To hate formula feeding?

[Dustypinks]

It’s not meant to be a BF vs FF thread. It’s just how I personally feel.

I hate the fact I’ve no easy, quick way of comforting my baby. I hate the fact that if I give him a bottle and he won’t go to sleep I have to wait hours until he’s hungry enough to accept another one. I hate worrying about his teeth. I hate the cost!

I know it suits some people and I’m not trying to suggest they are wrong. I personally hate it though.

Oh @Lou98 what a lovely comment!

@PumpkinKlNG

Hmmmm weird comments! If the poster had put up that she hates bf she would get nothing but support but because she’s put up that she hates ff she’s told that she should like it and how great it is? No one would be saying how great BF was if she put up that she hated it, I think it’s good to see a post about hating ff as there are so many about hating BF making it sound all negative and how ff is some magical alternative.

Yep! Totally agree!

Sorry you’re having a hard time. Was it a choice to FF? How old is your baby?

How old is your little one OP? I felt the same when we made the switch (started off BFing for a number of reasons but then decided to FF), it felt relentless at first and I did miss the feeling of being able to soothe with a breast, but found some things that helped:

Bought the MAM bottles that can be sterilised in the microwave- saved a lot of faffing!

Switched to the cheapest formula powder seen as though they're all much of a muchness as the regulations are so strict.

Bought a perfect prep machine. I know there are other ways to prepare bottles etc but honestly, it made such a difference.

Took a bit of time but found ways to soothe DS quickly when needed, sometimes a dummy but also he liked having his feet rubbed whilst being cuddled which did the trick :D personally I didn't worry about teeth but appreciate some do.

Its not unreasonable to dislike it as everyone feels differently about everything, but hopefully there are some tips that can help, at least even a tiny bit.

@PumpkinKlNG

Hmmmm weird comments! If the poster had put up that she hates bf she would get nothing but support but because she’s put up that she hates ff she’s told that she should like it and how great it is? No one would be saying how great BF was if she put up that she hated it, I think it’s good to see a post about hating ff as there are so many about hating BF making it sound all negative and how ff is some magical alternative.

I completely agree. With my first DC I breastfed to six months and then FF and tbh it was a bit of a shock what an annoying faff formula feeding turned out to be, and that it didn't magically fix his sleeping, because all I'd ever heard was how amazingly easy and convenient it was. They both have pros and cons but for some reason you're only supposed to mention the cons for breastfeeding.

As a foster parent I am grateful to formula, it means I can safely nourish the babies I care for. I don't know where I would be without it.

I think both ways have benefits and drawbacks. I combi-fed both of mine to try to get best of both worlds and it worked great for us. Good thing is whatever you do it isn't for long, the baby phase is over after a year or 2 x

Oh also does LO take a dummy? Thank could help x

It’s probably influenced by fact you are ff unplanned and against what you wanted. You are looking at negatives. Comfort is comfort - cuddling, rocking, talking to baby. It’s good there’s a safe alternative available (versus condensed milk or bread and water that they used in olden days or 3rd world countries today without safe water) It’s not what you wanted for DC. It’s such a short time they are on just milk.

I'm guessing it wasn't your initial choice to FF then?

I hated the idea of exclusively formula feeding because when sleep deprived I'm very disorganized and would quite blatently have forgotten some crucial feeding thing and be left with angry hungry baby.

I managed to forget nappies on more than 1 occasion so did not trust myself!

Obviously BF is free but a box of formula costs about £9 and can last a week, that'll be nothing in comparison to how much your baby will cost when they start eating? I'm FF as BF was unsuccessful. The most tedious part of it, for me, is the sterilising but I do it as there's no alternative.

I just personally find it very difficult to get baby to sleep without feeding. Won’t take a dummy and being bounced up and down and cuddled doesn’t really help.

If it’s any help, Ds is bf and refused bottles. He’s never fallen asleep feeding. Still needed the whole walk around room a million times or in sling walking constantly to sleep.
I think some babies, regardless of how they are fed just don’t fall asleep feeding.

