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Original poster

Formula for BF baby

24 replies

yellowgecko · 08/07/2021 19:47

DD is 6.5 months, EBF: she'll take a bottle of expressed milk but is refusing to take formula.

So far we've tried Cow & Gate powder and their ready made; anyone in similar positions had any luck with other brands? I know I'll just end up buying one of everything and she'll still hate it...😩

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Vicky1989x · 08/07/2021 20:09

Have you tried mixing the formula with breastmilk? So if she takes 4oz, do 2oz formula and 2oz BM.. she might just not like the taste so mixing it might help then you can gradually increase the formula and decrease the BM.

NancyDrawed · 08/07/2021 20:10

Mine took Aptamil ready made as a top up for one feed in the evening (twins! It was relentless in the early days) but we did start that from about 3 weeks old as I was ready to stop bf altogether at that point.

So Aptamil ready made (blue carton I think, but it's 11 years ago) and then I switched to the powdered because it was cheaper

Shameless29 · 08/07/2021 20:36

My little one takes HIPP organic, it's sweeter than some other brands so apparently more like breast milk. We use the ready made stuff

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scottmichael · 08/07/2021 20:40

Mine would only drink HiPP

Original poster

yellowgecko · 08/07/2021 20:42

@Vicky1989x that's a good idea for short term, I won't be able to sustain the pumping long term

@NancyDrawed yes Aptamil seems to be the main choice of most people. We'd tried C&G first as DC1 combi fed with that

@Shameless29 didn't realise HIPP did one, will check it out. She's started weaning and Ioves the sweet stuff so maybe that will work!

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Original poster

yellowgecko · 08/07/2021 20:43

@scottmichael do you get it from usual supermarkets?

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finkirt · 08/07/2021 20:49

Do you want to give up breast feeding? ( no judgement if you do). If you continue to 12 months, you could skip formula all together and just introduce cows milk then.

Original poster

yellowgecko · 08/07/2021 20:52

@finkirt not yet, but I'm knackered from being the only one to settle her at night. I'm also starting to do KIT days ready to return to work in less than 3 months

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Original poster

yellowgecko · 12/07/2021 16:27

So trying to FF has been a disaster 😩 tried every day for the past 4 days - half and half, tried DH doing it, me doing it, tried 3 different brands so far, tried warming up, tried a sippy cup instead and she's literally screamed...

I think I've pumped enough breast milk to cover tomorrow as I have to be at work, but now am scared we've put her off the bottle completely... I can't bear the thought of her screaming for me and I can't be there to feed her any further advice wise mamas..??!

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BunnyRuddington · 12/07/2021 16:52

At six months you can skip the bottle so don't worry about giving her an aversion to it.

Are you going back full time?

At 9 months I went back part timer and they had cows milk in a cup and solids and I BF all of the feeds. Would that be an option?

CaraherEIL · 12/07/2021 16:58

I topped my breast fed baby up with Hipp Organic, which seems lovely. Also it reminded me the most of Breast milk, also used the ready made Hipp so it was convenient. My baby did bottle to boob fine but I chose a particular teat for the bottle so it didn’t affect her latch.
Aptimel gave my baby a really sore bum.

Original poster

yellowgecko · 12/07/2021 17:29

The problem is she is refusing formula, full stop. I've got kit days planned before I go back to work in Oct, she will go to nursery 4 days. I cannot pump enough for all those feeds.

She has bottle fed with expressed milk, but I cannot get formula into her.

Tried HIPP ready made in her baby porridge this morning and it went in ok. But she won't drink it from bottle

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BunnyRuddington · 12/07/2021 18:16

Can totally understand your frustration.

At 10 months, which she'll almost be, she'll only need 400 ml of formula a day and that's if she's completely FF. if you're feeding 3 times a day, that should be enough.

She might only want one feed at nursery, could you pump enough for that?

