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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

So how bad a mother am I to put strawberry crusha in 8mo DD's formula?

86 replies

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 13:29

I really need some advice so please read before you flame me!

DD will not take formula.

I introduced a bottle to her at 6 months and she was happy with it for a few weeks but at 7 months decided she didn't like it anymore. I have tried various cups/beakers/bottles but with no luck.

The main problem for me is that I go back to work on Monday and although I am happy to BF in the daytime I would like her to take milk in the evening for DH while I am at work. I have never been able to express so that is not an option for me. I am also thinking that if she would happily take formula I would stop BFing entirely - TBH on only 2-3 feeds a day my supply is really struggling so not sure it will survive me returning to work anyway.

The other night DH offered her the milk in the same beaker she drinks her water from (tommee tippee tip it up one) and she eagerly reached for it only to push it away when it got within sniffing distance. We have tested this with other cups since putting water in one and milk in the other - she knows the smell of the milk and won't touch it (clever girl!)

So last night, in a fit of desparation, I put a bit of Crusha in and she drank the lot.

Is it feasible to do this and just put a bit less in each time until she has just formula? Or would I be doing untold damage?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

OP posts:

yomellamoHelly · 20/09/2008 13:50

I too would try adding the real fruit and mixing it up in a blender rather than adding a powder. Bit of extra faff mind.

Twiga · 20/09/2008 13:51

Just another thought, does temperature make a difference to if she'll take formula - may prefer it colder rather than warm?

Original poster

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 13:52

shesells, what age was your DD when you started with the milkshake? How long did it take to cut it out?

DD is a great eater by the way and will eat just about anything I give her. She generally has BF first thing, small breakfast, BF 11ish, lunch, tea and milk before bed. HV said that one fromage frais or 1 oz cheese is equal in calcium to 1/4 pt milk and although you can top up her diet with these things it is better for her to still be having milk as a drink.

OP posts:

NotDoingTheHousework · 20/09/2008 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

moondog · 20/09/2008 13:52

How long will you be away from her? By 8 mths, my babies could go 8 hours with no milk. Just food, or milk in cheese/porridge and so on.

Original poster

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 13:54

MrsPickles she has already been doing that!!!

twiga, temperature doesn't seem to make a difference although have not tried cold. #is worth a go!

OP posts:

Twiga · 20/09/2008 13:54

Hadn't thought about lumps, would therefore be better in a free-flo rather than valve based cup/beaker?

Original poster

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 13:57

notdoingthehousework, the aspartame does bother me too I have to say, I try not to give the boys anything with it in as I think it is awful stuff.

moondog I will only be away a few hours as it is evening work, I am more concerned about my milk drying up with the infrequent feedings and her being left with no milk at all than I am about her missing the odd feed,

OP posts:

Original poster

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 13:58

It does seem that most of you are thinking along the same lines as me in that it is not a great idea.

OP posts:

Twiga · 20/09/2008 13:58

I'm not entirely sure that I agree with your hv, as long as she's getting the right ammount of calcium it shouldn't matter how. The main thing is to ensure her fluid intake stays up as she's dropping bfs and this can be done with water - not recommended that cows milk is given until 12 months as a dirnk but is ok after 6 used in cooking etc.

LaTrucha · 20/09/2008 13:59

Have you tries youd DD with formula at different temperatures? I find thid makes all the difference with mine now we're introducing a bottle (she is 8 months and a bf baby). Sometimes she'll only drink it cold, sometimes really pretty warm - warmer than my milk would be. More often she prefers it cold.

ALso second the different types of formula. My DD will only take Hipp Infant formula.

madmouse · 20/09/2008 14:00

have you tried HiPP organic formula? Worth a try, it is relatively cheap. My ds (7.5months) who has only known breast milk will drink it from an open (doidy) cup. It smells a lot like my milk and is very gently on tummies as it contains no prebiotics etc, which you do not need as you have given dd all your good bacteria.

I would worry about additives and teeth too and it is probably a lost cause trying to reduce it once she is used to it.

There may be (probably expensive)more natural alternatives available, maybe in healthfood shops?

A bit of sugar is better than no milk though IMO. As another poster said there is plenty in Petit Filou and the like and that is true. Also breastmilk is sweet and I find formula ridiculously sweet (am a picky eater and have resolved to taste everything I give ds

BTW ds will drink bits from doidy cup but scream for social services if I try a bottle, so wish me luck when I start weaning on 1 October . I fear he has rather an emotional attachment to my boobs

giraffescantdancethetango · 20/09/2008 14:00

You dont deserve to be flamed, your not giving to to her everyday since birth for convenience along with a liquidised big mac! Your a mum at the end of her tether. Perhaps we could help you find a less artificial way to flavour the milk if this is the way you want to go. Fruit juice suggestion might work, or how about a real strawberry? Shes over 6months so try flavouring it with real things, since shes "allowed" to eat them anyway at that age.

