Drop a feed or supplement with formula? Eight month old baby.

[AwesomeSuperTasty]

I've just gone back to work and the plan was to give my DS a bottle of expressed milk in a sippy cup (he is breastfed) for the one feed that I would miss.

Of course, he refuses it. He drinks water from the cup without any objection it's just that he doesn't seem to want milk from it.

He has about four breastfeeds a day when I am home. HV thinks this is adequate (he also bfs twice a night, out of habit mainly, but that's another story). He is in the 91st percentile and is on solids (porridge, fruit, yogurt, meat/fish and veg purées. Introduced finger foods too)

He is looked after at home by DH. Now, I'm not sure whether we can drop down to three breastfeeds already? Two before work and one at bedtime (plus night feeds!). The first two days we did this he was super cranky by 4pm (more so than he usually is from being tired). He eats his solids quite well so he is filling up but is it enough?

Am thinking of supplementing with formula. I can't express more than 100ml at a time plus, I'm thinking he may be happier drinking formula out of a cup rather than breastmilk. (He was a bottle refuser when younger).

If anyone has any experience with mixed feeding please share!

Oh also, I want to stop bf by 12 months, so I don't mind if mixed feeding/solids leads to 'early' weaning off the breast.

I think either will end up being fine I.e either 3 feeds or offering formula - not convinced he will drink it if he refuses ebm but you dh can offer it & he may get used to it. I mixed feed 6-9 months increasing amounts of formula dd refused formula & bottles at first but luckily we got there as I wanted to finish bf before going back to work (@ 9 months). Dd neededformula very warm (not hot but really quite warm) at first - that solved the refusal for us.

Thanks Ric. That sounds reassuring. I wasn't too comfortable with a dropped feed as it meant no milk most of the day.

I don't know anything about FF though. Are there different types for different ages?!

There are different types but I just used stage one as "follow on milk" is just a marketing ploy as they can't advertise stage one milk... That said you can get boots / supermarket points etc on follow on milk. I was worried about it as it was a change but it was fine. I was sad to finish bf but pleased to get a bit more freedom & to wear dresses again. Of course shouldnt be a problem giving formula & food & keeping some breast feeding I did most feeds for two months just one bottle to introduce it then morning & night for one month. I couldn't be bothered with bottles @ night & luckily dd agreed so we night weaned @ nine months.

Thanks RicStar this is really helpful!