The Great Formula Feeding Thread

littlemissmarla

I'm confused ladies...

So i've started using the Dr. Browns formula pitcher so I can make a larger batch of formula.

We're using Similac Soy Isomil, 4oz of water + 2 scoops of unpacked powder should equal 4 oz of formula correct?

So why is it when I put 28oz of water + 14 scoops (2scoops for every 4oz).. I am ending up with 32oz of formula?

Am I doing something wrong here?

TexasGirl81

littlemissmarla said:

I'm confused ladies...

So i've started using the Dr. Browns formula pitcher so I can make a larger batch of formula.

We're using Similac Soy Isomil, 4oz of water + 2 scoops of unpacked powder should equal 4 oz of formula correct?

So why is it when I put 28oz of water + 14 scoops (2scoops for every 4oz).. I am ending up with 32oz of formula?

Am I doing something wrong here?

The powder is adding more volume to the batch making it appear bigger. It happens to me too with my bottles.

littlemissmarla

@texasgirl81 thanks! I had a feeling it was just the powder adding to it but wanted to be sure!

TexasGirl81

littlemissmarla said:

@texasgirl81 thanks! I had a feeling it was just the powder adding to it but wanted to be sure!

@littlemissmarla‌
No problem! Just last night H was giving LO a bottle. I told him to give him 2 oz because he had been eating like a little piggy before that. I look up and I'm like why did you give him 4oz? Once I got closer I could tell the top half of it was all foam. Lol! Oops!!

TexasGirl81

@shortstack930‌
Update on the similac sensitive...so far I feel in this short amount of time that LO is doing better. He's not screaming as much. Did you switch your LO?

shortstack930

@TexasGirl81‌ we did! So far she seems like she is slightly less gassy but the gas is still giving her a bit of trouble and she still seems to be straining a bit to poop. She's breastfed and then we supplement with the Similac sensitive so I'm trying to figure out if it's the formula or BM that's giving her trouble. I'm worried she might have a lactose sensitivity and that I'll have to switch her to soy and give up eating dairy. We see the pedi on Sunday so I'll have a better update then! Glad your LO seems to be doing better!!

Prncesta

Hey ladies! Joining the thread after a struggle with breastfeeding and now I've decided to switch over to formula full time! Great advice here...does anyone know how I can properly dry up without going through a ton of pain? I'm not producing a ton of milk, MAYBE 10oz a day but I tried to pump less last night and this morning I'm engorged and in pain.

mustangholly

Prncesta said:

Hey ladies! Joining the thread after a struggle with breastfeeding and now I've decided to switch over to formula full time! Great advice here...does anyone know how I can properly dry up without going through a ton of pain? I'm not producing a ton of milk, MAYBE 10oz a day but I tried to pump less last night and this morning I'm engorged and in pain.

I am going through the same right now. I would love to know how to stop with out the pain. I am also have a hard time emotionally stopping. makes me feel awful.

Prncesta

mustangholly said:

Prncesta said:

Hey ladies! Joining the thread after a struggle with breastfeeding and now I've decided to switch over to formula full time! Great advice here...does anyone know how I can properly dry up without going through a ton of pain? I'm not producing a ton of milk, MAYBE 10oz a day but I tried to pump less last night and this morning I'm engorged and in pain.

I am going through the same right now. I would love to know how to stop with out the pain. I am also have a hard time emotionally stopping. makes me feel awful.

I know, I feel awful too. So guilty, but I'm doing what's best for my LO as I'm sure you are too. Don't feel bad about your decision! You're a good mom no matter how you feed your LO. I learned that from the ladies on here!

mustangholly

@Prncesta‌ Thank you. I keep telling myself that. it's still hard. hopefully it gets better. I am so thankful for this board helps ease the guilt.

Prncesta

mustangholly said:

@Prncesta‌ Thank you. I keep telling myself that. it's still hard. hopefully it gets better. I am so thankful for this board helps ease the guilt.

You can read my post from yesterday. The girls were very supportive and had such encouraging words for me. It's titled "feeling guilty for giving up" it will help you realize you're doing what's best! If you need to talk, you can PM me anytime!

cookieinva

I think some amount of pain/discomfort is inevitable in the process. I just sucked it up and went cold turky (low supply anyway) and it was only maybe between 24 and 48 hours of pain/discomfort after which it improved quite a bit. Either way, things said to help are: benadryl or decongestant to dry things up, cabbage leaves (against your breasts), cold compresses, making sure you wear a very supoortive bra (some people do heavy duty sports bra the whole time or double up on bras). Good luck and know a good mom does what is best for her family, even when it means making a hard decision like this one. My formula fed 4 year old is awesome, a good eater, smart, and I guarantee you cannot look at his preschool class and tell who was fed what as babies.

