Refuses formula- 3 months of trying

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My dc is 10 months old. We have been trying to give her formula for over 3 months. She becomes hysterical and won't take it. She has been bf but I'm returning to work so really does need to take formula.

At the moment the only way I'm working around it is to mix formula in with puree. However she's now at stage where she wants chunks and puree/mashed food will need to stop so mixing it in won't be an option.

We've tried spooning it, in beaker, sipping, mixed with baby rice but just not happening. We are becoming desperate and at a stage where we are thinking of not giving here anything else until she takes the milk (DH idea). I think that's really cruel thoug, has anyone a magic solution, pretty please?!

When do you return to work? Is there any way you can just bfeed her a couple of times a day when you're home and make sure she has lots of cheese and yoghurt during the day instead?

How about mixing it with expressed breastmilk, with mostly breastmilk and a little bit of formula to start with, gradually upping formula and reducing bm?

Agree with citydweller. That is te approach we used to move DS from formula to cows' milk, and friends have done the same to move from bm to formula. That's assuming she will take milk from a bottle or cup, of course!

I did the switch 30ml/1oz at a time, took about 2.5 weeks to do the switch.

When are you back to work?

When mine were 11 months they had pretty much dropped daytime BF and were having morning, teatime and then bedtime.

Will she drink cows milk?

Hi op none of mine ever took formula, they just didn't like it.
At the age you will be going back to work you could just bf morning and evening and your lo could have a cup of water with meals.
Don't stress yourself and enjoy going back to work.

Why does she need to? I gradually stopped bf between 10 and 11 months with my last dc, who went from using up the last of the freezer stash of breast milk in a cup to cows milk In a cup depending what was easiest at the time. Didn't use formula or bottles.

What kind of hours will you be working? Chances are she will just 'go without' the milk when you're not there and will make up with it once you're home (e.g. feed her in the morning before you go and feed her once you get home) As long as she takes water in a cup during the day and is eating solids well (which she seems to be) may be you can just wing it until she is 12 months and can go on to drinking cows milk.

Mine hated formula too, despite me wasting money trying several different brands. Would she taken a small amount of formula mixed in with a lot of breast milk? And then increase ratio of formula to breast milk slowly.

I just ended up giving cows milk and just dropped the particular feed when I was out though as that didn't work for Ds.

X post with city and zara.

Thank you for these great responses. I return to work in March. I am bf morning and evening and then 300ml in food. I am concerned because she won't take water or cow milk either. I wonder whether it may have something to do with the cup. It's a free flow one, I would have thought she would have got technique by now though.

I didn't realise that by 12 months you could stop it all together so thanks for that. Thanks also for back to work well wishes

tweet worth trying different cups to see how it goes. We tried a few with DS1 but quite liked the free flow cups so that was great. DS2 is only 7.5 months (so coordination isn't great) but so far he seems much more keen on drinking from an open cup (e.g. we're using a doidy) and only wants to bite the spout of the free flow ones we've tried.

I went back part-time, but was up early so DS1 had a bfeed during the night (sadly he was a 2-3 times a night feeder!) then wouldn't have another one until 1:45pm when I got home, as I was up and out the house by 6:45am. He was 12 months at teh time, but adjusted to this change fine, he just didn't bother when I wasn't there and we had a nice 'catch up' bfeed when I'd get him home :-)

I'm back at work in July and already feeling it's getting too close!!!

As others said, stop stressing! She doesn't need to take it. By the tone you go back to work she will be absolutely fine having food and water in the day and can bf morning and evening. She might not take much water now but you will find she gets used to being away from you and having different habits at nursery and home.

This is interesting and reassuring. My six month old won't take formula at all. He drinks water beautifully from doidy or tommy tippee cup but gets v annoyed when you switch it for formula! I go back to work in March and worry about him. I will work 8.30-6.30 four days a week and one day a week won't get home til ten pm. The nursery tell me he will drink formula by the end of week one! Fingers crossed !!

DD never took formula. I went back to work at 9 months. I have a dairy intolerent DS so knew a lot about alternative sources of nutrition so made sure she was getting nutrition form other sources. She eventually ate cheese but has never drunk cows milk.