Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Psychobabble · 29/04/2008 15:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kikid · 29/04/2008 15:22

dd never had formula, refused a dummy & bottle, bf for 9m. Then had a cup with very diluted... carnation milk, yes, thats what my mother told me to do!

dd was absolutly fine, as fully weened by then & had cows milk about 14m.

Poohbah · 29/04/2008 15:27

DS had some formula in the first 8 days of life as was jaundiced and I was not able to express enough milk. I wish donated milk had been offered/available. Otherwise breastmilk only and is still having it now at 2.4years.

Poohbah · 29/04/2008 15:27

I have tasted formula. It tastes like metal!

thehouseofmirth · 29/04/2008 17:36

DS 2.9 has ever had a bottle of anything. Just ever felt the need as bf so easy for both of us. He's still at it now...

Califrau · 29/04/2008 17:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WilfSell · 29/04/2008 17:41

LFTS, that is a normal BF pattern (one hour in three) even so it can feel hard.

Just because everyone on this list is a BFer doesn't mean they took to it like ducks to water though.

And equally, just because you're struggling, doesn't mean you won't go on and breastfeed as long as you and your DC want to...

Califrau · 29/04/2008 17:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsshackleton · 29/04/2008 17:56

Crikey, I thought I was the only one apart from my sil, in my circles I am considered a bit of a freak/a bit of a masochistic heroine depending on what your views are for bfing past six months ...
dd1 never had a drop. Once bfing was well established I couldn't see the point of switching at an arbitrary 6 months stage, I weaned at 13 months onto cows milk, though she did have lots of bottles of ebm, as I went back to work at three months, but I work from home and find expressing easily, bow down to those who work in offices and commute and still manage it
dd2 will be the same as she's nearly one and I want to wean her onto cows milk soon as well, as I am exhausted and skeletal and constantly ill and think the bfing is becoming too training, but whereas dd1 moved over without a blink dd2 adores the boob and I sense a struggle ahead, and guess who'll win as always
It;s not at all being disingenuous saying you don't know how to make up bottles, somehow I can fiddle with a breast pump and do all the required sterilising but I would't have a clue how to make up formula and it scares me that I'd do it wrong, plus hate the idea of having to wait for water to cool etc. Plus our house is very tall and our bedroom is right at the top and kitchen right at the bottom, the thought of going down all those stairs in the early morning to warm a bottle does so not appeal when I can just plonk them on a nipple!

theUrbanNixie · 29/04/2008 18:04

yep - ds didn't have anything except breastmilk (and bathwater!) until he was 24 weeks, and hen he didn't really start eating solids until he was 8 or 9 months old!

he does have cow's milk to drink at granny's house out of a big boy cup now (at nearly 16 months) and he had a few bottles of EBM when he was little.

FourPlusOne · 29/04/2008 18:29

My 2 DCs have never had formula. BF both for over a year then straight to cows milk. They did have EBM in bottles on a fairly regular basis though (if I had to go out without them - not fed by me) so I knew that if there was some emergency they would accept a bottle . I am a SAHM though at the moment so I didn't have the issue of having to express at work and so it wasn't very complicated.

I did have a couple of cartons for emergencies but they were never needed. Have never made a bottle though. Have a vague idea as to what is involved from watching friends, but wouldn't be able to do one myself without being told properly.

Did struggle with both at the beginning though so to anyone who is having problems early on I would say that it can be done even if it is initially very difficult (ovbiously I know that doesn't apply to everyone). Was so glad that I had gone through those first couple of months though as after that it was easy and stress free. When I stopped feeding I did not get any bother from either DC, although I did expect it. They just accepted it and moved to cows milk.

I think that I am very much in the minority with my RL friends though. I hope to do the same with DC3 but you can't always plan these things I suppose!