Prncesta

cookieinva said:

I think some amount of pain/discomfort is inevitable in the process. I just sucked it up and went cold turky (low supply anyway) and it was only maybe between 24 and 48 hours of pain/discomfort after which it improved quite a bit. Either way, things said to help are: benadryl or decongestant to dry things up, cabbage leaves (against your breasts), cold compresses, making sure you wear a very supoortive bra (some people do heavy duty sports bra the whole time or double up on bras). Good luck and know a good mom does what is best for her family, even when it means making a hard decision like this one. My formula fed 4 year old is awesome, a good eater, smart, and I guarantee you cannot look at his preschool class and tell who was fed what as babies.

Thank you! I will try these suggestions!

Csltdk

For you ladies switching to similac sensitive, out two drops of gas drops in the bottles and it eats ALL the foam. It's a must

TexasGirl81

Csltdk said:

For you ladies switching to similac sensitive, out two drops of gas drops in the bottles and it eats ALL the foam. It's a must

@Csltdk‌
OMG! Really?! Thank you! I had no idea. But yes all that damn foam is annoying!!

shortstack930

@Csltdk‌ thanks for the tip! I will definitely try this!

JayBzo

We switched to Up&Up Sensitive (the one that is like the Similac Sensitive) and we have no foam at all - we switched for this foam reason and we used the gas drop trick but it wasn't good enough (for us). Not that it matters, but LO does really well on the Up&Up and it is cheaper so it seems to be a win win for us!

abundancenow

Prncesta said:

Hey ladies! Joining the thread after a struggle with breastfeeding and now I've decided to switch over to formula full time! Great advice here...does anyone know how I can properly dry up without going through a ton of pain? I'm not producing a ton of milk, MAYBE 10oz a day but I tried to pump less last night and this morning I'm engorged and in pain. 

There are herbs like peppermint and sage that dry up milk supply naturally.  Teas with these herbs or essential oils may help when weaning.

abundancenow

What do you do?
I feed on demand more than following a schedule. So, baby girl may cry and wake me up in the middle of the night and I will run off to the kitchen, prepare her bottle, and by the time I return she's fallen back to sleep. I will keep the bottle ready for when she wakes, but there are times we both fall back to sleep for over an hour. When she wakes screaming again, I then dump that bottle and make a fresh one in fear of feeding her spoiled formula.
How close do others monitor the hour rule of dumping formula an hour after preparing or taking out of the refrigerator?

TexasGirl81

@abundancenow‌
I usually do about a 2 hour rule. A few times I did 2 1/2 to 3 hours but that was the max. I can't say anything for the fridge, I have never put formula in there myself.

cookieinva

If your LO hasn't taken from the bottle, why not pop it the fridge? I believe ours states on the can once prepared it is good for 24 hours refrigerated. Once baby has had some the rule is an hour, because germs have been introduced; people definitely apply that "rule" liberally. This is not a comment on your child at all, just my observation that if my son wakes up because he is hungry, he doesn't go back to sleep until he eats; so I can't easily imagine your scenario! We feed on demand but at this point he has a fairly regular routine of his own so it is easy to predict when he will be hungry.

abundancenow

cookieinva said:

If your LO hasn't taken from the bottle, why not pop it the fridge? I believe ours states on the can once prepared it is good for 24 hours refrigerated. Once baby has had some the rule is an hour, because germs have been introduced; people definitely apply that "rule" liberally. This is not a comment on your child at all, just my observation that if my son wakes up because he is hungry, he doesn't go back to sleep until he eats; so I can't easily imagine your scenario! We feed on demand but at this point he has a fairly regular routine of his own so it is easy to predict when he will be hungry.

Sounds like you have a 'good' baby, DD is colicky, gassy, has reflux, constipation and often wakes screaming that can go on for hours or seconds. It sucks, so if she wakes crying, after3+hours of her last feed, I assume it's bc she's hungry, but if she goes back to sleep, I don't try to disturb that. She may have gas or reflux that momentarily woke her and can sleep a few more hours.
I thought formula had to be either eaten or refrigerated within an hour or would spoil, I really don't know?

