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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Did you ever regret formula feeding from birth?

217 replies

Needsomeguidance103 · 14/01/2026 16:01

I say from birth but I’m considering ff as soon as we get home from the hospital after giving baby colostrum in the hospital.

With DS I tried, and tried, and tried to get him to latch but due to a rough start in nicu and latching issues we stopped at 9 weeks and I went onto formula. I think I have a bit of trauma from it all… I’m thinking will it be easier, especially with a toddler at home to do bottles/formula from day one?

Did you ever regret not trying breast feeding or are you happy with your choice?

please no arguments or nastiness in the comments, happy for discussions and opinions though

OP posts:
carbonelthecat · 14/01/2026 16:02

Nope, as I was advised not to breastfeed because of medication I was taking and I was just grateful there was a safe alternative to feed my baby.

Joolsin · 14/01/2026 16:04

Not for a single second. I tried BF with my eldest and it was the most miserable 2.5 weeks of my life, contributing hugely to PPD. With my second, straight to formula and happy days. I'm all for trying it, if that's what a woman wants, but it wasn't for me.

Spoodles · 14/01/2026 16:05

Honestly no. He was happy, healthy and gained weight and I wasn't left as the only one who could feed him. No negatives or regrets at all with my decision.

HelenaWaiting · 14/01/2026 16:05

This reply has been deleted

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babylamb4 · 14/01/2026 16:06

I’ve had five babies, it was never a decision to breast breed for me. Straight on the bottle for all of them and all visitors that came too meet baby got handed the baby and the bottle lol

Original poster
Needsomeguidance103 · 14/01/2026 16:06

Joolsin · 14/01/2026 16:04

Not for a single second. I tried BF with my eldest and it was the most miserable 2.5 weeks of my life, contributing hugely to PPD. With my second, straight to formula and happy days. I'm all for trying it, if that's what a woman wants, but it wasn't for me.

I feel I have so much trauma from our breastfeeding journey with my first that contributed to post natal anxiety and I’m just worried about it happening again. I felt like I spent 9 weeks pumping, trying to latch him, rather than enjoying my baby.

OP posts:
TabbyMcTattle · 14/01/2026 16:06

My first baby NEVER latched. It was traumatic.
Formula is literally an actual gods ed, miracle of science when needed - but it's still a UPF and obviously doesn't have the advantages of breast milk.

My second baby hopped on the boob like we'd been doing it all out lives. I thought I would add bottles in but actually, with a toddler running around it was way easier to get my boob out that make up and sterilise bottles!

Second time might be different, you might have more headspace to see an IBCLC this time if breastfeeding is important to you, but DO NOT beat yourself up about it if it doesn't work out. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.

Parker231 · 14/01/2026 16:09

Not at all - never tried to breastfeed. Loved the easy of formula and that DH and the wider family could give bottles. Didn’t want the sole responsibility for feeding.
DC’s were healthy and I was happy!

Original poster
Needsomeguidance103 · 14/01/2026 16:09

TabbyMcTattle · 14/01/2026 16:06

My first baby NEVER latched. It was traumatic.
Formula is literally an actual gods ed, miracle of science when needed - but it's still a UPF and obviously doesn't have the advantages of breast milk.

My second baby hopped on the boob like we'd been doing it all out lives. I thought I would add bottles in but actually, with a toddler running around it was way easier to get my boob out that make up and sterilise bottles!

Second time might be different, you might have more headspace to see an IBCLC this time if breastfeeding is important to you, but DO NOT beat yourself up about it if it doesn't work out. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.

I think some people don’t believe us when we say our babies wouldn’t latch. He was in nicu tube fed for 8 days and when he came home I had every feeding and lactation specialist over to help, went to bf groups. He would latch for 10 seconds pull off and cry. I tried cranial osteopath and everything, he just hated the breast.

I keep telling myself second baby might be better and a different experience

OP posts:
MarxistMags · 14/01/2026 16:11

Not at all. It was the best thing for babies (3) and for me.
My first child DD, was fed on Coronation Milk as advised by the maternity unit....
A long time ago ! The 2 boys were fed SMA.

mynameiscalypso · 14/01/2026 16:11

I BF for about five days and then switched to FF. no regrets at all. I hated BF with a passion. I felt a huge sense of dread and resentment whenever it looked like DS was about to wake up because I’d knew he’d want a feed. That didn’t feel, to me, like a very healthy way to bond with my baby so I made the decision to stop and it was the best thing for me/us.

