Help with stopping breastfeeding

[Lozzylou1]

Hi. I really need some advice as HV doesn’t seem to help.

My little one is 6 & a half months old & ebf. Never taken a bottle. Just started weaning & so far she isn’t fussed.

Shes taken formula once from a doidy cup & then refused.

Do I carry on trying to get her to take formula from a cup or should I introduce a bottle or would that be too confusing?

I just feel like there’s no help out there to stopping breastfeeding but yet people put so much pressure on you to do so

Do you want to stop breastfeeding?

I've found this from the NHS which looks helpful!

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/how-to-stop/#:~:text=If%20your%20baby%20is%20younger,not%20need%20a%20replacement%20feed.

You don’t need to stop breastfeeding unless you want to? Who is putting pressure on you to stop? I know that people can have an opinion that it is odd to bf after a baby has started weaning but NHS guidance is that breast milk or formula should be baby’s main drink until 12 months and you can continue to bf as long as you like after that!
I found baby takes a bottle better when they’re not too hungry or tired. In the bouncer rather than you holding them might help. You can introduce a bottle or a cup at 6 months, whatever baby prefers. I don’t think they will get confused about nipple/bottle/cup at this age. I found MAM the best bottles when also breastfeeding.
I agree with you that breastfeeding is difficult to start and difficult to stop - but if you want to stop that’s ok. Another great option could be combi feeding with formula and breastfeeds for a while as a way to slowly wind down your supply.
Try replace one of your regular bfs with a formula feed. Do this for a few days, and then chose another feed to replace. You need to do it slowly, dropping a feed at a time, to avoid engorgement or mastitis. Like I said you could find a happy routine that works and combi feed for a while.
Some babies are a bit slow to get going on solids, but keep offering everyday and a variety. They’ll get there and will be more into food and less into boob before long!!