Csltdk

Formula that's been prepared can be refrigerated up till 24 hours. Once a bottle is made and has been used it can be out for up to an hour tops.

cookieinva

Whoa, never said you had a "bad" baby or I had a "good" one, just said once prepared untouched formula can be safely refrigerated for 24 hours. So why not make a batch ahead to save yourself the time of preparing it on demand? That is all. Or don't up to you but you asked for ideas.

abundancenow

Csltdk said:

Formula that's been prepared can be refrigerated up till 24 hours. Once a bottle is made and has been used it can be out for up to an hour tops.

I'm wondering how long others leave unused, prepared formula unrefrigerated before considering it spoiled?

abundancenow

cookieinva said:

Whoa, never said you had a "bad" baby or I had a "good" one, just said once prepared untouched formula can be safely refrigerated for 24 hours. So why not make a batch ahead to save yourself the time of preparing it on demand? That is all. Or don't up to you but you asked for ideas.

I didn't take your post as judgment that I have a 'bad' baby or you have a good one. Sorry, if it came across that way.
It's so often people asked with both my DD and ds if I've had a good baby, meaning not fussy, good eaters, good sleepers. I always said ds was a 'good baby' and with DD norm so sure, it's hard. With ds, it sounds like he was like your lo and was easily on a routine while DD its hard to tell.
I apologize if I'm not being articulate, I'm posting between major fussiness and little sleep. I do usually make the formula in advance and refrigerate. As needed, I will pour pre made formula in bottle then place in a bowl with warm water to take the chill off. Sometimes, in the 10 minutes it takes to do this, DD will fall back to sleep and in my exhaustion in the middle of the night, I will leave the bottle at bedside unused, for over an hour and fall asleep too before placing the bottle back in the refrigerator. I am interested in hearing others experiences if anyone has ever made a bottle of formula and left it out unused for how long til they toss it. Its my understanding that formula is milk based and needs to be refrigerated or it will spoil.

cookieinva

I think the rule for unrefrigerated is one hour. I also think people apply that "rule" very liberally, as in going past an hour. I *think* I have seen people say two hours. Since I've not been in a position like yours, I simply can't say as I have not had to decide on how long unrefrigerated before tossing. Would it work better to keep a bottle with appropriate measured water sitting out by where your LO sleeps, therefore at room temp, alongside pre-measured formula powder, then mix bedside as needed? Or consider if the cost of ready-made, which you could similarly keep bedside for feeding on demand, would be cheaper than the formula that you are tossing? (If whatever you use comes ready-made)

littlemissmarla

abundancenow said:

Csltdk said:

Formula that's been prepared can be refrigerated up till 24 hours. Once a bottle is made and has been used it can be out for up to an hour tops.

I'm wondering how long others leave unused, prepared formula unrefrigerated before considering it spoiled?

We usually go with the one hour rule.. give or take 15min because I usually forget when exactly I took it out. If DD eats the whole thing in an hour then great, if she eats a few ounces then I toss it after the hour is up because it's sitting out.

Once the bottle is warmed (we use the kiinde kozi) I don't think you can put it back in the fridge.. but i'm not sure how it works if your using room temp and then looking to put the remainder back in the fridge?

TricksyPixie

Hey ladies! And a big welcome to @Prncesta‌ and @mustangholly‌. I'm still battling my guilt and sadness, but I'm also ppd. Anyway. NONE OF US should feel guilty. Our babies are fed and growing and happy! But I can't tell ya what to do about the feeling. Still figuring it out myself. As for drying up, what these ladies say covers it. The cabbage leaves on the breasts+ sports bra helps a ton. I also wrapped my boobs in an ace bandage ALTHOUGH some people say not to do it. It helped me, though. Cut the pain. If the pain is also too hardcore (and mine got there) pump until it's comfortable, just a minute or two. The pain starts getting better within a few days.

abundancenow

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions. I planned to breast feed, but the hospital had me supplement with formula since DD was born because she came a month early. My supply has not increased enough and I've ended up giving more formula than breast milk. I breast fed ds for about 4 months bf switching to formula and by then he was much more regulated with his feedings and had ended with middle of the night feeds.

kenziebug22

I've recently had to make the switch to formula feeding. Now that I'm over the whole guilty feeling thing and decided I'm going to just FF i realized i know nothing about it lol.

How much and often is your LO having? My DS is 7weeks today and how many dirty diapers is "normal" i know it can be different from breastfeeding.

And for myself, mommas that switched from breastfeeding how did you dry up your milk and how long did it take, this part sucks.

