breast to bottle. Now how do I feed her..??

[kandymouse]

Hi. We successfully made transition to bottle this past night and she's taking bottle at last. My LO is 6 months now, and I have to go back to work so it's perfect timing.
Now how much do I feed her and also what do I need to buy in order to have comfortable bottle feeding routine. which sterilizers..how many bottles..etc. Any knowledgeable mommies please give me advice, Thank you!

Hmm, not sure of amounts etc, you could use the recommended amounts on the formula box as a guide but really it's best to keep on demand feeding until you see what she wants for herself.

I'm stopping sterilising at 6 months, so maybe you don't have to start at all, hot soapy water should suffice. I have about 8 avent bottles, my lo (4 1/2 mo) has about 5 or 6 a day but it's good to have a couple more in just in case.

If your lo still has a night feed, you can take up bottles filled with very hot water in an avent thermal bag and they'll stay warm for when you add the powder in the middle of the night.

At 6 months old, considering you are supposed to make up each feed separately, I would not bother with a sterilizer - just wash very hot. I'd get 6 bottles. They do not have to be expensive ones, just well constructed.

thank you.

If you have a dishwasher definitely don't buy a steriliser. I used to sterilise up to a year but that is mainly cos I am pretty crap at washing up! Like it has been said, very hot soapy water and air drying is fine. To be honest I wouldn't bother getting more than 4 bottles to start with as you can always get more if it becomes a hassle.

Oh and with amounts definitely only use the tins as a guide- the formula makers want you to use loads so if your baby drinks less don't worry. Mine also never had the same amounts of feeds as the tins suggested. You could make 7oz bottles for a day and if she drains them all try 8ozs a go. If she consistently leaves an oz drop to making 6oz ones. Also worth having a couple of ready made cartons in case she decides she is starving unexpectedly, and for keeping in your bag/car for emergencies.

Hi Kandymouse,

Agree about not sterilising - absolutely no need.

BTW are you stopping bfing altogether or will you carry on when you are with your baby?

I only ask because recently there has been a spate of questions on here about returning to work and I realise that there is very little advice around in RL about bfing beyond six months! Basically you could get by now without giving bottles or formula at all if you want to....

oh. thanks everbody. There is definitely very little info about feeding beyond six months. We thought we had cracked it and now she will be taking bottles...wrong. It seems like we can't mix feed her as she loves her breasts. So now we are back to breasts and intending to switch to bottle completely once I work out what I should do. problems are:

1. We co sleep and she falls asleep bfing for her nap and night time sleep. I must say she sleeps beautifully and very settled. Goes to sleep around 7pm Wakes up for night feed at 10pm 1am 3am and maybe 5am just to snack or eat. but my dh and I sleep apart and this is a problem so we like to move her to her own room in a cot. yow do one v

2. I loved and enjoyed bfing her for 6months but I feel that it is time to switch to bottle (need to work and not feel so tied to her) but somehow my intuition tells me that she will not take bottle if she has access to my boobs. I would love to know what other moms did in my situations and how their LO took to it.

And how do bottle fed babies fall asleep....I have no idea as my LO goes to snooze on my breasts or being carried or being in carseat or in pram. No other way at all.

Lots of questions!! thanks

I stopped bfeeding DD1 at 8 months and she did learn to go to sleep etc. but can't remember how long it took! This time I just carried on bfeeding as couldn't be bothered to stop.

Sorry for lack of advice!