Switching to formula from BF

[Shkbop]

Looking for some help/advice on switching a 10 week old from breastfeeding to formula.

It's been a very bumpy ride so far with 55th to 2nd percentile weight loss, undiagnosed posterior tongue tie having to be cut twice.
DS has struggled with reflux and bad wind. Colicky crying, sometimes inconsolable. Nursing for hours on end. Top ups of expressed milk in bottles, pumping, pulling hair out! DS on infant gaviscon, resolved reflux screaming but triggers straining for hours. Mentally and physically exhausted.

Made the switch when I went for an appointment and left DS and DH with a bottle of expressed milk and bottle of formula. DH reported back that DS seemed really content after full bottle of formula so slowly then began phasing to full bottle feeds of formula and expressed milk.

It has been two weeks and all was going well (with a MUCH happier DS) until I withdrew boob altogether in the day.
I still BF at night and the morning feed but now I've removed boob in the day DS has done a 180.
Whenever he is with me (despite having recently had a full bottle of formula) he will try to chew on my t-shirt/hands/arm. If I hand him to DH he does his little "where have you gone" cry if I leave the room and DH struggles to calm him. If I don't succumb to the mouthing and give boob he cries. He uses boob to sleep and pass wind it seems. Bottle just doesn't seem to be cutting it. We have had 3 days of inconsolable crying in the evening until he passes out. He went on bottle strike with me yesterday (never done this before) and after refusing feeds for 5 hours he downed nearly 15oz in just over 3 hours - crying if bottle was removed. Is this norm?

Does anyone have any hints or tips on what to do? I don't want him to be unhappy like this and I was hoping to completely phase out BF in the next two weeks (Inc night feeds). He won't take a dummy. I can just about rock him to sleep. Should I speed up phasing out so he doesn't smell my milk on me?

Please help!

That's so difficult, especially as he won't take a dummy.

If DH has him has he tried putting a T-shirt you've worn over his shoulder? Maybe the smell would comfort him?

Yes, I find it odd that he will not take a dummy but will a bottle teat. And I have tried soooo many different dummies.

Thanks! I will try the T-shirt with DH to see if the smell will help. I didnt want to frustrate him with his repeated rooting attempts but handing him over to DH iust causes him to get worked up anyway. As long as he doesnt try to latch on DH 😅😂

As long as he doesnt try to latch on DH

If he does, it's just normal baby behaviour, nothing to worry about. When they're little they can latch onto all sorts like earlobes and noses.

Have you also tried putting a T-shirt DP has worn in his crib so that he gets used to being comforted by the smell of DP? Some people use it as a sheet on the mattress.

@PritiPatelsMaker He has gone for my nose a few times 😊

No, I hadn't actually thought of that! That's a great idea, thank you. HV had suggested using mine before but that makes sense to try DH.
As a bit of an update, DS has started hand sucking a lot in the past two days, so think perhaps he's trying to self-soothe.

Yes I'd use DH's rather than yours as yours can smell of milk and make them wake.