Active discussions

Best Amazon Prime Day deals: Mumsnet favourites

Best Amazon Prime Day deals:
Mumsnet favourites

Shop now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
YankSplaining · 15/01/2026 00:55

Breastfeeding brought so much negativity into my experience of motherhood that I regret not formula-feeding from birth.

halfpastten · 15/01/2026 01:10

Yes, i wish I had been able to BF for longer. There are health benefits for the child, gut health etc, and that has to be the main consideration.

Parker231 · 15/01/2026 07:33

OrangefIuff · 14/01/2026 23:19

That’s really interesting @Livingthebestlife as in my experience the beauty of breastfeeding is the portability and convenience and complete lack of any need to be tied to schedules as you just feed on demand! I’ve fed absolutely all over the place 😄

You are very tied with breastfeeding as only you can do it whereas with formula DH, family and friends can give bottles.

Upsetbetty · 15/01/2026 08:46

Parker231 · 15/01/2026 07:33

You are very tied with breastfeeding as only you can do it whereas with formula DH, family and friends can give bottles.

Show quote history

But you are only “tied” to feeding…anyone can all the other things for you.

Parker231 · 15/01/2026 08:50

Upsetbetty · 15/01/2026 08:46

But you are only “tied” to feeding…anyone can all the other things for you.

Show quote history

I didn’t want to be tied to feeding and DH and family loved giving bottles - a win for everyone.

tedibear · 15/01/2026 09:03

That’s an easy no. I did it for a week with my first just to see if it was as easy as some had told me. Plan was to combi feed eventually. Well it wasn’t easy, it was agony and my milk never came in so there was no choice. I’d have switched to formula anyway though.

With second child I just gave colostrum for 2 day then straight to formula. Then ofcourse this time my milk came in but no regrets. Breast feeding was not for me, I couldn’t believe how painful it was and dreaded the next feed. I can’t believe I actually tried for a week with my first as I didn’t have my heart set on it but I think once u start it’s harder to stop and u feel guilty.

Katemax82 · 15/01/2026 09:09

I breastfed but my daughter had a tongue tie so had formula and expressed milk in a bottle until her tongue tie was sorted. When my son was born a few years later I had formula ready and waiting as I was worried he would also have tongue tie and I wanted to make sure he was fed. As long as baby is fed don't worry about it. My sister exclusively formula fed her 2 they're fine, same with a lot of people I know. The stigma can fuck off. Also my best friend was bullied into breastfeeding when she wasn't producing enough milk and her baby got very ill so I feel strongly about not pressuring women to breastfeed

TreeDudette · 15/01/2026 09:09

Nope, not a jot. She is a very healthy 15 year old now.

Katemax82 · 15/01/2026 09:11

MonsterMunchforbreakfast · 14/01/2026 18:41

Guilt yes but no regrets, not now. I found it such an incredibly painful experience and it was making me so depressed. I felt so pressurised by my midwife to push through the pain and not give up and I started to dread the whole thing then one day the midwife came with another midwife, this wonderful woman took me in another room and said that she could see how miserable I looked and although she wasn't supposed to say it she recommended that I turn to formula, that day felt like a weight had been lifted off my post natal depressed shoulders. I became a happy mum and was really able to enjoy my baby.

Two years later I had my DD and tried again but it was too uncomfortable so I gave up and had no regrets.

They are 20 and 17 now and very happy.

It's disgusting how some midwives pressure new mums into breastfeeding

Upsetbetty · 15/01/2026 09:34

Parker231 · 15/01/2026 08:50

I didn’t want to be tied to feeding and DH and family loved giving bottles - a win for everyone.

Show quote history

That’s fair…I loved it. It was a great way of getting out of things 🤣🤣

Allswellthatendswelll · 15/01/2026 20:41

Mindyourfunkybusiness · 14/01/2026 19:16

I think you missed the part where I said everyone I KNOW. Family members, my close female friends, like actual loved ones. They've all had struggles, sorry that bothers you.

