Stopping breastfeeding

[Prometheus]

I am planning to stop breastfeeding my 2-month old DS in about 6 weeks time. By that time he will have been exclusively breastfed for approx 15 weeks. Lots of reasons for moving to formula and continuing to breastfeed after that date isn't really an option (returning to work etc.)

I want to plan the transition as smoothly as possible with as little disruption for DS and as little discomfort for me if possible. I really have no idea where to start - do I express breastmilk and start feeding him that in a bottle to get him used to teats or alternate breast and formula or just stop and go cold turkey??

Can anyone offer any advice please on what has worked for them? Thank you

Both DS' were given a bottle of expressed milk from very early on (few weeks old). When the time was tight for me to stop BF, we started to introduce a bottle of formula and increased from there.

Had friends who did not get on with expressing and went straight into replacing a feed with a bottle, then 2 etc. I've heard people talk about nipple confusion but never experienced it myself.

Also, remember that you may need try different formulas to find hte one that works. DS1 went onto SMA Gold but had to switch to hungry baby as he had hernia and projectile vomitted all the time (TMI!). DS2 had one bottle of SMA and didn't poo for a week! Tried another brand (can't remember which) on friend's recommendation but didn't agree with DS2 so HV recommended Aptamil which was much better for him!

I found by replacing a BF with a bottle and building up gradually meant it was easier for me - never felt overly engorged!

I have just gone back to work, DS2 is 6 months.

I knew he'd take a bottle as he'd had some ebm, so I started trasitioning 2 days before I went back to work.

day 1: didn't BF (after 7am) until 1pm. DS2 had 1 bottle1 of EBM.

day 2: didn't BF until 4pm. DS2 had 2 bottles of EBM.

day 3: (at work) didn't BF until 6pm. DS2 had 3 bottles of milk (EBM now finished, so some of it formula.

since then he has:

7am breastfeed
10.30am formula
2.30pm formula
6pm breastfeed
10pm small bottle formula followed by breastfeed.

(He also had solids at 11am and 5pm - he is 6 months old).

All very smooth transition for us both, no significant engorgement for me, and he is happy. Plan to continue like this in medium term, but would be easy to cut out morning and evening feeds if I wanted to.

Whatever you do don't go cold turkey. I had to stop very abruptly due to health problems but it was very painful for me and confusing and sad for my DD. Thankfully she adapted quite quickly and I think she had forgotten about bf after about a week.

Try and stop gradually, i.e. one feed per week, (or about 4 days at least). Don't drop the next feed until your breasts feel totally used to the new schedule iykwim. Start with the feed that he takes the least amount. It's a real bore giving bottles at night so drop any night / early morning feeds last.

You could just try him on formula straight away, but if he isn't keen, then get him used to feeding from a bottle with expressed milk first. My DD was happy with Aptamil pretty much straight away. I have heard of people mixing breast milk and formula in the same bottle, before switching to formula so you could always try that if necessary. But I guess no need to overcomplicate it - see if he takes the formula first.

As for bottles and teats you might need to try different ones. My baby had no idea what to do with tommee tippee bottles but she is fine with Avent.

I'm facing a similar thing at the moment, but really struggling.

My DS is 6months, and though he has taken a bottle before now he is proving very resistant to taking one at the moment.

I had intended to start by dropping one breastmilk feed each day (mid afternoon) and give him formula from a bottle instead. I can't express in large enough quantities to make EBM a feasible option.

Today was supposed to be day one of this routine, but he just screams whenever I try him with the bottle, and after holding out from 2pm to 7pm, I finally caved in and fed him at the breast to get him settled for the night.

Does anyone have any suggestions for making this an easier transition for him? Seeing him so distressed is making me really sad, but he really has to go onto formula soon.