FF AFTER 6 MONTHS BF?

[GEM33]

Hi, a few queries i wonder if you can help. I am trying to weigh up the pros and cons of a follow on milk type thing for my 6 month dd. (having a quick read on here-i didnt realise the politics involved with formula milk!).
basically i have a few thoughts.

1. my dd is waking every hour to suck on me all through the night last few months (its not always hunger and more for comfort). we tried controlled crying/no cry method but she screams and i cant bear it so no way going back to that! however im bloody exhausted and had just about enough of these hourly callings.

2.my dh has felt quite left out because dd is sooooo in love with my boobs i think he feels a bit helpless when it comes to settling her for bed as she just wakes up more when he goes to her and takes hours for me to get her back to sleep. I think he would enjoy bottle feeding her... leading to

1. i cant stand expressing my own mlik, i have not the patience, time etc for sterilising stuff, setting the pump up and my boobs never give me much milk this way.

1. if dh gave dd a bottle of ff before bed this would break the association with sleep and me and my boobs.??

1. worried about my supply if start giving a bottle just before bed.

1. which ff should i give if i do decide to, should i introduce it slowly in the day when i can judge her reaction to it..or just give a bottle at night and see how we go....do i have to stick to the same brand once we are on one (i have been buying them ready made cartons each time i pop to the shop and got all types follow on first milk sma aptimil cow and gate and got a little stock going in my cupboard but never used them....

1. i still intend to fully bf the rest of the time im not back in work for at least another 3 months.

1. i REALLY feel the guilt/pressure of breast is best and if i was a millionaire (or even just able to pay the bills!!) and could have a couple of years off work i would happlily just put her in bed with me and leave my boobs out and let her suck whenever she wants but did i mention im tired?!!!

1. DD hasnt taken a dummy to date but i have just ordered a nuk one? am at the stage of trying anything for a full or half a nights sleep..

god another long post, im going to get a reputation...sorry x

If I were you I'd get your DH to try giving a bottle before bed, and see how you go. I don't think one bottle a day would affect your supply much after six months, but obviously it would if you started giving more bottles.

You could 'test' her reaction to formula milk by mixing it with her breakfast cereal in the day - it doesn't necessarily have to go in a bottle.

Hi,

We introduced a bedtime bottle of formula milk for my son at about 8 months as it was taking me up to 2.5 hours a night to settle him to bed and we were feeling the strain. He is 9 months now and my supply has not been affected. He still takes a morning feed and a mid-afternoon feed. He is on solids as well.

My husband was feeling left out and being able to feed our son and settle him to sleep has helped us all enormously.

I was finding expressing very time consuming for very little milk at the end of it so that is why we chose formula.

My husband feeding my son definitely helped him accept my husband as well as me for bedtime feeds and cuddles when he woke. (He has also successfully taken a bottle from his aunty and Grandma).

We us Cow and Gate follow on, on the advice of my sister who solely FF from the start. He loves it.

Breast is best but a happy mummy and daddy are invaluable.

We have used a dummy since our son was 2 weeks old and he loves it when he needs it but doesn't rely on it, spits it out when he decides he has had enough of it.

Good luck. Remember to make the decision based on EVERYONE being happy and there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about :)

I must add I did (and do) feel guilty myself sometimes but I know I made the right decision. My son is happy and I am more relaxed.

I felt sad when I did the last bedtime BF but I am pleased we made the decision.

thanks both, thats a good idea, cocopops re adding to cereal -good one, i'll try that.
iheart, yeah, i feel guilty even considering ff before bed but you are totally right, im not coping day to day with the whole bed time trauma, i dread bedtime because like you say it can take hours -and dh cant go to dd in the night even though he would like to help more.
if we try it, i can always go back to bffing i suppose if its not working out.
i think i posted more out of the guilt thing than anything looking for some approval.
thanks x