Help......Can't switch bedtime feed from breast to bottle!

[DollyDaisy]

I EBF DS for 8 months and then over the last 8 weeks have gradually been switching over from breast to formula, which has been very straightforward. DS currently has a bottle of formula at 8am, 12pm, 5pm and then a breastfeed at 7pm which has been working well.

However for the last week DS has been waking an hour earlier than usual (6am instead of 7am) and is clearly very hungry as immediately guzzles his bottle, which has made me wonder whether my milk supply is now dwindling and what he takes at 7pm isn't sufficient. In addition I have now returned to work and would like to switch the final feed to bottle.

However DS is getting very upset and refusing to take the bottle, crying until I latch him on to me and breastfeed. Tonight DH did the bedtime routine and gave him the bottle, but got the same reaction.

Does anyone have any tips on how I can switch over this final feed? The 6am waking is a bit of a pain and I'm away overnight with work next week, so DS will need to take the bottle somehow!

Could you change the routine so the feed isn't last? Then give milk in a sippy cup or bottle then offer boob afterwards. I did this with DS and gradually he lost interest in the boob. I wouldn't worry too much about when you're not there - DS was fine on the days I couldn't be there.

He could also be having a growth spurt hence the guzzling and wanting boob when he's tired (as gives him a huge amount of comfort too, not just food).