Would she drink other milks? iirc the guidelines are not cows milk as a MAIN drink, but to get some milk in to her perhaps a cup of cows milk might be better than formula with the milkshake powder. Or soya milk/oat milk?

If she absolutely wont take the formula on its own then could be worth considering which is the best alernative.

madmouse · 20/09/2008 14:01

Hi Susie, great minds think alike hey

madmouse · 20/09/2008 14:03

giraffe, soya/oat milk are even worse in terms of nutrients than cows milk so not suitable.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 20/09/2008 14:03

becklespeckle she was 6 months. i started using the three teaspoons it says to on the carton and then reduced it by half a teaspoon every two days. i was advised by a dietician after she lost weight due to illness.

cutting out milk and replacing with cheese, yoghurts etc wasnt an option as she wasnt eating much either, from what i can gather they just concentrate on getting as much calories as possible into underweight children and sort out any other problems this causes once a normal weight has been reached and the child is into the habit of eating proper amounts iyswim.

LaTrucha · 20/09/2008 14:06

I just thought of another thing that's helping us in our 'introduce the bottle' game. We bought the Tommee Tippee bottles (fab) but she just kept choking with the 6month plus teats . We're getting on a lot better with 3 month plus teats.

Hi Madmouse

AnarchyAunt · 20/09/2008 14:07

Hipp Organic do a vanilla flavoured 'Growing Up Milk' - suitable from 10 months IIRC.

Caz10 · 20/09/2008 14:08

hiya beckle

my DD literally only took a bottle on the very day I went back to work, i think she just knew somehow I wasn't around! still won't take one when i am here but touch wood my milk supply is still ok so we'll cross that bridge when we need to! But you might find she'll refuse the formula until you actually leave the house! (and even then it took my dd a few hours to come round to the idea, now she ok on the days I'm away, 2 bottles a day with not TOO much fuss)

AnarchyAunt · 20/09/2008 14:08

Don't add fruit juice to the milk - it'll curdle. You could try adding a teeny tiny drop of natural vanilla extract (not flavouring) maybe, if the Hipp stuff is expensive/hard to get hold of.

moondog · 20/09/2008 14:09

Your milk wont dry up!!
i went back to work f/t when dd was 7 mths but carried on b/feeding am and pm and all w/end for 2 1/2 years.

I'd not bother meself with all this faff.

serenity · 20/09/2008 14:09

What time do you have to go to work? DD was like this when I returned to working evenings at around the same age. I actually ended up working slightly later (8pm start instead of 7pm) and she had to do without the later feed she was used to. It didn't affect the bfing at all (although it was incredibly frustrating for me - I had to work all weekend as an induction at a new job just before she turned 1 and she did both days cold turkey without milk during the day) She ended up self weaning at 2, but still won't drink milk at all, except Lolas pink milk (ie Strawberry Crusha........)

Do what you think you need to do, but i don't think missing the odd milk feed will do her any harm tbh.

Original poster

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 14:15

Hi Caz!

Might give the HIPP milk a try, it does seem to be the smell that puts her off (it would do me TBH)

Moondog, I have a very temperamental supply, doesn't take kindly to missing a feed, the effect on supply is apparent as soon as the next day.

AnarchyAunt (love your name BTW), is interesting to know there is a flavoured follow on milk. I like the Hipp stuff too (their jars - although DD has also recently taken a dislike to anything not home made)

OP posts:

SmugColditz · 20/09/2008 14:16

Ds2 hated formula, hated it passionately. I'm afraid I switched him to cow's milk at 10 months. Better cow's milk than no bleddy milk!

But I wouldn't advise this, especially as your baby is younger.

I would think a tiny smidge of sugar would be better that strawberry crusha. Breastmilk is sweet tasting, but formula really isn't nice.

No judgement here - but I must say, what time do you finish work? Could you feed her when you get in? She is old enough just to have food and water before bed, and if you feed her when you get in it will help keep your supply up - because if she's going down without milk you might find she starts waking in the night for it anyway!

Original poster

becklespeckle · 20/09/2008 14:17

go to work at 6 serenity, she normally has last feed at 8 although I won't be home until nearer 11.

OP posts:

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