Advice on mixed feeding please

[username6778]

Currently pregnant with DC2 and attempting to wean DD off breastfeeding. DD was exclusively bf for the first six months she is now 2 and would probably still bf a lot longer if i let her.
Whilst I loved bf DD she never took a bottle (I think I left it too late due to fear of her preferring the bottle) so I didn't try until she was 7 weeks. Also she has never really cut down day and night and it has been hard. I just don't think I have it in me to do that again especially as I will have two to look after.
Would really appreciate some advice on how you mixed fed. When did you introduce a bottle? How much do you know to give them in terms of formula if they are having breast milk as well? Did you find they sleep better if I you give them a bottle last thing at night? Any advice/experience would be great thanks

@username6778 my DD is 14 weeks old now. She has been mixed fed since 3 days old. For the last couple of weeks she has refused to breastfeed. She won’t even latch on and just screams! She will BF during the night while sleepy, but no longer feeds last thing at night, or first thing in the morning.

She did sleep better once taking more bottles, and was more settled in general.

I’m happy for her to mix feed, but now she is refusing the breast, I am sad about it! So, just be aware that could happen

Good luck! Xx

Oh and I always tried her on breast first (was told to do at least 30 mins but I done as long as I could handle), then top up with 2oz.

DS is mix fed- also 14 weeks and mix fed from 3 days old!

He’s had no bother swapping between breast and bottle- he’s never known any different and knows exactly what to do depending on what’s being offered.

I’m keeping him on the slow flow teats for the bottles though- I read that progressing to the quicker flows mean they get used to getting the milk faster than the breast will allow and they’ll develop a preference.

@GrapefruitIsGross wish I had done that! DD was on slow flow, then I moved to size one teat, she caught on and now won’t even try and latch on. I get her into position and she screams start me!

BeHere can you try swapping back to the slow flow and see if that helps?

@GrapefruitIsGross possibly, even if I stuck to size 1 teats. DD actually latched on last night to fall asleep, which she hasn’t done in so long!

Also not sure if I make any milk during the day! Thanks for the tip tho!

At age 2 I would probably just try to wean her off - she's a bit old to be introducing formula (would be better getting her calories form solids) or a bottle (not great for teeth).

What else is she drinking? Does she have water, or cow's milk in a cup? We introduced water in a sippy cup with meals as soon as we started solids, and just breastfed in between. There was a natural reduction when I went back to work (11mo), and then he just had less and less as he got more mobile and interested in running about and playing with his toys. We switched to water overnight partly for his teeth and partly so DH could settle him, then he started sleeping through at about 20mo so didn't even have that. We were down to one post-nursery feed and then I went away for a couple of days just before his second birthday and that was that. Not traumatic at all, he just didn't ask again.

I tried to mix feed and introduced a bottle from day one, but now at 10w it's usually refused and so grudgingly we are accepting that she'll be breastfed although it would be much better for us as a family to be able to share. So introducing it early doesn't always work either.