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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wibu to start giving my 11 month old formula?

49 replies

BabyLlamaZen · 23/09/2020 21:26

Please not a ff versus bf thread.

My baby has been bf since birth! For various reasons we haven't tried formula before, but he has occasionally bottle fed with pumped breastmilk but not consistently. (I know I know, I should've invested in a really good pump early on, but didn't and don't want to now!)

Now he's 11 months and my inlaws would like to start taking him more, but he still needs his milk in the day. I am also getting to the point where I would like dp to feed him a bottle so I can occasionally get a break!! Expressing with a crappy pump doesn't really work may have lost it too and I have far less milk than I used to! The only reason we've waited this long is because we weren't sure about dairy allergy but he now seems fine. So I'd like to try formula!

The thing is he's only got a month until he stops needing that milk right?! And they aren't supposed to have bottles after 12 months?

But then I'm confused as what's follow on milk then for?

I'd like to still keep breastfeeding at night and on some occasions, but the odd bottle here and there would be great! But only for a month? Is that unreasonable and a waste of time?

OP posts:
molifly14 · 23/09/2020 21:28

Why on earth would you be unreasonable to feed your baby? Of course you're not, fed is best. You've done really well to get to this point and you have to stop at some point.

Original poster
BabyLlamaZen · 23/09/2020 21:29

@molifly14

Why on earth would you be unreasonable to feed your baby? Of course you're not, fed is best. You've done really well to get to this point and you have to stop at some point.
My worry is more switching him over to a bottle for only a month and whether that might confuse him?
OP posts:
Nochangeplease · 23/09/2020 21:30

It doesn’t have to be only for a month. You can just switch to normal cows milk after his birthday and he can still have that from a bottle. Introduce a cup for the day time if you wish. Mine always still had a bottle at night, but you will be bf at night anyway. But a bottle of milk in the day is not likely to damage his teeth for a few months whilst you wean him onto a cup from the bottle.

HappyPunky · 23/09/2020 21:31

Make up the formula and put it in a cup? What does he drink water from?

NameChange30 · 23/09/2020 21:31

YANBU. I don't know when you are supposed to switch from formula to cow's milk so can't advise on that. But if you want to give formula so you can have a break from breastfeeding YANBU at all! If baby won't take a bottle you (or whoever is giving the milk) could try a cup.

If you are still open to expressing, I strongly recommend the Haakaa pump, it's not expensive and you just stick it on one boob while feeding from the other, super easy. I don't get loads and loads from it but can get enough for DH to give the occasional feed.

Pickagoddamnname · 23/09/2020 21:32

Just give him milk in a sippy cup. I agree pointless introducing a bottle. Follow on milks are pointless. If it’s just the odd drink baby will need I’d just get some ready made stage 1 formula or give blue top cows milk since it’ll only be a little drink not main source of milk

Orangedaisy · 23/09/2020 21:32

Just give him cows milk in a sippy cup for the few occasions he’s not with you. Assuming he’s eating ok and you continue the breast milk the rest of the time this will be absolutely fine.

BuffaloCauliflower · 23/09/2020 21:32

It’s probably easier to just give him milk in a cup now, formula fits that. No need to give a bottle at this stage.

mumtobabygilrl · 23/09/2020 21:33

I be my daughter to 15 months but I went back to work full time when she was 10 months- I'd BF in morning and then she would have cows milk from a soppy cup in the daytime- I'd also never had a pump do DD had never had a bottle and I didn't want to start using one at that age.

She was fine, when I was around she'd prefer breast milk, but at nursery and with others she drank cows milk or water fine

Wynston · 23/09/2020 21:33

Cant you just give cows milk in a bottle??

mumtobabygilrl · 23/09/2020 21:34

Bf not be

HOkieCOkie · 23/09/2020 21:35

I’d prob give cows milk as it’s only a month till she’ll be having it.

ftm202020 · 23/09/2020 21:35

I would just wait a couple of weeks and give him cows milk in a cup.

HOkieCOkie · 23/09/2020 21:35

Sorry “he”

Nochangeplease · 23/09/2020 21:36

Yeah I agree with others. Silly introducing formula, just go straight into cows milk. A few more weeks won’t make a difference.

SummerInSun · 23/09/2020 21:37

Agree it would seem a bit regressive to introduce a bottle at this stage - and if he hasn't used one up until now he probably won't take one at 11 months anyway - just give him his drink in a sippy cup.

Mine are a few years past this point, but I would have thought at this age he can just drink full fat cows milk if he doesn't have a dairy allergy? But look it up or check with a healthcare professional more reliable than us on the internet.

mistermagpie · 23/09/2020 21:39

I've bottle fed two children and am currently bottle feeding the third. In my experience it's not like they hit their first birthday and it's like 'right, out with the formula and the bottles and in with the cows milk and a cup!', it's a bit more gradual than that and you sort of phase the formula out over a couple of months. (My friends did it this way too, so it's fairly normal). Formula tastes really different to cows milk, so sometimes you need to replace it gradually.

As for bottles, my middle son was still having a bottle (cows milk) at bedtime when he was nearly two - the same way a lot of babies have a breast feed still at that age.

So it wouldn't be just for a month probably, but if you could go straight to a cup it might make things a bit easier in the long term I suppose.

dementedpixie · 23/09/2020 21:39

If you were still going to be breastfeeding then I'd offer small amounts of cows milk in a cup instead of formula in a bottle

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 23/09/2020 21:42

At that age, I would give cows milk in a cup (assuming they have had plenty of dairy eg milk in porridge, yoghurt & cheese and tolerated it well). It doesnt matter if it's got a bit less iron etc if it's only for occasional feeds and your child is getting a wide variety of solid food.

Thisisnotataste · 23/09/2020 21:43

Formula in a sippy cup is easiest.

However I had exactly the same thoughts with both of mine. And I did a bottle with formula from 10months part time. Because there seemed to be something more comforting for mine in a bottle than a cup. And less mess.

Its your choice. And nothing you have suggested is "wrong". Do what you feel works best for you.

And never had any problem switching from bottlw to sippy cup later.

Thisisnotataste · 23/09/2020 21:46

I chose formula over cows milk just as I was considering it a replacement for breastmilk. We also had supply cups of water of cows milk but it felt different.

Just me though!

Timekeepspassing · 23/09/2020 21:46

I would say go for the cup if you can rather than introducing bottles. I’m trying to transition my son off the bottle and he is 10 months. I give his daytime milk feeds in his sippy cup (sterilised in Milton). Took a little time for him to get used to it but he gets on well with it. If your son isn’t having bottles now just get some ready made formula for the month and give it a cup. Then transition onto cows milk after his first birthday for when you don’t want to bf and give it in the same cup.

addictedtotheflats · 23/09/2020 21:46

Can he not have food and water with your in laws? Only saying this because my DS went to nursery full days from 9 months and has never had milk when away from me, didnt bother him in the slightest

weepingwillow22 · 23/09/2020 21:50

Doidy cups work really well with breastfed babies. Mine was able to sip water from one from 6 months if I held the cup. Either formula or full fat cows milk (a couple of weeks early) would be ok. Don't bother with follow on milk it is just a marketing ploy.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 23/09/2020 21:51

Can you keep on doing what you are doing for another month old then change to cows milk?

Nothing against FF, but it just seems more effort than it's worth for only a month before you can start giving cows milk, and continue to BF for as long you you both want too obvs.

Follow on milk isn't necessary, basically the companies aren't allowed to advertise formula, it's against the law, but they produce the follow on milk so it gives them a product they can advertise, plus make a profit on and market as the best for your baby when it's really not worth it!!