Feeding formula to bf baby for the first time

[Okdaisy]

My 9 month old has been breastfed up until now. I have never managed to express milk and have always feed him to sleep. He isn't a good sleeper. I haven't left him at all up until now, but have a night out coming up. My partner has tried giving him a bottle of formula which he had a bit of, but then screamed and wouldn't settle to sleep at all. Has anyone been through the same? I'm wondering whether I'm going to be able to leave him. I can't bare the thought of him screaming all night until I'm home. I don't know if there's anything I can do to help him get used to not feeding to sleep. Its obviously a big change as he's always had the breast to settle him. Any advice? Thank you

@Okdaisy are there any other ways your baby may be able to fall asleep like in the pram or car and then your partner can transfer them? Obviously not a long term solution but could help for the one night. You may have to keep having your partner try with the bottle and formula on a regular basis though to get them used to it (even if you have to eventually breast feed to sleep). Other things to try are building up other sleep associations like rocking to sleep.

@Overlyanxious thank you for this, the pram is a good idea. Yeah we do need to keep trying with a bottle. Really should have started sooner. Adding some new sleep associations is also a good idea, although that might be a longer term plan