Mixed-fed 7MO refusing formula

[AppleyEverAfter]

My DD was exclusively BF until 5months, when we introduced a formula feed at 6pm. I would then feed her to sleep and again at around 11pm, after which she slept through.

As I am going back to work, we moved the formula feed to bedtime so daddy can put her to bed (I work evenings). This worked fine until last week, when DD started refusing the formula after a couple of minutes of feeding. She will only take about 2oz of the formula, then pushes the bottle away. She then goes to sleep in her cot, but has a restless evening until her 11pm BF.

She has weaned well and is on three meals a day. Is she just too full to take the formula, or can she have gone off the taste? We haven't changed brands but she did move onto fast flow teats a month or so ago. She has also been a bit snuffly recently. She has never had colic/reflux and isn't being sick.

I just want to make sure she's having enough milk, if three BFs a day are enough (she has cow's milk in her breakfast and a yogurt most days) then I could drop the formula.

Have you tried offering the formula before her last meal, say giving her a bottle at 4 and tea at 5? You could then give her a couple of ounces again before she goes to bed.

Should have said that if you are there at 4pm you could offer a bf instead. Have you tried mixing the formula with bm too, know that expressing doesn't work well for everyone though.

Let us know how she gets on tonight.

No words of wisdom, just wanted to let u know that same thing happened us at around same age! I was already back at work and ds went from tentatively taking ebm in a bottle (sometimes formula, depending on if I'd had time to express), to refusing bottle no matter what was in it! Cm and ds now use yogurt to top him up during the day, and it works well. I'll introduce cows milk in a cup when he turns 1. He's 9.5 mo now. So try not to stress too much over it, and maybe find an alternative? Your lo will be fine with whatever u decide anyway- they are amazing little creatures

Jilted, I am around at 4pm for a BF four days a week (work three) so have weaned her off this feed, didn't want to confuse her! But I think I will give her the formula then instead, might also be helpful for MIL to have milk to offer when I'm at work. I don't think she'll be too bothered about a bedtime without milk, although we could make up a couple of ounces just to quench her thirst. Or offer water instead. I saw the health visitor yesterday and she suggested moving teatime back (it's currently about 5.30pm) but this is proving nigh on impossible as DD naps around 5pm.

Mampig, it's funny how babies change their ways isn't it? I know a few BF babies who have gone off the bottle. Didn't think mine would be one of them though as she's always been good until now, had expressed milk in the early days and was fine with that too! Like you say, I'm sure she'll be getting enough of what she needs.