Just to add - we use the cold water straliser system so the bottles are ready as soon as we need them. We just take them out of the water, use the Tommy tippee prep machine and done - 2 mins of crying max. We found our machine on market place for £40 so it's worth a look. We use Aldi from birth formula as it's £6.99. He seems perfectly happy

Well don’t do it then.

YANBU.

I am currently BFing baby number 3 and between the 3 of them I am very well versed in the pros and cons of both BF and FF.

I also absolutely hated FFing my 2nd (I was technically combi but as soon as he started the bottle at 4 months he wouldn't take the bottle or the boob).

Of course there are other ways to comfort a baby, but they aren't as easy. BUT the counter is the horrendousness that is cluster/fussy feeding.

You are 100% right about cost of formula. We are lucky that it wasn't an issue for us, but I find it so sad when someone who can barely make ends meet is formula feeding when in most cases they have free milk on tap.

It is a lot easier to leave the house when all you need is nappies and your boobs BUT the counter is that if you want to leave the baby you need to plan ahead and pump.

Yes ff is a hassle to feed the baby in the middle of the night BUT the counter is that dad can help out occasionally.

The faff and organisation for keeping bottles clean and having formula made in time to cool etc is also a pest! BUT I also never seem to have sterile pump parts when my boobs are exploding.

What I'm trying to say is there is no easy way to parent... be it birthing, feeding, sleeping, etc. Its all hard. If there was an easy path we'd all be doing the same thing.

If its getting you down then please try to remember that there are many cons to the alternatives too.

And ignore the arsey comments... it is the standard feeding thread that instead of a genuine discussion becomes a need for everyone to justify their own decisions.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Children cost a fortune, it’s a known fact before having them. Begrudging the cost of milk seems very sad.

If you've planned to breastfeed and can't, it's a kick in the teeth tbh.

That poster is best ignored, @herculesoffline, she’s unpleasant everywhere.

@Claypotkitchentable

Well don’t do it then.

Helpful - what exactly do you suggest the OP does? Just not feed her baby?

I also hate ff, only actually ff pet lambs but it was enough to put me off and persist with bf. Both mine were combined fed at first.
Its the cleaning, mixing, make sure its the correct temp and each one has had enough, especially if theres a few slow feeders. And when people say cold water sterilisers are great neither the lambs or babies will drink it with a hint on milton, then there's the different teats (worse with the lambs). I stress about leaving the lambs so no chance of leaving a baby!

OP doesn’t need to be told how great formula is. She’s using it, she knows it’s the best alternative to breastfeeding, she’s got it. She’s allowed to express the things she doesn’t love about it, just like breastfeeding mothers are allowed to talk about the aspects of breastfeeding that they find difficult and unwelcome. In neither case is it helpful for others to pile on and say ‘but it’s so great!’ like the poster’s experience is invalid.

I didn't hate it, and would definitely try it again, but I do know what you mean about the stress of trying to make up a bottle while a baby is screaming in your ear. No ninety seconds has ever felt so long!

I do think it's rotten that it's almost taboo to admit FF can be stressful and annoying. There should be more support.

Does your baby take a bottle when it's cold, btw? I know guidance changes all the time so this may be out of date (DD was a baby in 2017), but if so, you could make up some bottles, chill them quickly, and store in the fridge for (IIRC) 24 hours? I was really surprised to find DD didn't care they were cold at all (it was a hot summer and we were quite keen to keen her cool anyway!).

I don’t really mean won’t take a bottle when it’s cold or hot - just that I get get him to take a bottle when he’s had one. So if he is very tired or upset,he won’t just go on the breast (obviously, as he isn’t BF!) as BF babies will for comfort.

@Dustypinks

I just personally find it very difficult to get baby to sleep without feeding. Won’t take a dummy and being bounced up and down and cuddled doesn’t really help.

I think taking a dummy makes a lot of difference, although will be easier in the long run as don't have to wean them off, feel for you now that they won't take one :(