Stopping bf at 9 months

[Fiftyshadesofposset]

Only 2 weeks to go until I return to work & I have an exclusively bf 8.5 month old baby. Unfortunately due to various factors I will have to (v. reluctantly) completely stop bf except for perhaps the 'just before bedtime' feed.

Having successfully buried my head in the sand about it all I now need some help - I have two weeks to get a happily bf baby onto formula. How to do this in 2 weeks? How much formula to give? He currently bf on demand (difficult to give an exact schedule, perhaps every 3-4 hours from 7-7pm with x1 night feed (which we are trying to stop). He was eating solids quite happily x3 meals per day, but this has tailed off of late and I wonder if this is because he is having too much breast milk.

I would suggest talking to someone like Breast Start or Little Angels they should be able to give you some proper advice. From my own personal experience I would say you need to gradually reduce the number of feeds as it will take your body time to readjust and you don't want to be starting work in agony with engorged breasts. Perhaps get a hand pump that you can take to work just in case you find you really need to express? I was able to continue breastfeeding for quite a long time just doing a bedtime and waking feed, in the end it was my son who decided to drop the milk feeds. Hope you get some help and good luck x

I think the formula cartons tell you roughly how much you should offer. Have you tried him with any formula yet? I had to give my DD some formula for a while and she quite happily drank it without hesitation, so hopefully your baby might not mind. Also, a BF supporter told me that often BF babies will accept formula or food when they aren't with their mum even if they always want BF when they're at home - they just know that BF doesn't happen at nursery/childminder/grandma's house and accept it.

I don't really have any advice, but just wanted to reassure you that he might adapt without too much trouble, and hopefully one of the experts will be along soon with some tips. You could try the BF supporter at your local children's centre or an NCT BF counsellor, I've found both of those really helpful.