup, gradually increasing the ratios until it was all formula. I did it at 6 months though as tbh at 9 months by the time you've got her settled on formula shell be needing to switch to cows milk. Maybe worth holding off for a bit?

If it's a few hours, do you need milk?

I started work not long after my DD turned 9 months, she just had food and water whilst there

I know I left my eldest for 10 hours say when she was 11 months. But that’s still 2 months away!
Yeah I guess maybe it’s not worth it. It’s only for me to have a bit of a break. I get really anxious that she’ll want milk and I won’t be there.

I’ve left her for 3-4 hours but more is hard as although she’s good with solids getting any water in her is tricky!

Personally I wouldn't give formula. At 9m I could leave mine for several hours and he would eat food and drink water wonderfully for my mum who was looking after him even though he ate and drank bugger all for me, he just loved boobs too much (stilll does at 3!). I think you'll be surprised how well they cope for a few hours. Maybe try it but not going too far away at first in case you need to be called back and feed. If you do choose to give either ebm or formula I wouldn't bother with a bottle, just a cup. You don't want to have to get out of the habit of having a bottle at a later date!
It is extremely hard to be constantly needed and feel like you never get any time to yourself, but you have and are doing such a fantastic job providing for your little one with your BM and they are only small for such a short time. Other than going to work 2days a week at 9m when I'd come home at lunch to feed and leave ebm for nap feed, I didn't leave my boy until he was 18mo for any me time. Even now he wants me to put him to bed at night and needs his bedtime breastfeed. Some nights I just want to run out the door and leave DH to deal with it. But then I remember he won't need me forever and I'll miss these moments one day

Thanks @lildottie. I think you’re right about using the cup and you’re probably right about the length of time she could go. When I’m with her she feeds quite frequently but I suspect you’re right and if I wasn’t there she would eat and drink more!

With DD1 I hated leaving her anyway but now I’m looking after 2 all of the time it’s wearing on me a bit! It’s also about controlling my anxiety that she’ll be ok without me.

I went back to work at 9 months and my exclusively breastfed child was fine. She hardly ate any solids and She wouldn't take a bottle from me, but was happy to take it from my husband when I wasnt there.
If you start with a few hours and build up then if she does refuse the first few times then she won't starve because it will only be for a short time.

I didn't give any formula, but some of the mums I know had success with Hipp Organic where the other brands were spat out by the babies, it might be a bit sweeter or something. If you really want to try something then that's the one I'd go for.

What's her dairy tolerance like with food? Since he was younger we've given DS pancakes, oatibix or weetabix made up with milk then fruits or honey and smooth nut butter. He also loves yoghurt. While it's not ideal to give cows milk until 12 months it's fine to give some in food, so if it's less than a day you could just plan some dairy food for when she's with others.

She’s really great with food - it’s just the water in a cup. She likes to bang it rather than drink. That’s why I’m worried she’ll get thirsty not hungry without me.

I might get some Hipp Organic pre made up as I think it might just help with my anxiety if nothing else. My eldest is two and a half and not in child care at all yet and having both of them is starting to take it’s toll!