Formula feeding from a cup?

[frenchchristmas]

My 8 month old has only ever been breastfed but I am considering getting her used to occasional formula feeds in preparation for me going back to work/spending time away from her.

She has never had a bottle and I know that bottles are discouraged from 1 years old, so I was wondering whether to get DH/grandparents to try her with formula from a cup. She can drink from an open cup with support (only water so far).

I would be grateful for any advice/recommendations. TIA!

I would just get a bottle. The problem with an open cup is mixing the formula and then the mess drinking it which is not comparable to the mess sipping water at meal times. Swap to a covered cup of some kind when she’s 12 months and you can just give cow’s milk for the occasional feed instead of formula that needs mixing.

Those are good points, thank you. My head is swimming a bit trying to get everything ‘right’.

We did buy some bottles when she was a newborn which we never ended up using, but I assume they are the wrong size/teat now? I do think she would be okay with a bottle as she loves a dummy.

Baby is also doing well with solids so the formula might not be necessary in the end but I am just worried about her going hungry.

We did a cup. Absolutely fine and recommended at this age if you’re giving the odd cup.

How old will LO be when you go back to work?

The teats might be too slow for her but the size should be fine.

A BF baby will take typically 25 Floz in 24 hours so she will probably only take 1 to 2 Floz, 3 if you’re lucky.

Interesting, thank you. She will be 11 months but I would like to start leaving her with grandparents/DH here and there to prepare her before that. At first it wouldn’t be for very long so she wouldn’t need milk but I am trying to plan ahead. She has always been with me so far!

Oh just use the ones you have. Breastfed babies are used to working harder to get the milk so unless they are teeny super slow flow teats for premature babies they will probably be fine. Obviously a smaller bottle limits how much you can put in it at once but breastfed babies tend to take smaller feeds more frequently in my experience anyway. If you’ve got say, the 120mL /4 ounce bottle size I’d just try that first. If she needs takes to the formula and you find she wants more in one sitting then you can get a bigger bottle. My 7month old baby has some formula when I’m at work and some expressed milk and drinks 150mL ish at a time. But 120mL works fine for him to tide him over if I’ve gone out and he’s missing a random feed.
I don’t know if you can get this in the Uk but I started off with formula in tablets - in little individually wrapped sticks containing 5 tablets of formula where 1 tablet is equivalent to one scoop of formula. This was useful when we weren’t using much because formula doesn’t keep for longer than about 3 weeks once you open the tin.

I think it’s sensible to start to leave her so she has time to get a bit more used to it for when you start back to work.

At 11 months, if you’re in a working day, she’ll probably need a feed on wake up, one ok pick up and one before bed although she might need a cup of milk before her afternoon nap.

Do expect her to wake at night a but but this can be more about wanting the closeness of you.

I would avoid the bottle if you can - my girls went from boob to sippy cups. Never had a bottle.
My mum used to give them milk or water in an Esspresso cup! And my SIL always gives her some water out of shot glasses (when he's at my house...not at home),