Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Breast to formula

30 replies

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 21:01

Please help me. I’ve posted before but nothing is working. I’m so desperate to go back on my meds and to be able to go out. 7 month old baby will not take formula. He will take water from a cup and bottle, but not formula he just spits it out and screams. He’s eating 3 meals a day but is still breastfeeding 4-5 times. I just want to be able to go back to work and to go back on my medication.

Can I please have some tips / advice from mums of stubborn babies.

OP posts:
Happytap · 02/06/2022 21:05

Maybe he has a dairy allergy if he is screaming at formula? Will he take breast milk from a bottle?

id try that first and then gradually introduce formula (maybe try a dairy free one or a different brand)

good luck - and it’s only until 1 he needs any breast milk or formula at all

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/06/2022 21:07

Can you pump and see if he'll take that?

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 02/06/2022 21:09

Have you tried formula from an open cup?

Have you contacted the breastfeeding network about your meds to check on their suitably or ask a pharmacist or the breast feeding network for an alternative.

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 21:16

He won’t take anything but water from a cup.

i can’t pump anymore, it took me two days to get 3oz (which I dropped on the floor 🥲)

theres no alternative for me meds unfortunately.

i just feel so down about it. I want to continue but I know I can’t for much longer.

OP posts:
Applegreenb · 02/06/2022 21:30

My little one did this! Keep pumping and see if you can build up a store.

Basically my LO could taste a massive difference and had a preference for breast. So I started mixing breast milk and formula slowly switching the ratio so they had more formula and after a week or so they were fully on formula

1st: 7oz breast to 1oz formula
2nd: 6oz breast to 2 oz formula
3rd: 5oz breast to 3 oz formula etc…

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/06/2022 21:34

Has anyone else tried? If they know you're there, they know the milk is too!

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 21:38

My husband is trying but he’s only home for one feed a day. I honestly can’t pump. I’ve tried two different pumps and I just can’t get much of anything out anymore.

OP posts:
Perplexed0522 · 02/06/2022 21:43

Oh OP, I feel your frustration.

With my second DC I tried to transition him from breast to dairy free formula and it was a total nightmare. He was probably about 5-6 months old at the time and he absolutely refused to drink from a bottle or cup so I had no choice but to carry on BF. Plus I’m sure formula doesn’t taste too good after many, many months of breast milk so I doubt that helps matters either.

My first DC never took a bottle either.

It’s definitely the downside to breastfeeding.

I have no advice really seeing it was something I failed to achieve, but I just wanted to offer some solidarity.

PartyPlan · 02/06/2022 21:46

I have an 8 month old and struggle to pump too, despite being able to feed DS on the breast. I would try open or sippy cups with formula or anything you can express.

My DS wouldn’t take a bottle, but when I’m out all day he takes one from DH. Can you try leaving him for a day to see if he relents?

sjxoxo · 02/06/2022 21:49

I’ve no exact experience of the same scenario but I’d try lots of
different cups and lots pf
difderent formula! They definitely do not all taste the same- my baby boy prefers bottle to breast and he definitely prefers some formula over others. X

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 21:51

We’ve trie every formula, even the follow on stuff to see if it tastes different. I’ve even been tempted to see if he will take cows milk and try mixing it with formula. He’s just so stubborn.

OP posts:
HowManyDaysReally · 02/06/2022 21:55

It could be a dairy allergy. You could see the Gp and see if you can get a prescription for non dairy formula and see if that is any better?

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 21:57

He eats plenty of dairy and is fine so I don’t think it’s that. He just hates the formula, it pisses him off haha!

OP posts:
HelloGoodbye20 · 02/06/2022 21:58

Hey,

It gets better! Take a second and breathe.

I was in a similar situation to the point my LO wouldn't even take breast milk from a bottle but I stood firm in my decision and still ensured he tried a bottle of formula (Kendamill). I would let him BF for a few mins and give him the bottle straight away but started it around the middle of day and weaned him off at night. Sometimes it's the bottle too so you could try a different bottle.

All the best x

Nsws2015 · 02/06/2022 22:01

Have you tried kendamil? The stuff smelt like delicious porridge when I made my son a bottle...unfortunately he did have cmpa so had to move to one that smelt like vile quavers!!!

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 22:11

We’ve not tried that one yet as the supermarkets we’ve been too only sell it in tubs, and it’s expensive waste if he won’t drink it. If I could get it in bottles then I’d try it for sure.

OP posts:
DownToTheSeaAgain · 02/06/2022 22:16

Have you tried using a cup to deliver formula? Not you (because your dc will smell you) but another member of the family?

Bobbybobbins · 02/06/2022 22:16

I had to put my DS onto special formula at 10 months as he had CMPA and it was grim. The GP suggested using sugar free nesquik in it for a few weeks til he accepted it and it worked.

You have my sympathies as both of mine were really hard to get off BF. In the end I chose the mid morning feed and focused on that first - stopping them bfeeding at all for that feed. I had more success with a cup than a bottle.

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 22:20

Yes we’ve tried cups, he uses cups for water. My husband tries in the mornings and I go out but he’s not successful.

OP posts:
Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 22:31

I have been tempted by nesquick!

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 02/06/2022 22:51

Try different bottles, which ones have you got?

Original poster
RibNSaucyArseCrack · 02/06/2022 22:54

We’ve tried Tommee tippee, dr browns, mam, lanisoh, nuk and a cheap Asda one as the teat look similar size and shape to my nipple.

he uses to be combi fed. But I got lazy and stopped making bottles.

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 02/06/2022 23:00

Maybe he has a dairy allergy if he is screaming at formula? Will he take breast milk from a bottle?

I don’t know why the first assumption isn’t just that he doesn’t like it? Formula is very different smelling and tasting to breast milk, it’s disgusting.

Ask an HV before you try this because this comes from my mum regarding me (and I’m nearly 40!) but if he’s fully weaned, then maybe a mushed up rusk or baby rice in warmed cows milk might be better and something he’ll take regularly? I apparently weaned myself from the breast at about 8 months and never drank milk on its own, definitely never had formula. I liked orange juice a lot apparently! I did have plenty of dairy in yoghurts and porridge and other stuff. I was also the first born so everything home made Grin

Definitely talk it over with your HV though, it’s negatively impacting you and you need to do sooner rather than later.

rosiebl · 02/06/2022 23:16

My reluctant bf baby will only drink Kendamil formula from nuk bottles with latex teats. Think Kendamil tastes closer to breast milk than the others because they don't use fish oils. And the latex teats feel more like skin. Think Kendamil sell ready-made if you order direct.

Nsws2015 · 03/06/2022 07:35

www.savers.co.uk/Baby/Baby-Feeding/Baby-Milk-&-Formula/Kendamil-Stage-1-Ready-To-Drink-Infant-Milk-200ml/p/818949

I don't know if you have a savers near you, you can order online if need be :) the kendamil website sell a starter pack where its in ready made bottles like you'd take to hospital for a newborn but they appear to be out of stock atm. I hope something works for you soon x