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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Weaning from Breast to formula...

16 replies

HoopsAndBaby · 13/09/2010 21:38

title says it all really, DS is 5 and a half months old and I am keen to last to 6 months on the boob but would like to wean onto formula..........

What is the best way of doing this? Should i just go cold-turkey and stop one day and give him formula or do it gradually? Also if I do this which is the best feed to start this from?? Sorry for so many questions just very new at this.......

OP posts:

curlyLJ · 13/09/2010 22:42

I have just started to do this. It's really important to do it gradually and not go cold-turkey as you will end up engorged, in pain, and also risk getting blocked ducts/mastitis (which is incredibly painful).

I have dropped one feed initially. I don't think it matters which one, but has to be roughly the same time every day. I picked the feed that usually occurs sometime between 12 and 1pm. Do this for at least a few days (I am doing it really slow so over a week or so) and then once your boobs have adjusted, then you can do the same for another feed.

The thing I am confused about is the timing issue as obviously FF is more filling/takes more time to digest than BF, so the spacings need to be further apart I guess. I suppose the next feed I will drop/introduce FF will be about 4pm(ish) and then we'll go from there. I'll have to make alterations to allow for the start of solids too, but one step at a time!!!

Hope that helps?

Original poster

HoopsAndBaby · 13/09/2010 22:49

yeah it does thanks, hadn't thought about the engorgement/mastitis so won't go cold-turkey!!

I'm just really nervous about it, something is stopping me.......maybe it's the letting go? I feel in control when feeding maybe it's this letting go of control thats holding me back?

OP posts:

curlyLJ · 14/09/2010 12:14

I know how you feel - that's why I think it's taking me a while to introduce the 2nd FF.

It's a combination of feeling guilty, sad (that the end of BF is looming even tho I'm ready to cut down) and unsure about the whole weaning thing and whether she is getting enough/too much etc.

The worry just never stops!!

Original poster

HoopsAndBaby · 14/09/2010 21:03

I gave DS his first bottle of formula this evening and he wolfed it down, burped then promptly fell asleep! I wonder if he's going to sleep through? On day 3 of BLW and both of us are loving it......:)

OP posts:

Mull · 15/09/2010 09:25

Hi, I'm doing the exact same thing with my 5.5mo DS and I'm not sure it's going very well. He's having formula at his 7pm feed fine (has been having a bottle of EBM at this time for weeks anyway) but this week I've tried to introduce formula at his 1pm feed. He takes around 6 or 7oz but is quite sick (always been quite a sicky baby anyway) so I think he is taking too much? His 4pm feed has gone weird, either really long or really short, and he's only then having 5 or 6oz at 7pm (used to be 8, sometimes nearer 9) then wants a feed at 10.30pm which he hasn't done since he was newborn!

I'm confused to be honest and feel like I'm relearning about feeding. I know where I'm at with BF and so it's probably a control thing. I know I need to stick with it but just going back to BF would be easier (and I'd get more sleep!) but I need to make the move. Just feel a bit down and confused by it all.

Original poster

HoopsAndBaby · 15/09/2010 10:34

well he didn't sleep through but he only woke once, that was at 0330, normally he wakes 2 or 3 times, so at least it's a start, so I'll keep at the bedtime feed being a forumla one and see how it goes :)

OP posts:

PreciousCargo · 25/09/2010 11:45

hi all,

just wondered how you are getting on? DS is 5 months and I am keen to start formula feeding from 6 months. I intend to drop one feed at a time. Probably the night time feed so I can be sure how much he's had before I put him down. (We are co-sleeping and hoping to move him to cot!)

I agree that it feels strange to be finishing, it's definitely a feeling of losing control of the situation....and I am going to miss those moments [sad} But we have our reasons and made our decision, it's the right time for us all.

Any recommendations on the best formula/follow-on milks or are they much of a muchness and down to personal taste? (babies taste)

Mull · 27/09/2010 13:21

Hi,

I've chickened out and so we're bank to EBF. DS doesn't seem to get on with it very well and we are on Day 3 of solids so I've decided to focus on one change at a time. I think once a decent breakfast is established (porridge and fruit) I might make his 10am feed a small formula feed. Maybe 3-4 oz? Then just take it from there.

I've got another 3 months til I go back to work so I'm trying to relax about it. I think everything will change a lot when he is having 3 good meals a day. Fingers crossed anyway!

PS I've tried Aptamil, Aptamil Comfort and C&G so far and don't think they are much different.

