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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
BF moms I need help transitioning to formula
I have been breasting feeding Stephanie for the past 9 1/2 months. It's been tough (I don't pump) but am proud that I was able to do it this long. But now that I'm pregnant my supply is shot. Over the past 9 months I would ocassionally give her a bottle if we were out but she never really took to it. Now that she needs to I'm having a really difficult time getting her to drink formula. She wants to nurse. I try but it's just not filling her up. When she does take a bottle it's usually 1-2 oz and last night she took 3. Daddy tries to give her a bottle but I have more luck. Can anyone offer any tips to help make this transition easier on both of us? Also can you recommend bottles and nipple size? I have no idea where to start.
Thanks!
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Re: BF moms I need help transitioning to formula
I would try some of the following: If your milk is usually squirting out at her, try a medium (or fast) flow nipple- she may just be having to work too hard with the bottle and that can frustrate babies. If she usually has to work at getting milk, and she seems to be overwhelmed by the bottle (or choking) use a slow flow nipple.
Second, my cousin's baby did this too and she literally had to LEAVE the house and have her husband give the bottle when she was REALLY hungry. Also, are you mixing breastmilk and formula? Do you have a pump? If you do, I would try mixing only a little formula with a lot of breastmilk at first (like 2 oz to 4-6 oz ratio). Then ease her into more formula.
Honestly, at this point it will probably take her a while to transition, so be patient and try different things.
And, for the next baby, I would introduce a bottle of breastmilk once a day (or a few times a week) by 3-6 weeks so that when you do want to switch to formula they are only dealing with a different taste, not trying to adapt to the bottle as well.
Good luck!
I am trying to slowly wean and it's tough. ?He was never that great with a bottle and my milk stash is gone so we're on to formula too. ?I'm giving him one bottle a day to replace a feeding. ?I'm using Good Start Ready-to-feed which he seems to like better than powder. ?I have found that I can't give it to him anywhere he associates with nursing or he just tries to rip off my shirt. ?I give it to him in the living room and he'll drink a bit, then he wants to play so I let him, and I just keep offering it and surprisingly he will drink it a little at a time like that, kind of on-the-go. ?I figure it's a start anyways. ?When DH gives it he has the same problems. ?
Oh, and we use MAM Anti-colic bottles currently with #2 nipples, but I'm about to go and get some #3s to see if he likes those better. ?We've tried Avent, Breastflow, Adiri, and Medela, and the MAM is the one he likes best. ?I get them at BRU.?