Mixed feeding and changing teats (on bottle, not boob!)

[birkiefeet]

Hi there

I exclusively breastfed my son until a month ago when he dropped 2 centile lines so I had to start giving him formula.

He's now 5 months old and having 2 breasfeeds and 4 formula feeds a day.

As it is he pulls quite a lot at the breast which I've put down to slow let down. He feeds much better when sleepy so I try and time it right.

He's now started pulling and squirming at the bottle and I'm wondering if he's getting frustrated with the teats which are no. 1's for newborns, so slow flowing.

My question is... Do you think that if I change the teats to faster flowing ones it could spell the end of breastfeeding?

Hello

I have a 5 month old too who is also mixed fed but the other way round to you - 2 formula feeds and 4 breastfeeds

DS2 is on the stage 2 teats for his bottles and has been for a while, and we've had no BF problems. I would definitely give it a go.

It could be that the pulling and faffing on the boob during the day is due as much to being distracted as anything else. They're a pain for being distracted whilst breastfeeding at this age, hence why he might feed better when calm and sleepy.

I think you are "supposed to" keep the teat at newborn level as long as you are bfing.

However, I think for us, doing this partially caused ds3 to refuse bottles altogether. At one point he sucked so hard on the teat it collapsed.

I would be inclined to go with the Stage 2

Thank you both for your advice.

amberflower - yes he gets distracted big time and having a 3yo and 3 cats in the house doesn't help!

chipmonkey - the teats have collapsed a couple of times too - I wondered why!

I think I'll give the stage 2 teats a go as you've both had no problems and see how he gets on