Help 6 mth old is never going to take formula! I'm tired and want to go out on my own!

[Sprogstersmum]

Any advice? Have been trying to give dd2 formula in a cup and bottle for the last 3 weeks, replacing one breast feed a day. She won't even let the bottle in her mouth, will have the cup but only has a few sips and basically just goes from 1.30pm to 8pm without a feed (am replacing afternoon feed). Has a feed at 8pm before bed but then has 3 feeds during the night, around every 2 -3 hours. Feel that all I have done is altered her routine to feed more during the night than the day (although this has always been her night feeding pattern but thought it would improve with solids as she goes much longer between feeds during the day) HV said just perservere but 3 weeks in there's no improvement. HV also said she doesn't need night feeds at 6 mnths and just drop them - tried this for 3 nights but dd2 just screamed for 3 hours and then would throw up feed in the morning as she ate too fast and was too miserable - it just didn't feel right. Ideally would like to mixed feed rather than stop bf completely but am beginning to feel cold turkey might be the only way to go. Help!

Keep at it. Both my DDs refused to take the bottles for weeks and weeks. DD2 eventually just gave in, although it did help when other people tried to feed her.
With DD1 I was getting desparate as I had to start work again so I tempted her with apple juice in a bottle and this goes against all the advice you will read - I was that desparate. The apple juice worked. Once she was used to the bottle I started milk in a bottle and stopped the apple juice. I still fed them both myself in the morning and at bedtime until they both self-weaned.

Sprogster - your HV is useless, from the sound of it

Many babies need night feeds at this age.

In addition, she might have raised with you the idea that battling with bottle and trying to ignore at night is not going to lead to a happy baby (or mother!).

She doesn't need a bottle. A cup will be fine, with help.

Just a note to Marla: I am always amused when references to 'the baby can smell you' turn up. The baby can see her and knows her and knows who breastfeeds her...I suppose smelling might add to that, but beyond the newborn, I wonder how much smell has got to do with breastfeeding