Agree with trying Hipp Organic as well

MrsAvocet · 12/07/2021 18:26

I understand your anxiety and frustration as I had babies who wouldn't take anything from a bottle, never mind formula, but try not to worry too much about returning to work. In another 3 months your DD will be very different - think how much she has changed in the last 3 months.
There is no doubt that it's easier and more convenient if your baby will take a bottle when you are atcwork, but it isn't essential.
I had 2 complete bottle refusers and we coped - bf in the morning, after work on days off and solids/water during working hours worked for us. It was hard work, but fir a relatively short time and at least I didn't then have problems getting rid of a bottle as I did with the one who would accept one!
It's still early days so try not to stress as I'm convinced babies pick up on that and it can make matters more difficult,

Original poster

yellowgecko · 12/07/2021 18:29

But I'm doing a kit day tomorrow!!! 😩

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Original poster

yellowgecko · 12/07/2021 18:31

I just feel so cross with myself for assuming she'd take anything in a bottle as she took expressed milk with no problem

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BunnyRuddington · 12/07/2021 19:04

But I'm doing a kit day tomorrow

Really sorry, I thought you'd said that you'd managed to pump enough for tomorrow. Sorry if I've got that wrong

Mochatatts · 12/07/2021 19:11

My daughter is EBF, I've been trying since about 12 weeks to switch to bottles. She's now 21 weeks and will just about tolerate a teat in her mouth to chew. Still not mastered sucking unfortunately. Anyway I tried all the ready made milks and HIPP, she pulled a face. Swapped to kendamil and she'll sort of drink some providing its very warm. Managed 30mls the other day. So not loads but the most so far. Definitely the nicest of the formulas we've tried x

Cotswoldmama · 12/07/2021 19:18

My son wouldn't take a bottle at all and I returned to work at 6 months, there was no point in expressing as we wouldn't take it from any bottle! I fed him first thing and as soon as he was home. I did two long days 7- 17.30 and a shorter day of 7-13 and he was fine just having liquids from food and he was offered milk in a cup or bottle but rarely had any. My breasts adapted to the weird feeding and he was breastfed until he was 3. He eventually just had water in a cup and milk becomes less important as they get more as and more nutrients and liquids from their food.

Original poster

yellowgecko · 12/07/2021 19:52

@BunnyRuddington yes I've pumped 2.5 feeds (hoping to get the final bit tonight - aiming for 7oz per feed) but it's taken me since Friday. It's been stressing me out all day that she might just refuse the bottle completely tomorrow

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BunnyRuddington · 12/07/2021 19:58

yes I've pumped 2.5 feeds (hoping to get the final bit tonight - aiming for 7oz per feed) but it's taken me since Friday. It's been stressing me out all day that she might just refuse the bottle completely tomorrow.

She'll probably miss you, she'll probably want a big feed when she sees you, she might even cry when she sees you but she will probably take some from a bottle.

I'd try not to worry, a lot easier said than done I know.

Make sure you have somewhere to pump tomorrow, you don't want to end up with mastitis.

And when you pump later, put a sock over the bottle so that you can't see how much you're pumping, apparently not being able to see how much is coming out can increase the amount you pump

motogogo · 12/07/2021 20:31

Mine refused from a bottle but would take a spouted cup if I left them for a while, the solution though was we bought follow on milk that had a hint of strawberry flavour (USA, nestle) would take that no trouble.

ArtfulScreamer · 12/07/2021 20:54

My DD was combi fed from an early age so wasn't fussed which formula she had but like a previous posters child she was very fussy about the temp and it did have to be quite warm, she'd not entertain luke warm or room temperature and god forbid you try and give her it cold.

Original poster

yellowgecko · 13/07/2021 18:45

We survived the kit day...it was touch and go for 2 hours as she flat out refused the first bottle. DH kept texting 'this isn't working'...but eventually he took her out in the pram to calm her down, and warmed up the bottle and she took it!

Breast milk only but now she's taking the bottle we'll aim for one a day and gradually add formula. And make sure it's warm!

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