How do I switch from breastfeeding to formula feeding ?

[Oliviaaaasx]

Hi baby is 7 weeks old and ebf never had a bottle and no dummy yet

i would like to switch to bottles with formula. I’m not really enjoying bf please don’t shame me there’s lots of reasons and I think fed is best and a happy mum means a happy baby :)

I know I can’t go cold turkey and just start giving her bottles each feed etc, I’ve heard. You have to do it gradually to prevent mastitis etc

any tips please? She feeds a lot I feel like every 1-2 hours in day(sometimes quite short ones) then 3-4 hours of a night :)

but when she’s only went an hour or two from a breastfeed should I be giving formula as I don’t want to over feed ???

I do want to ff but don’t want to overfeed

Perhaps you could express first so that your baby isn't dealing with a new method and new tastes at the same time. Then ask your partner to give the bottles. Then move on to formula.

I hated BF at first, but once we were both settled with it I found it a lot easier than bottle feeding which I found quite a palaver with sterilising, making up bottles and heating them etc.

Just start offering one bottle at the same time every day.

I would recommend the feed just before bed as I think formula fills them up more and helps them sleep (before anyone jumps on me this is anecdotal, but I have noticed a strong correlation between better sleep and being bottle fed - expressed milk or ff) with my friends and family.

Then after a week, try and drop another feed by offering a bottle at the same time each day again.

Be aware though - by this point you may have a bottle refuser. I had a bottle refuser and I tried the first bottle at week 3! I understand it's good to then try a variety of bottles and teats, but the main thing is to persevere offering the bottle as calmly as possible.

Just in case you have a very stubborn bottle refuser, just know bf does get easier and easier as they get older.

Thanks :) right now her feeds aren’t really timed except a slight pattern of a feed at 11/12 then 3-4 hours after this! Maybe the 11/12 feed then?? Like I say don’t want to offer formula if she’s only breastfed like an hour or two ago just so I don’t overfeed

I have heard BF gets easier and it has already! I’m just not fully enjoying and for me it couldn’t be majorly long term as I will be returning to full time work before she’s 1 :(

Pick a feed and swap it for formula
The middle of night feeds are usually best for keeping supply so if you want to be reducing I would probably switch this feed early.
Give it a day or two and swap another feed. Assess how you feel you might be then drop down to one breastfeed and then a few days later stop

You swap out one feed at at time. Since there’s not yet a super clear pattern of feeding just go with 1 bottle of formula = a feed and trust she’ll drink less breastmilk because of it. You can probably swap out one more feed about every 3 days without giving yourself mastitis but it’ll probably be more comfortable to swap one more feed every 5-7 days. Everyone is a bit different so adjust the rhythm if you feel you’re getting blockages forming.

Agree, one formula feed a day.

I have 2 DS - one is currently 6 weeks old and for both of them we gave one bottle of formula a day from birth (sometimes two). It really helped me feel not so trapped by breastfeeding. e.g. if I want to go to bed early, DH can keep the baby downstairs. If I want a lie in, DH can take the baby. If I want to go to the shops on my own there is always the option of a bottle if the baby is hungry while I’m away.

I never pumped because it’s just more work and hassle, so it’s not helping me have a break.

I would keep an open mind - start with one bottle a day, work up to two and then see if you feel like continuing combi feeding or want to continue reducing breastfeeding.

Could you express and give breast milk in a bottle?

Just in case that might be a workable option for you.

@OneAdeptDuck the baby is 18 months by now