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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Out of interest, how many of us have children that have never ever even tasted formula?

304 replies

welliemum · 27/04/2008 22:15

I'm interested because you hear so many people saying "I plan to breastfeed for X time and then introduce a bottle" as if it was an inevitable fact that all children need to graduate to formula sooner or later.

And then there are loads of people who breastfeed but give bottles from time to time.

The formula companies must be laughing all the way to the bank, because they're selling formula not only to people who can't breastfeed or choose not to, but also to (I suspect) the majority of breastfeeders.

So, how many 100% breastfed children are out there?

My dd1 (now 3) had some formula top-ups between about 8 and 10 weeks, so she doesn't "qualify".

dd2 (coming up for 2 years) has never had formula. Is this as unusual as I think it is?

OP posts:
mawbroon · 27/04/2008 23:53

DS is 2.6 and has never had formula. He also only very rarely had EBM in a bottle. And he is one of the 1% or so who were exclusively breastfed until 6 months.

I always find it strange when conversations turn to the number of ounces, or the teat size or whatever, because I can contribute absolutely nothing to the conversation. Same about types or prices of formula.

Flame · 27/04/2008 23:54

DS had a couple of cartons - I would say about 10 bottles of formula at most (could be rose-tinting it)

I did aim to get both of mine taking a bottle from early on though - I wanted to be able to express.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 27/04/2008 23:58

dd1 had formula from about 10mths, dd2 from about 9 mths- they gave up bf'ing themselves and I used up ebm until it ran out
Still feeding ds, and thinking of trying to get to a year so can go straight onto cows milk, more from laziness/ cost POV than anything else!

melpomene · 27/04/2008 23:58

DD1 had formula a few times in hospital after she was born; I was recovering from emergency CS after being in labour all night and also they said her blood sugar was dropping. After that she never had it again. She had ebm when I went back to work.

DD2 has never had formula (and is still bfing at age 3).

Palegreenhawthorn · 28/04/2008 00:04

I've got two, neither had any formula.

chipmonkey · 28/04/2008 00:12

Ds1 one bottle of formula daily from 4 months ( was working and using crappy little breast pumps
Ds2 one bottle of formula very occasionally from 4 months ( was working but with a better pump)
Ds3 never, ever took formula we even struggled to get him to take breastmilk from a bottle and I had a super-de-dooper breast pump!

Klaw · 28/04/2008 00:19

ds had some formula once in the hospital [barstewards] and once had a bottle of expressed mummy milk

dd never had a bottle, full stop and certainly never had any formula

Gingerbear · 28/04/2008 00:31

DD had follow on milk - I was naive and believed the hype (low iron???)

DS has had nowt but breastmilk. I tried him one night on formula when I had been out and got very drunk, but he spat it out in disgust.

AnnainNZ · 28/04/2008 00:55

Dd has had no formula so far (6 mo this week). Am hoping to keep bf till she is old enough for cow's milk.

I ordered a box of nappies online this week and when it arrived it had some free formula samples with it . Dh thinks we should keep them "just in case". I'm not so sure...

onelittlelion · 28/04/2008 01:16

ds 21 mths no formula can't see him having any now!

MrsJohnCusack · 28/04/2008 01:27

DD did when she abrubtly gave up breastfeeding at 10 mths (and had had some before too)
DS never has. he is nearly 14 mths and is on extended nursing strike (about 8 days now, I think that's probably it for good now). so straight onto cow's milk (except he doesn't seem that keen). damn him for ruining my extended bfeeding credentials - I was really looking forward to freaking a few people out

verylittlecarrot · 28/04/2008 01:32

No formula for babycarrot. Excl bf to 6 months, bf still, will continue till she wants to stop...

verylittlecarrot · 28/04/2008 01:33

Mrs JC . Sorry he's still striking.

Original poster
welliemum · 28/04/2008 01:39

aarrgh, MrsJC, so sorry to hear that. I'm an optimist - I've still got my fingers crossed he'll See The Error of His Ways.

vlc, you've no idea how delighted I am to see you on this thread! What a struggle you've had. Well done you.

OP posts:
Califrau · 28/04/2008 01:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoCiao · 28/04/2008 01:44

hello wellie, you know about allergies, don't you? could you look at my friend's thread please?www.mumsnet.com/Talk/29/520328?stamp=080427110715
much obliged... will answer your email tomoz, eyes are bleeding...

verylittlecarrot · 28/04/2008 01:57

thanks welliemum. Your support didn't half help out in strengthening my resolve in the face of the pressure though.

She put only 3 lb on in her first 6 months, but has put almost 6 lb on in the last 3 months! I don't worry about her weight any more, so I've had to invent other anxieties...introducing solids too quickly impacting my milk supply perhaps, any theoretical future children going the same way...

I have to have something to fret about, naturally.

Original poster
welliemum · 28/04/2008 02:42

vlc, you're right, fretting about stuff is part of the job description and if you have no actual worries it's essential to invent them....

Anyway, seriously, fab outcome for you and babycarrot. I'm so pleased!

Aitch, I only know a bit about allergies but am happy to add my 2p - will go and look at the thread now.

Meanwhile, get those bleeding eyes to bed! [stern]

OP posts:
sakurarose39 · 28/04/2008 02:56

DD - one or two bottles in the clinic when she was born, but the night before we went home, I stayed up all night getting her on the breast and from then on not a drop of formula

DS - not a drop, breastfed until his third birthday.

Milk, Money and Madness is a good read

shubiedoo · 28/04/2008 03:07

Shall we start another thread saying "how many children have never eaten Mcdonalds food" or "never watched television"?!

Yes, my children both drank formula milk the odd time, before 6 months, because I hated pumping. But I breastfed both for over a year.

Sometimes it's better to give the odd formula feed and continue breastfeeding, then to give up entirely at 3 months because you're exhausted or want to go out for a couple of hours and feel as though you just can't go on!

Original poster
welliemum · 28/04/2008 03:26

shubiedoo, you're most welcome to start threads about McDonalds and television, but I won't, because I haven't the faintest interest in what other parents do wrt burgers and TV.

In fact, I'm not interested in judging other parents for anything, and if you think this thread is a judgy one then I'm afraid you've completely misread it.

OP posts:
twentypence · 28/04/2008 04:43

Ds never had any. I have a (not scientific at all) suspicion that the formula companies actually make more money out of breastfeeders because all the ones I know gave toddler formula for ages (years sometimes) whereas the formula mums got them onto milk as soon as possible.

aGalChangedHerName · 28/04/2008 07:07

Ds1 FF from birth
Ds2 BF from birth,no formula and no bottles
Dd1 BF from birth,no formula and no bottles
Dd2 BF from birth,no formula and no bottles

Only Ds1 was weaned before 6 months. My 3 BF babes didn't have any food till after 6 months.

littlelapin · 28/04/2008 07:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

throckenholt · 28/04/2008 07:18

I had difficult little blighters whow ould not latch (ds1 took 1 month, ds2 &3 twins never did). I mostly expressed for them but used formula when I didn't have enough of my own (ds for the first month, twins until they went on to normal milk).

I would love to say I never used formula - but actually in my case it was probably essential.