Instead of being bothered that you and friends have had positive experiences and taking it personally, I'm very happy for you and your friends. Congratulations! Wish it was the same for my loved ones and not an ongoing shitshow it has been for some. My formula feeding loved ones have all had positive experiences except for one actually (but their child had milk allergy and an autoimmune disease found later on in life ) but it settled once Dr's figured stuff out.

What you do, or do not, is frankly of no interest to me. Slag off what you want or who you want too, again, not my problem, I dont know you (and don't want to know you). I'd like to be left out of it though! Thanks.

I'm very happy for you and your friends having a positive breast feeding experience, maybe op would like to know if you think about the positive breast feeding experience on a regular basis.
Then she can weigh up what's best for her. Maybe ask OP if she'd like to hear your and your friends positive breast feeding experiences.

Show quote history

I think OP should do what's best for her and her family. I did say that anecdotally friends of mine found breastfeeding much easier for second/ third babies. But that is anecdotal.

I objected to the insinuation in your previous post that breastfed babies have some kind of warped attachment or are over attached to their mothers. I think it's complete nonsense to link attributes children have at 10 or 11 to how they were fed as babies.

I think you can be positive about formula feeding without having to bash breastfeeding and visa versa.

Parker231 · 16/01/2026 09:01

The thread isn’t about breastfeeding but whether anyone regretted using formula.

No - it’s amazing, healthy baby and happy parents

Mindyourfunkybusiness · 16/01/2026 09:28

Allswellthatendswelll · 15/01/2026 20:41

I think OP should do what's best for her and her family. I did say that anecdotally friends of mine found breastfeeding much easier for second/ third babies. But that is anecdotal.

I objected to the insinuation in your previous post that breastfed babies have some kind of warped attachment or are over attached to their mothers. I think it's complete nonsense to link attributes children have at 10 or 11 to how they were fed as babies.

I think you can be positive about formula feeding without having to bash breastfeeding and visa versa.

Edited
Show quote history

Idk tell op your experience about breast feeding not me.

Aged 10 or 11? Where did you get these ages from? I don't recall giving an age so please don't be making shit up and putting that on me.

If you have a question, please ask. Don't make shit up and then get angry at the shit you make up, that's unhinged.

Both feeding ways are personal preference, I really do not care about what people do.

All the best. 🖐

Original poster
Needsomeguidance103 · 16/01/2026 15:34

Parker231 · 16/01/2026 09:01

The thread isn’t about breastfeeding but whether anyone regretted using formula.

No - it’s amazing, healthy baby and happy parents

Yes Thank you! This post was just about formula feeding mums and if they had any regrets as that is what I’m planning to do with this baby.

I understand Breastfeeding can be very very beneficial to both mum and baby and I’m aware for many woman that they absolutely loved their journey. I’m aware breast feeding doesn’t mean = weird attachment to mum and breast feeding doesn’t mean more wake ups that formula feeding. I did lots of research before having DC1 and watching friends have beautiful bf journeys with lovely happy little babies was why I wanted to in the first place but things didn’t work out with dc1 and I’ve got a bit of a trauma from it!

OP posts:
WannabeMathematician · 16/01/2026 16:06

It’s noticeable that all the mums that are going “not at all” and feel the need for no more details seem to actually done it from birth. No need to explain or expand. Might be my bias but they seem like they are the most content as they have nothing more to add!

OrangefIuff · 16/01/2026 16:52

Parker231 · 15/01/2026 07:33

You are very tied with breastfeeding as only you can do it whereas with formula DH, family and friends can give bottles.

Show quote history

This is true (unless you express). However, in my case, DH, family and friends simply did lots of other jobs instead while I sat there with my feet up was feeding. 😄

AliTheMinx · 16/01/2026 17:50

No. I decided before birth and am super happy with the decision. It worked perfectly well and suited DH and I. Absolutely no regrets whatsoever.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread