Starting formula...

[sherilynleanne]

Hi, I'm a first time mum looking for tips on starting formula. My baby is 8 months old and has only had breast milk. Occasionally been bottle fed by expressed milk. Should I use first infant or follow on milk? How do I know how much to give her? What feed is the best time to start? I'm nervous so I'd appreciative any helpful advice. Thank you.

Tbh I probably wouldn't start yet. Formula isn't that easy to come by atm. I've hunted high and low today for a friend.

Practically, someone else ideally needs to do it. If they can smell your milk they turn into little tinkers with mint WTF expressions.

No advice on some of your questions as I solely bottle fed...

But the first stage formula is absolutely fine, however the stage 2/3/4 are sometimes on offer so these may be better if money is right

I just followed babies lead and fed on demand, however much they wanted and when they wanted and I found that worked perfectly

Do you need to switch to formula? Your breastmilk will be full of lovely antibodies that you might be grateful for at the moment. If possible I would hold off for a while.

There's guidance on the tin for how much they should take and at what age etc, but don't freak if your baby doesn't stick to it exactly as they rarely do.

Follow on and first stage formulas are essentially the same thing, but there's a ban on advertising formula to help promote bfing, so the companies developed follow on milk to get round it. Same goes for most of the advertised extra nutrients etc.

Personally I wouldn't start now though as it's really difficult to get and it's not great on their tummies to switch from brand to brand. Plus with all the isolation it's a perfect time to BF tbh.

A mate of mine is isolating with her 3month old at the moment - she sent me out to get formula and there is literally none to be found near us. I would absolutely not be stopping breastfeeding right now.

To echo PP, you're going to struggle to find formula - there might be some 6mo+ follow on available in some shops (I've been in two supermarkets today and there was none) but I wouldn't but first milk as newborns/littler babies need it.

*buy not but

It will depend how much food they're eating how you would do it, but only drop one feed at a time. And try to go straight to a chip at that age.