PreciousCargo · 27/09/2010 17:55

Hi Mull I have been thinking the same but not actually tried yet. DS has always hated a bottle (only boob will do!) and like you, as we're getting him to try different solids, may well just see how that goes. It is confusing and scary going to solids as well as losing boob. EBF feels safe!

I too am praying for a milestone when on 3 good meals!

IOff topic a little, but is your LO enjoying solids? We're doing porridge and a mixture of pureed carrot/parsnip and bits of fruit for him to try himself - generally gnaws at them but is enjoying.

Mull · 28/09/2010 08:30

Yep completely agree that EBF feels safe for me. I know what I'm doing, DS knows what he is doing and so I don't want to 'relearn' feeding as well as introduce solids. It's definitely a control issue for me which I'm trying hard to stop but I keep clinging on!

DS isn't liking baby rice very much but I'm sticking with it this week until he is officially 6mo at the weekend. Then I'm going to move onto porridge. Do you use EBM or cows milk in your porridge? I'm trying to do a mixture of BLW so he's gummed some broccoli, apple and sweet potato so far. Some sweet potato got swallowed and I was very excited but he then sicked it back up! I did make some apple purée yesterday and that went down a storm!

What does your LO like / dislike?

fififolle · 29/09/2010 20:07

I finished bf ing at 19 weeks using the method described above- dropping one feed every 5 days ish. I dropped alternate feeds and found that DS gradually got used to taking more at a feed (formula) and going longer between feeds. I'm using hipp organic which he loves- he was v sick with aptamil. I've also been weaning him and his current pattern is:
Bf at 7am
Baby cereal at 8.15 am, not a second later or he squeals!
11am 7oz formula
2pm 7oz formula
4.30pm pureed veg then fruit
6.30pm 7oz formula
10pm dream feed 7oz formula.
He's been much more settled and sleeps much better since switching to formula.he's only just started finishing his mid morning bottle since he stopped night feeds. Hope this helps. Ps I donated frozen expressed milk to Chester milk bank who came to collect it

PreciousCargo · 29/09/2010 20:30

Hi Mull DS is having the fruity porridge which you mix with water in the middle of breast milk feed, so he is still getting his BM. We tried the one you mix with milk and he didn't like it/served that way - fussy little monkey already! He enjoys mashed up banana and also carrot and parsnip which I puree and add a bit of BM. It is exciting wen they try new things and then wretch! One thing at a tme I guess!

Fifilottie · 30/09/2010 08:50

I am having troubles at weaning off the breast(one feed at a time..the only way to do it I think). Started about four weeks ago. Took one and a half weeks to try and get DD to take a bottle... she came round and did it for four days then refuesed it(while DP/DAD was around for some reason)..... so back to square one again. She will only take about 40mls from a sippy cup. I think she just doesn't like formula.

I too intended to wean her off at six months but it just isn't working. While this thread is up..any advice???

fififolle · 30/09/2010 09:34

We found that increasing the teats to size 2 encouraged DS to take a bottle again and he will still feed from me first thing in the morning.

Mull · 30/09/2010 10:16

Hi, well unfortunately I've got no advice re switching to formula as we had a bit of an incident yesterday which has really scared me. DS is having quite a bit of breakfast now so I decided to try a small formula feed at 10am rather than BF. Started with 4oz but he just wanted more and more and ended up having a full 7oz carton! He has never been that keen on formula before so I was really pleased. However, he was then SO sick. He's always been quite sicky but this was AWFUL. It wouldn't stop and it was fountaining out of his mouth and he was choking at the same time. I had to cuddle him for 2 hrs while he was sick, retching, writhing in pain etc. He also refused the boob for the next 6hr which he's NEVER done. I was so upset cos I felt like I'd poisoned him. So, yet again, I'm back to EBF and not going to try formula again for a long while. Grr, weaning was going really well but I feel like it's one step forward, two back ...

fififolle · 30/09/2010 12:06

So sorry to hear that, it must have given you both a nasty shock. We had a very similar experience with Aptamil several months ago whilst attempting a night time top up. I felt very guilty and was put off until a few weeks ago. I did some research on the web and found that quite a few other people have had projectile vomiting associated with Aptamil. Apparently C&G is exactly the same stuff, just packaged differently for a differnt part of the market.
We're using Hipp organic and its been fantastic. I've got a friend who had the same experience with the sickness and who also is now using Hipp with no problems

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