Move to formula?

[MrsJ12]

Hi

My little boy is 8mths old and ebf.

My return to work is creeping up on me (I start back a few days a week in just over a months time moving back to full time a few months later) and beginning to get concerned about what happens with regard to his milk feeds then.

He is eating 3 meals a day now but his weight gain has always been slow and has been an issue but this seems to be on track now. Because of issues with his weight I've never been v strict about feeding times and been encouraged by HV to continue to feed on demand but generally he has 4 main feeds a day (first thing, mid morning, early afternoon and bedtime) but can be several more esp if he's fussing and he very much uses a feed for comfort and often feeds to sleep.

I'd like to slowly transition him to formula in the day to get him ready for me not being there but after some advice as have a number of questions

Am I better moving him straight to a sippy cup and by pass bottles (he has had the odd expressed bottle)?

Should I try to introduce specific formula times or just continue letting him dictate the pace and just have formula always ready?

Any tips on moving him away from feeding to sleep as if I do move to giving him milk from a sippy cup in the day I worry he won't nap and get grouchy and upset and I could end up breaking and feeding him which is fine now but he won't have that option in a few months time.

Thanks

Well normally, the sippy cup is given in order to avoid bottles. But if you have them and your DS already had been given one, I think you can keep the bottle for the milk and give the cup at meal times. He will drink more with a bottle.
Weaning him from feeding to sleep is another thing. You may give him the breast but keeping him awake by tickling his neck, and then cuddle him to sleep or trying to put him down sleepy but awake. Or invent a routine for sleep which can be used for naps and night. I used to walk slowly to DS`s room saying "goodnight" to everuthyng on my way. Goodnight book, goodnight chair, goodnight teddy, ..... and very last, when putting DS in his bed " Goodnight DS".