Switching to combination and gradually stopping bf.

[ButterpieBride]

I think me and DD2 are getting to the end of our bf. She feeds constantly and wants milk whenever I am near her, then messes about when feeding, coming on and off, standing up on my knee, crawling if we are lying down and so on.

I was just getting through it, but she is at nursery two days a week now and my breast pump has broken so we have been sending formula, and I forgot to express during the wedding (I fed her till 3pm, then started drinking) so I think my supply is now dwindling. I know I could build it back up but...I don't want to.

I know that is probably selfish, and I wanted to get to a year, but I am starting to resent feeding her and tbh I think I have been looking for an excuse. She is 9.5mo so it's not like we're giving up at the first hurdle.

I'm thinking I will gradually switch over to formula, keeping at least one feed until she is at least a year. Is this possible?

What do I need to know about formula feeding?

no reason why it shouldn't be possible - just decide which feed to do - probably last thing at night or first thing in the morning. I might go for the first thing in the morning one just because it has no connection with going to sleep.

You have done really well to get to 9.5 months - she has had a good start. Don't feel guilty if you have now had enough.

You should be able to move over to full cream cows milk soon too and ditch formula altogether.

9.5 months is a long time so well done for
getting this far. I wanted to go to 12 months originally with DS1 but by 10 months I'd had enough of the messing around and biting. I don't really think it's selfish to want your boobs back and the freedom of giving up bfing after such a length of time. BFing is emotional though and it is hard not to feel some sense of loss.
I gradually added formula first to afternoon then morning and lastly night feed but you could keep going with any of the feeds you want to if you do it regularly .
best wishes with whatever you decide
x

My problem is that she has no routine- how will I know when she wants a bottle? I obviously know when she wants milk, but with formula, I will have to guess how much she wants as well, and whether she is just after comfort or if she is actually hungry. Plus her signs will be different, surely- atm she pats my boob or tries to undress me.

What's all this about not being able to make it in advance these days? How many bottles does a normal 9.5mo get through? I don't need to sterilise do I? Can she have cows milk if we run out of formula?