How do I drop a feed when DS has no routine?

[WildhoodChunder]

DS is 5mo. He has an occasional bottle of formula in an evening, so I know he takes it, and I want to start phasing more formula in and phase BFing out. No 'good' reason other than I want to be able to get out on my own occasionally, for my own sanity. The HV has also suggested more formula as DS is tracking 9th percentile but that's another story. He gets the breast on demand and occasionally feeds every 4 hours but more usually every 2ish - we have no routine, he feeds to sleep on breast more often than not but I'm not worrying about that at this point. So how do I replace a breastfeed with a formula one as at the moment I have no idea when he's hungry or just wanting comfort, unless it's obviously been several hours since he was on the boob. I don't even know if this is a stupid question as his sleep is rubbish too and I'm too tired to think clearly...

he is probably on the 9th centile because that's where he is supposed to be. isz there a reason the HV thinks he ought to be fatter? and is there a reason why she thinks formula will help when it is based on breastmilk and has roughly the same calories in it?
how bizarre.

anyway, personally I think you're crazy lol, bf is a lot easier, you could express and go out, or just go out and leave formula if you need to.

but if you really, really want to phase out the breastfeeding and give formula instead then I would just pick a time and start giving another bottle at that time and hope that he gradually changes routine over time.
so, give a bottle mid morning or whatever and then add a lunchtime one in, then another evening one etc etc

Thanks, I think he should be on the 9th too. He was born on the 75th and then dwindled but has stayed fairly steadily around the 9th since 6 weeks, and he's otherwise completely happy and healthy. I don't know what the HV reasoning is for the formula, she suggested baby rice but I BLW with DC1 and want to with DS so don't really want to go that route. As we have no routine, I don't really know how I'd get on with expressing/leaving FF while I'm out, if it would mess up supply and then leave DS hungry so swapping onto formula seems to me to be a better way to go, but I don't really know tbh...

Would it be easier to wean rather than switch to formula? Then if you want to go out for more than 3 hours you can just feed him before you go and he can have water and a bit of banana until you get back.

If you want to stop breastfeeding though, I'd do as TIY suggests. Just start giving him a bottle mid-morning, then after a few days give one mid-afternoon, then after a few more days give one when he wakes up etc. Breastfeeding will probably naturally tail off around those.

Don't worry about lack of routine until you introduce solids.

Very easy once you have solids to have a routine.... Until then just offer formula mid-morning eg 2nd feed of day.

Routine at 6 months could be

bf 7am, 2.30pm, 6.30pm
Solids at 8.30am, 12noon and 5pm
Bottles at 10.30am and 10pm

Thank you, that all makes sense. That routine for 6 months sounds amazing, something to aim for - DS was up 7 times night before last but only 4 last night so hopefully calming down on the sleep front. He's a very windy boy, can't wait for him to grow out of it, maybe solids will help.

Meant to add that routine is roughly what mine where doing at 6 months, had 2 sleeps, one at 9-10am and another longer one at 12-2. Meant that they got either solids or milk every 2 hours so never hungry.

Gradually dropped the 10.30am bottle feed and inroduced water with lunch. Then dropped the 10pm feed.

Now at 11 months he still has 3 bottles at 7am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm and 3 meals at those times above. (Am not BFing anymore)