Swapping a breast feed for a bottle much need advice!!

[Darcy93]

I was just wondering if I could get some advice. I have a 12 week old baby and he had top ups when he was first born as he was early and in an incubator. Since I've been established BF I have given him a couple of bottle here and there but I wanted to start introducing one every day so I can go out and get a bit of me time. I can't decide which feed to swap - Ideally the bedtime one in hope he sleeps longer but then I feel I'm taking his comfort for a night. Would anyone recommend which feed to swap?

Thanks in advance

My little one isn't totally happy with a bottle, so when I tried giving one before bed she ended up quite unsettled and it made bedtime somewhat hellish. The morning feed works better for us because she's generally happier and calmer then, and means I can have a lie in.

Thanks for your reply. I thought that would be the case. Does she have one bottle a everyday and seem to be okay on her tummy? X

If your concerned about her tummy why not express breastmilk for her? As for time of bottle you can but try. Lots of people do eve bottle and babies accept it happily though.

I reckon a morning feed as well but not too early because cutting into night feeds can affect your milk supply.

Maybe a morning feed you could drop? May I ask why you want to drop a breastfeed?

Just a little warning. I stopped the night feed as I wanted mine to sleep longer (he did, although still woke for his feed at 1am). It resulted in a huge decrease in my milk supply not only at night, but all the time. Baby got frustrated, had to get a bottle, supply dropped further etc. It's a downward spiral in afraid (for me anyway).

Mines having expressed breast milk, so no tummy problems. I try to give one every day so she's used to it, but it doesn't always happen when my husband's away. It's so much easier just to give her boob 😬

Lily - she's already said she wants some time to herself

OP I combi fed both my children - I didn't stick to a certain feed, although I did keep certain times as BF such as mornings

Try not to listen to negatives, but also you could try expressing to keep supply up if it dwindles

Hormones control milk supply, hormones are really unpredictable so don't listen to anyone saying XYZ happened to me as it's irrelevant to your body and your milk supply

I did this with my little one. Unfortunately he then preferred the bottle and had to stop BF at 6 months as he just screamed when he got boob instead.

Thank you so much for all the feedback.

I can't express enough for a whole feed. We are wanting to go away for the afternoon and want to get him use having formula.

So do I just give him a bottle when we do go out or do I keep up the one bottle.

He doesn't mind going between bottle and BF because of the top ups he use to have. When I was established BF i stopped the bottle.

Just really worried it willl give him a tuna he if he suddenly has to have a couple of. Ottawa in day a day after not having one for a while. He's a very farty baby as it is 🙈 haha.

Lol my DS was a windy baby, even the ward midwives said he was lol

Personally I'd be inclined to leave some milk with whomever is sitting for you then see how he gets on - often they fuss if they can smell your milk so if you're out for the afternoon it may be easier.

If you can express perhaps leave some for emergency use in case formula doesn't work. FWIW I gave my DD formula at about 6 weeks because she kept feeding in stop for what seemed like forever and I was ragged with slack if sleep and my MIL suggested giving two ounces of milk (she was a doctor in family planning and child development anyway) and she absolutely drained it, then had another 4 ounces after that - she was hungry poor bear - that was it for me, milk wasn't sufficient so I combi fed from then on and it was a much better experience