wont take formula

[GeoRob]

I am going back to work soon and i am struggling to wean my six month old off me and onto formula. She has started taking solids fine, will drink water from a beaker or bottle but is really adverse to formula.

I have tried different sorts (aptimal and cow & gate) and she is not fussed. I am really worried about going back to work in april and she wont be getting her milk in the day. I struggle to express much more than 2 ounces at a time so that seems to be out.

Doe anyone know what i could try instead? I have a few questions.....

1. Why do they need the milk? (i would feed her from me first and last thing and during night)
2. Why is cows milk supposidly so bad for them now?
3. Would it be the end of the world if she just had purees and water in day and then me at night?
4. what about goat or soya milk - are they acceptable?
5. has anyone else had this problem and know of any soultions?

Oh and she wont take any formula from me - just wants my boob. Hubby can get a bit down her.........

Thank you xxx

Cows (or any other non human milk) doesn't have a sufficient mix of nutritients for the babies growth - it hasn't got enough iron, and it has too much protein, sodium and potassium. Imagine the needs of a calf and a baby, they're pretty different sizes and grow at different speeds. A baby has a large brain to feed, a cow has to get big.

They need milk, and can't just eat purees mainly for the same reason, you can't give a good enough mix of nutrients because of the bulk of the puree and how much worse they are at digesting it (the baby needs to acquire a whole range of bacteria that live in the guy and help for example) so whilst they'll be able to get some calories from the food, they won't actually be getting very many (even doing well a 6mo old may only get 15% of its calories from food)

Formula is made up to have similar nutrients to human milk so it doesn't stress the babies kidneys (which is what happens with excess protein and salts etc.)

I don't think you should worry too much, I suspect once she doesn't have the option of anything but formula, she'll take it. There's no way she'll starve herself.

Some babies are fine to have a feed from mum in the morning, food and water in the day and a feed from mum after work and then as needed in the evening/night.

If you think about it some babies go 8, 10, 12 hours without milk at night and no one bats an eyelid, you would just be moving the milk-free time from night time to the duration of your working day. That isn't a problem so long as your baby will take some form of other liquid (e.g. water or formula) just so they don't get bunged up eating just food (assuming by 8m she will be mainly self feeding not being spoon fed runny puree).

This process of shifting the milk-free time even has a name - reverse cycling and is common in babies who's mothers go to work.