Introducing formula to BF baby

[Flumpwoman]

My baby boy is 9 weeks old and exclusively breast fed. I have tried to express milk for feeds when I can't be there to feed him myself but I really struggle to get enough just for one evening's feed. I'd like to introduce formula for the occasions when my OH needs to bottlefeed him (at the moment I either have baby or pump permanently attached to boob and it would be nice to leave the house once in a while )

My son will take the bottle without any problems or confusion but can anyone advise on the best formula to use (tastes most like breast milk?) and the effect, if any, this might have on him and on my supply?

I think that bm is sweeter than formula and all formula is generally very similar. I just saw a dietican a few days ago and she said that aptimal and cow and gate are made by the same company but aptimal has more fish oil. I think aptimal charge more as a marketing technique to make you think it is better.

Personally I find mix feeding very difficult. I tried it with my first 2 and the loss of supply meant I was giving more formula and stopped bf within a couple of weeks of the first bottle. My 3rd was having meds in a bottle after each feed for a couple of months and maintaining bf was a huge effort. Lots of other people manage very well so hopefully one of them will be along soon to give you some advice.

I don't think you'll have much problem at 9 weeks, but if you do you could mix breast milk and formula. I always found the ready made stuff much easier and cow and gate seems to be the best one to swap to for breast feeders.

Incidentally, I never found mixed feeding a problem. I've given both of mine formula at 4/5 weeks in the evening and stopped breast feeding at 4 months (as I don't like it).

You can buy ready mixed in cartons (which is great for giving to someone else) and my two seemed to like it so much better than anything else. It's really expensive though

I hadn't even thought of mixing formula with breast milk. It makes sense to try that first. Thanks for your advice.

There's a big drawback to mixing breastmilk and formula in the same bottle....I don't think anyone meant that, did they?

Reason: if the baby leaves some, your precious ebm has to be discarded.

All formulas claim they are closest to breastmilk - they can't all be

Taste-wise: breastmilk tastes a bit different every time and differs from woman to woman. So getting a taste-match is a non-starter

Occasional use of formula now your baby is a bit older is probably going to have no more than a small effect on your supply, flumpwoman...if you want to stick with bf only then it may not be long before you can grab 2-3 hours off, as long as your dh is prepared to jiggle and play and cuddle.

When I first introduced DD1 to formula when I was returning to work I did mix half and half formula and half EBM in a bottle so that she could get accustomed to the taste of formula - I thought it was quite a clever way to help her adjust to the taste and it didn't seem like a big deal if a bit of EBM had to be thrown away. However, from my subsequent experience I don't think there is really any need to do that. DD1 took formula just fine (she was already used to taking bottles of EBM). With DD2 when I wanted to introduce occasional bottles the problem was the bottle, not what was in it. When I finally managed to get her to take a bottle at all she didn't seem to notice whether it was EBM or formula. DS first had a taste of formula when he was about 6 weeks and I was at a wedding for the day. He was used to occasional bottles of EBM but I didn't have enough EBM available for the whole day so I also gave my Mum a couple of cartons of made up formula too. He didn't turn a hair. Although he didn't have formula again for some months, when I did introduce regular bottles of formula as he approached 6 months he didn't show any sign of noticing that it was formula rather than EBM in the bottle.

So I would say just go and buy a couple of cartons of ready made formula and see what happens. If he is OK with it then keep a couple of cartons in the cupboard so they are available when you need them. I don't think that the odd formula bottle here and there will effect your supply, but obviously if it becomes a regular thing then maybe it would.

My daughter is 5 mths old & has been exclusively breastfeed. I'm going back to work in Jan & would like to either cut down the breastfeeding or stop altogether but on the 3 occassions we've tried to give my baby girl formula she won't take it! We've tried SMA, Cow & Gate and Aptimal. She will take ebm from a bottle so its not the bottle thats the problem. Any advice would be very gratefully received, my job can sometimes involve extended shifts so it would be reassuring to know that my baby will at least take formula if needs be.

ActivityApple - Thanks for advice will give it a go. Having fun at the moment as my daughter has been refusing the bottle even with EBM! Will persevere though