Tiaraalexiss

My son is 8 weeks tomorrow and we do 6oz every 4hours using both Dr. Browns & Playtex bottles; love them both!

Prncesta

kenziebug22 said:

I've recently had to make the switch to formula feeding. Now that I'm over the whole guilty feeling thing and decided I'm going to just FF i realized i know nothing about it lol.

How much and often is your LO having? My DS is 7weeks today and how many dirty diapers is "normal" i know it can be different from breastfeeding.

And for myself, mommas that switched from breastfeeding how did you dry up your milk and how long did it take, this part sucks.

We're in the same boat! I recently stopped BFing too due to numerous issues.

My LO is 7 weeks too and she takes between 4-5 ounces every 2.5-3 hours. She's a bit on the bigger side (weighed 8.8 at birth prob around 10 now) so she def eats more frequently.

As far as the drying up, I'm trying to wean. I'm pumping much less. I pumped only once today and let her feed once. I'm assuming I'll be dried up soon.

Don't feel guilty. I know it's hard. I've had a hard time with it myself. From your previous post, it seems like you have a ton going on, don't let this upset you too!

kenziebug22

Prncesta said:

kenziebug22 said:

I've recently had to make the switch to formula feeding. Now that I'm over the whole guilty feeling thing and decided I'm going to just FF i realized i know nothing about it lol.

How much and often is your LO having? My DS is 7weeks today and how many dirty diapers is "normal" i know it can be different from breastfeeding.

And for myself, mommas that switched from breastfeeding how did you dry up your milk and how long did it take, this part sucks.

We're in the same boat! I recently stopped BFing too due to numerous issues.

My LO is 7 weeks too and she takes between 4-5 ounces every 2.5-3 hours. She's a bit on the bigger side (weighed 8.8 at birth prob around 10 now) so she def eats more frequently.

As far as the drying up, I'm trying to wean. I'm pumping much less. I pumped only once today and let her feed once. I'm assuming I'll be dried up soon.

Don't feel guilty. I know it's hard. I've had a hard time with it myself. From your previous post, it seems like you have a ton going on, don't let this upset you too!

My DS is a big boy too he was 11lb 9oz at his one month check up who knows what he's as now lol we've been doing between 3 and 4 oz every 3-4 hours so i guess that seems good.

Ive been trying to pump less to but i keep getting engorged and it hurts so bad i did only pump once today though so maybe its getting there.

And yeah.. its been a lot going on and of course all at the same time, ugh. I think when i get more used to FF it won't bother me so much, i was just so comfortable breastfeeding so its weird and totally sucks but nothing i can do now. As long as LO eats im happy.

bride2012tobe

I am thinking of switching to formula. Does anyone use organic ? Recommendations?. I see a lot of babies have gas with Baby's only organic. Earth's Best starts with a toddler formula which I am told meets infant criteria.

shortstack930

Do any of your babies have a taste preference for formula? We had DD on Similac Sensitive but the pedi told us to try Enfamil Gentlease because the proteins are more digested already. I tried to give it to her today and she kept spitting it out and crying. Is it possible she just doesn't like the taste of it?

skr1619

shortstack930 said:

Do any of your babies have a taste preference for formula? We had DD on Similac Sensitive but the pedi told us to try Enfamil Gentlease because the proteins are more digested already. I tried to give it to her today and she kept spitting it out and crying. Is it possible she just doesn't like the taste of it?

Not sure about anyone else's LO, but that was the case with my son. When he had jaundice and we had to supplement with formula, we only used ready to feed. It didn't matter which brand. When we finally switched over to Enfamil Newborn powder, he had a hard time drinking it. He'd spit out the bottle and cry. But over time, he eventually got used to the powder formula. Then he ended up with severe gas and fussiness so we switched him over to Enfamil Gentlease. Since then, he drinks it with out a problem. 

Hope your little one just has to get used to it! She's probably going through a lot of changes and it may be upsetting her. But I'm sure she'll pull through. Good luck!

TricksyPixie

My dd is 2 months, 20 days and weighs about 10 lbs, 11 oz. she takes 6 oz a lot, but if she isn't as hungry, will do 4. She goes 3-4 hours.

TricksyPixie

Unless it's bedtime, she sleeps through the night and doesn't eat again until 6-8.

shortstack930

@skr1619‌ thanks!! Turns out we had the opposite issue--she kept spitting out the ready to feed but when I gave her the powder she drank it right away. So strange!