Going back to work - swapping 2 bfs for ff

[TeaOperated]

I'm going back to work in 6 weeks, when my ebf'd dd will be 7 months old. DH will take over for 3 months.

I was hoping to get her onto 3 meals a day and bf morning and evening,with no need for formula, but we started weaning this week and this deadline made it stressful and guilt ridden for me - I can tell if I don't change something the need to get her to three meals a day to a deadline, rather than just have fun, will make the next six weeks horrible!

So I'd like to swap her two daytime feeds to formula to make things easier for all three of us.

How? Should I use bottles or cups? (She used to be a bottle refuser, will take a sippy cup for play, but I suspect she'd take a bottle fine now). If bottles, what teat size?

And how should I go about it? Just offer formula not boob at her 11am feed for a week, then do the same for the 3pm? We've decided to use cartons as it will only be for two meals a day for a relatively short time, so we might as well avoid the heating/cooling etc fun. Ideally she'd take it at room temp, but we will see!

I started by offering a short bf at the times I wanted to move to ff and then the bottle afterwards. Also started with just one feed a day - the one she seemed least bothered about. I used some bottles made by Brother Max which converted to cups later on.

I just swapped one feed at a time. After about a week (assuming you feel comfortable), try swapping the next one.
I would definitely avoid the pressure if that deadline too! 7 month is very young to ex expect a baby to be eating enough solid food to start naturally dropping milk feeds.
In terms of not wanting to give formula, think of it like this: you were hoping to bf morning and evening. You're still planning to do that! She's still going to get as much breast milk as you'd planned! She'll just have formula as well- no harm in that at all That's the attitude- it's not anti formula, it's just pro-breastmilk. More formula but not less breast milk.

I would try a bottle too- age appropriate teat (I think size 2 or 3 of you use avent)

Thank you both - and Guybrush, just checked back in on this thread after having a random cry about it, and you've really helped - I hadn't thought of it that way. And however conflicted I feel about leaving her, if she can have formula, she won't be hungry.

I'm doing this too. I'm offering a FF at 11 and 6, so basically alternating breast and formula. I have to express a bit to stay comfortable but she's fairly happy with that plan. DD is nearly 6 months.