If you switched to formula from BFing later (after 6 months) please come in!

wellfleet04

Ben is not gaining enough weight and it seems like my supply might be the reason.  My pedi and I both want to switch him to formula.  He has a dairy allergy, so we are trying the hypoallergenic formula and he totally refuses to take it.  He's had maybe 4 bottles in his entire life.  He likes the bottle just fine, but he knows that formula doesn't taste as good as BM.

If you switched late, how did you do it?  Would DC take a bottle from you?  Ben likes to hold the bottle, and will stick it in his mouth and take one sip and give me a look like "Huh? Yuck!" 

I am a total formula newbie.  I BF my DD until 14.5 months.   I don't even know where to start or how to get him used to both formula and drinking bottles.  Thoughts? 

erbear

I did 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula for a while, then moved slowly to all formula for the bottles she takes at daycare. GL!

jen_and_scott

erbear:

I did 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula for a while, then moved slowly to all formula for the bottles she takes at daycare. GL!

Yep, try mixing it. I have a friend who started with 4oz milk/1oz formula and slowly upped it - that's what her LO demanded!

jeng329

I have to supplement a little bit because I am not pumping enough for DS.  At first he REFUSED to take it.  I remember posting on here that he was taking 2 oz at daycare. 

Have you tried mixing 2/3 BM and 1/2 Formula?  Is he eating cereal?  I made his cereal with formula to get him used to the taste a little bit.  My pedi suggested giving it in a sippy cup, if he didn't want it in a bottle.  

julia0402

I had to replace just an ounce of BM with formula at a time to get her to take formula (I think we increased one ounce per week).  It was slow going.

We had to switch to bottles cold turkey for medical reasons and it was a nightmare-- she did NOT want to take a bottle from me but she did eventually.  It helped to nurse her a little bit and then stick the bottle nipple in there once she was calmer.  GL!

wellfleet04

Uh oh.  I have NO freezer stash, and I can't really pump--at least not enough to do any kind of mixing.  Gah!

TheMRS0127

we started weaning him off at 5 months, for the same reason as you. I started with 1 bottle a day, and did that for about a month then slowly went to 2 and 3, it wasn't until 8 months that i stopped BFing altogether.  It was mostly me, not ready to give it up. Connor will eat/drink anything so the formula wasn't hard for him to get used to.  I hope its as easy for you!

Bubs06

That's too bad that you don't have much to mix, but even if you pumped a little bit, that would add some sweetness that might help transition the taste.

You called also just try putting it into a sippy cup.  He may enjoy the independence.  DD took to the straw cups VERY well at that age.  GL!