When to start mix bf and ff feeds

[Jiji100]

Hi,

I've been exclusively bf my ds for the last 4 months but am returning to full time work (sadly need to for financial reasons :( ) when my son is 6.5 months. My plan was to bf for 6 months but I think I might like to do morning and night feeds when I am working.

Do you think I should introduce formula now so that he is used to it before I go back to work (or can I leave it another month?)

If anyone has any experience I'd be grateful for some advice!

Yes - I would introduce a bottle as soon as. I would, however, express so he gets used to the bottle first and then when he takes it happily switch to formula gradually after a week or so.

I went back to work when my DD was 6 months, and I continued to BF her morning and last thing at night until she was 12 months.

Pick a time when he's not too hungry and then he won't get frustrated.
HTH

Thanks Coffee! That does really help and glad to hear from someone else who did it too.

I've already expressed and had someone else give it to him by bottle (so OH and I could have a night out, for going see my boss etc).

Just wondering if I should wait another month I suppose rather than do it too soon.

The HV was quite unhelpful when I asked her!

Ahh great you're half way there then!

It might take a while for your DS to find a formula he likes I suppose, although both my DDs went with Aptamil which was the first one I tried and they were happy from feed number1!

Another friend had trouble getting her DS onto formula so she mixed it with EBM first and then gradually weaned him off it, although she was doing that to get him completely off the boob IIRC.

I'd have a go fairly soon in case there's a problem. Good Luck!

Some babies take a long time to get used to the bottle and it can be frustrating so expressing and giving one or two bottle a day is a good idea. Mine didn't have a problem switching to formula but I had to try a couple of different bottles before they took to it. I did same as you - morning and night feed from 6 months old to 9 months old (then I got pregnant again even though I was BF.) Both mine also took aptamil really well.

Well done on the breast feeding front my son gave up with my boobs after just 5 weeks, he wouldn't latch and would just scream. Kept him going with expressed and froze extra until 10 weeks but then I had nothing left. I started weaning him on to formula one feed every 3-5 days so he would have time to get used to it. He has also done really well on aptimal. I'm going back to work soon due to financial reasons too, I know how you feel.

Well done for breastfeeding so well!

I'd leave the formula for now... its introducing greater risks for him catching an illness, which with all the flu going round at the moment, it might be best to postpone til closer to spring. (Obviously, if you couldn't breastfeed then the formula would be life saving for your baby; I'm not trying to demonize formula.) It'll also sve money and time as formula is expensive and a hassle to make up.

Remember, at 6 months you'll be introducing solids, and this cuts down their milk feeds anyway.

How do you feel about expressing? Most of my friends who went back to work at the 6 month stage expressed a couple of feeds a day for the baby (you can build up a supply in the freezer) and then did morning and evening breastfeeds. Unfortunately I'm the worlds expresser and never got on with this approach. I'd have done it if I could though.

Mine would never takes bottles, and as I waited til 6 months, I could put them straight onto a sippy cup (with bfeeds morning and evening). Much easier.

Thanks everyone!

I am going to work on expressing a bigger supply for my freezer so that there is something to feed DS. He is a hungry thing at the moment so I am struggling to have much to "spare"!

I had a look at the cost of the formula today - wow - I hope I can avoid buying too much of this. I think Apatmil is going to be the formula of choice though..

Right - while he is sleeping I need to get expressing!

Next step, start leaving him during the day with his Dad and my SIL who will be taking over when I go back to work. (Maybe the lottery win will come and then I can stay home instead)