Andtheworldwentwhite · 14/01/2026 16:17

My son is now 22. And not one day in his life have I ever thought I should have breast fed. I had a rotten birth and after giving birth was also awful. I think I would have gone insane if I couldn’t have just handed him over for someone else to feed him. Not one tiny bit of my mind thought I was doing the wrong thing and I still don’t today either.

Andnowshesatoddler · 14/01/2026 16:20

Absolutely not.
I almost had a break down and if I had to sit and BF it would have tipped me over I was fortunate to have an amazing support network and being able to share the feeds really helped.

Andnowshesatoddler · 14/01/2026 16:22

MarxistMags · 14/01/2026 16:11

Not at all. It was the best thing for babies (3) and for me.
My first child DD, was fed on Coronation Milk as advised by the maternity unit....
A long time ago ! The 2 boys were fed SMA.

Off the topic somewhat but how interesting.
What year was this approximate?
My sister was born in the mid 70s and story has it her dummy was dipped in brandy (think it was brandy, some alcohol if not)

Livingthebestlife · 14/01/2026 16:22

Formula fed all of mine except youngest who went straight onto prescribed milk. I seen friends and family who breast fed and tbh it put me right off, I really didn't like how they all had baby constantly attached to them, they couldn't do anything, they couldn't go anywhere, even to the shops was down to timings and every single wake and feed was done by them, I loved how my DH did all the night feeds ensuring I slept through so that I was refreshed the next day for when he was in work. Loved being able to let others feed, loved that my life wasn't restricted as I seen all friends and family turn down absolutely everything because of baby.

Boomer55 · 14/01/2026 16:23

No-e. My kids are now in their 40s. Happy, healthy and in good careers. 👍

StasisMom · 14/01/2026 16:23

No I don’t regret it. DD20 and DS13 perfectly healthy. I tried bf with her but we both couldn’t grasp it, I just went straight for the bottle, so to speak, with him.

GreenPoms · 14/01/2026 16:23

Not for one second.

Devilsmommy · 14/01/2026 16:25

I tried bf first but it was too painful and he couldn't latch properly. Gave him formula straight away in the hospital rather than keeping on trying because I didn't want my baby going hungry whilst I kept trying to force breastfeeding. I've got zero regrets at all. Don't tie yourself up in knots over it. Many babies are formula fed and there's no difference in children because of how they were fed. To be honest I'm glad he was ff because though bf may be better for baby it sounds like hell when they're toddlers and refusing to give up the boob. Neither are better than the other. FED IS BEST

user665178392470 · 14/01/2026 16:27

No. Struggled and made myself most unhappy the first time round. With the second I was quite ill and never tried at all.

ResusciAnnie · 14/01/2026 16:27

Nope. I do hugely regret breastfeeding until my child was a failure to thrive, 2nd centile after having been born at the 75th (and 91st for length). Cheers HVs and breast is best brigade!

Bringemout · 14/01/2026 16:29

I breastfed for a few weeks and then quit. DD has always been extremely robust, she’s often the only kid standing after a flu goes around. Don’t even think about it anymore.

Bluebluesummer · 14/01/2026 16:30

Many people I know never even thought about trying BF and FF from birth. It wasn’t something they even considered. They definitely never felt regret. They don’t remotely place a value on BF so why would they be bothered. One of them I’m thinking of has a PhD in the food science area and works in that field. Never even considered BF, just not her bag.

Contrarymary30 · 14/01/2026 16:31

I tried with the first and fourth but I really hated it and was miserable . I got cracked ripples and my first baby vomited blood , I didn't connect the two so was terrified and called the GP . He came and was really condescending, treating me like I was just a stupid woman for not realising . Forth child I tried again but he was losing weight so was recommended to bottle feed , this was the 70s . I have no regrets , bottle feeding was far less stressful and both ds are over 6 ft and healthy .

Frettle · 14/01/2026 16:32

There’s a lot of martyrdom around breastfeeding and I think people put unnecessary pressure on themselves (and others) to be able to do it. I didn’t do it with either child because I wanted DH to be equally responsible for everything. I didn’t want to deal with pumping or mastitis or having a baby on me constantly. I wanted to go out without worrying whether we had enough milk or about having to freeze it. I’d have spent any amount of money to make the baby stage easier and being able to pass baby off to DH and relax is non-negotiable. Breastfeeding would have made my life infinitely harder.