Moving to formula - what is the easiest to digest and do I mix with EBM or try comfort formula to start with?

[abigboydidit]

Hi, I started another discussion earlier after my DD vomited up formula feeds (she is just 5 months old and was EBF). From chatting with a dietician, it has been suggested that the move straight to formula was too much for her tummy as she is quite a pukey baby anyway. She said it is better to do a gradual transition but unfortunately my train then went through a tunnel and our call ended .

I wondered if anyone could share their experiences of how to gently move a BF baby to formula and whether I need to try comfort brands or just water down a regular brand with EBM. I had been using the Aptamil ready made cartons. Thanks in advance.

Best to speak to the dietitian again - but for starters, you should not mix ebm with formula in the same bottle. Offer it separately.

You could also speak to the formula manufacturers who will confirm that and who may have some advice.

Why should you not mix? I was told to by all my midwives and the pediatrician.

I wouldn't go with comfort brands straight away - they made my boy very constipated, so if your baby has a sensitive stomach I'd tried normal ones first. Buy a few cartons from each brand, and mix with EBM about 20/80 (20 formula, 80 BM). Try maybe one brand a week. We found Cow and Gate the best, used Hipp if C&G wasn't available.

Sorry, didn't finish post.

Everyday, add a little more formula until there's no EBM in it.

Really tiktok? I don't mean use breast milk to dilute the formula (if that makes sense?). I had been happily googling there and it seems to be suggested as a standard way to get babies used to the taste of formula. Thank heavens I asked here! Is it unsafe?

Thanks visualise. She always been a "happy puker" but today was very different! Rather than just bringing up excess or possetting, it was a horrible, smelly vomit. I was using cartons of formula and they do seem to be far richer than the powders so wonder if I need to shell out for a box and see?

You said to 'water down' formula with ebm - you can only use water to mix formula, not ebm.

It's not unsafe to put ebm in the same bottle as correctly-mixed formula.

But it's not a great idea - if the baby doesn't finish the bottle the ebm is wasted.

Thanks tiktok and apologies for the confusion!

This might sound a bit silly, but when I added formula to my DS's diet i did a taste test and Hipp Organic tasteted most like my breast milk. I also mixed formula (made up correctly before anyone else deliberately misunderstands ) and ebm for a while, but not that long. I did alternate ebm and formula feeds for a long time gradually cutting down to 2 feeds a day of ebm when DS was about 11 months old before stopping expressing completely (by accident when I left my pump at home and went on holiday- doh!). DS was also a sicky/refluxy baby and I found this approach was good for him. I also have to say i didn't see any difference in the frequency or amount of sick from ebm feeds or formula feeds. I think there is something in trying different brands - I had a similar experience to yours with a cow and gate feed - it was horrific so I understand where you are coming from!

Thanks Dumdeedumdeedum. Bought a box of C&G as the ready to feed cartons do seem to have a different composition. Leaving it a few days (& waiting for call back from dietitian) before try again but am dreading it

Well under dietetic guidance I just gave her a mix of 80-20 EBM to C&G formula. She didn't tank down the entire bottle which is unusual. Can't decide if that's a good sign (so last time over feeding may have been an issue) or if suggests allergy. Just have to wait it out now! Have a basin handy and lots of towels

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

No ill effects so plan to up the % tomorrow. Am still keeping everything crossed..

Excellent - she may not have tanked the whole thing as formula is 'thicker' than BM, so it may fill her up quicker. How much did you give?

She usually takes 250ml EBM at bedtime but took about 150ml of the BM and formula mix. DS has a cows milk protein allergy so just hoping isn't that!

Weaning gradually from EBM/expressed breast milk to formula
as all formula is richer, heavier and it takes longer to digest and many babies struggle with that
Never mix EBM with formula - as the all the goodies watered down
EBM is working like a laxative so it keeps your baby digesting better during transition to formula
All formula have pretty much the same composition but still - babies digestive system are sensitive and reacting when switching from one product to another.
Feed smaller amount in the night as babies don't need as much and digestion is slowing down and the aim is to stop night feeds anyway
"Dream feed" is not evidence proofed at all to make babies sleep longer.
Calculate the amount per feed according to the actual weight of your baby and not necessarily what is recommended from the formula company.
I know - the same question to 10 different people leaves you with 10 different opinions.....
Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. DD doesn't feed through the night and has 5 breast feeds from when she gets up in the morning to bed at night. We've recently replaced the bedtime feed with a bottle of EBM and are now looking to make a slow transition to formula. Proving more complicated than I thought though!

I think you'll be able to change the 250ml of EBM to less formula - my boy has never had more than about 180-210ml of formula at any feed (now 14 months)

Uh-oh! That may explain the spew..