Caz10 · 29/04/2008 18:50

dd had some formula top ups at 5wks - bad HV advice/pressure, but now at 20wks and she's had none since then! i'm worried that she'll have to have some when i go back to work though, if my supply/chances to express can't keep up with what she needs. if she does i think i'll be spending extra to buy the cartons, as the making up of feeds scares me now

mehdismummy · 29/04/2008 19:00

my ds does not even know how to use a bottle. Sil tried with him but he would never take it! Would not even take expressed milk. Unless it came in the right container he would not touch it! Will take a little cows milk now (2.4 years) but still has breastmilk so not concerned!

NaughtyNigella · 29/04/2008 19:03

DD2 didn't
although she was on 3 square meals a day horribly early and drank water out of a cup, was BF, then started on cows at about 11.5mths.
also did express and she had that out of a bottle when i went back to work.

Caz10 · 29/04/2008 19:04

oh - and i don't understand - why can they have cheese and yoghurts but not cows milk?

Madlentileater · 29/04/2008 19:08

ds 1 had a few bottles (appalling advice from mw) he was struggling to latch on- I gave him soya formulas as believed it was less allergenic. He went on to get asthma, so of course I tortured myself wondering if it was those few bottles. DTs and DS2, not a drop. DT1 (AKA dd1!) developed asthma and eczema, badly, so the bottles probably not to blame...just my awful genes. (sniff) However he is now huge 19yr old so not to worry. I can't believe it's that rare not to use formula?

CorrieDale · 29/04/2008 19:15

DD hasn't and won't. DS had one bottle of FF which he glugged down, and which gave him horrible wind. We didn't bother trying again.

StealthPolarBear · 29/04/2008 19:15

Caz10 - no cows milk as a main drink - I think it doesn't contain the right balance of vitamins etc and it's their main source of nutrition for quite a while. I would imagine if they are on 3 balanced meals a day and not actually frinking that much milk (e.g. a cup at bedtime) it wouldn't really hurt, but don't know for sure.

overtherainbow · 29/04/2008 19:59

DS - never
DD1 - never
DD2 - never

ChocolateRockingHorse · 29/04/2008 20:00

Oh gawd, is it a competition? Who won?

Unfitmother · 29/04/2008 20:12

My thoughts entirely

DS readmitted to hospital having lost 20% of his birthweight (due to me not having been given enougth BF support) and despite me expressing all night to put milk through his NG tube the paediatrician asked if he could have a FF through his NG tube.
How will I live it down? I BF for over a year but the shame never goes away.

frankiesbestfriend · 29/04/2008 20:28

DD had formula between 2 days and 5 days old due to lack of bf support and my mistaken belief she wasnt getting enough from just the colostrum before my milk came in.

Once the real milk started I couldnt stop bf, it was the only thing that relieved the pressure in my breasts.

I often wondered how ffing mums cope with the pain of all the milk and nowhere for it to go.

Annner · 29/04/2008 20:39

DD - some formula between 6 and 10 days (following massive dehydration, tongue tie, not getting enough milk transfer from me, etc.) Formula used to supplement EBM and gradually worked this back to exclusive boobage by 11 days old. Never mind anything else, this is the achievement of which I am most proud in my little life. Chucking out the half-used Aptamil box was a happy day. Self-weaned at 10 months and went on to cows milk mixed with EBM. Gave up expressing when DD was about 14 months and I was upduffed once again.

DS - got the hang from the start. Never had formula. Now has the odd bit of cows at 18 months.

Dotsie · 29/04/2008 20:47

dd and ds1 excl bf to 2.6 ish (can't remember exactly) ds2 excl bf and plan to continue as long as he wants to - is 3 1/2 months. they have never had formula.

(btw madlentileater, ds1 developed asthma at 18mo despite excl bf, no wheat r dairy at all before 1yr, so i understand yr frustration)

i was looking on the unicef baby friendly site earlier today and found these stats

i was shocked tbh. i knew bf rates in the uk were low, but 3% at 5 months is really

didn't realise i was in such a small minority

Habbibu · 29/04/2008 20:50

Mix fed from 6 months as I really wanted to get my periods back and get pregnant again (hollow laugh at the ironic turn of events). If I have another I'd like to just keep breastfeeding, I think.