The Great Formula Feeding Thread

TexasGirl81 · September 2014

shortstack930 said:
@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!

This! LO hates the ready to feed one. Both of mine did great on the powder.

TwizzyG · September 2014

Anyone try the Sams Club generic gentlease that was using the Enfamil one? I ordered a tub and I'm hoping to transition LO to it because it costs WAY less (and free shipping!)

nbeverly916 · September 2014

We started using the Costco brand instead of enfimal and she seems to be doing great with it. She was spitting up a lot with the enfimal and it seems to be better now as well as cheaper! $16 for a 2 pound can!

hgtvmom · September 2014

Question for you guys who use Dr Brown's bottles. I EP and have formula to supplement as needed. We just haven't needed it much and I have always been at home with bottle options. We are road tripping home today (4 hour drive, just LO, puppy and Me). I am hoping a formula meal will keep her full longer and reduce the number of stops I have to make.

How do you mix with dr browns? With the inserts in? Or shake then put the inserts in? What works best?

mustangholly · September 2014

Pup4gdb said:
Question for you guys who use Dr Brown's bottles. I EP and have formula to supplement as needed. We just haven't needed it much and I have always been at home with bottle options. We are road tripping home today (4 hour drive, just LO, puppy and Me). I am hoping a formula meal will keep her full longer and reduce the number of stops I have to make.

How do you mix with dr browns? With the inserts in? Or shake then put the inserts in? What works best?

I put water in the bottle first. then powder and shake. haven't had any issues.

ksspiff · September 2014

@Pup4gdb‌ , I've done both ways of prep. On a road trip i'd probably pre-fill a bottle with the water, use the disk that prevents leaks and drips, then add the powder and shake with the disk in. Then you don't have to worry as much about loose inserts rolling away from you while you mix

Dawn5481 · September 2014

Jumping in from Aug 14. Baby girl is nearly 4 weeks. She started with 2 oz per feeding, then Friday started 3 oz, and last night started demanding 4 oz almost every 2-3 hours. Today she woke up from a nap around 4, had 3 oz, and by 5:15 took another 3! I've learned her cries enough to know that when she cries and shoves her hands in her mouth, she's hungry. Won't take a pacifier, so I'm pretty certain this isn't a comfort thing. Always content afterwards and has minimal spit up. Should I slow her down or just give her what she wants?

ksspiff · September 2014

@Dawn5481‌ , it might be a growth spurt. If she wants it and keeps it down, I say let her have it!

TexasGirl81 · September 2014

ksspiff said:
@Dawn5481‌ , it might be a growth spurt. If she wants it and keeps it down, I say let her have it!

This!

MrsCrouch90 · September 2014

Is anyone's LO on Elecare? My DS just got put on Elecare and we were told by his GI to use vanilla extract to flavor it because it tastes so bad. I don't know how much vanilla to add, and with elecare being so expensive I don't want to waste it.

missilini · September 2014

Does anyone know if the Costco brand is milk based? I would like to switch over since it's so much cheaper. I forgot to look last time I was there.

queenieM · September 2014

Hey guys, I'm new to this thread and haven't been on the bump forums much since DS was born. He's almost 8 weeks now and I have been EFF from the first week. Breast fed for 4 days then I ended up in the hospital for a week on antibiotics because of infection. Breastfeeding and pumping were both really difficult so I went to formula. It was a difficult and emotional decision and I'm glad I'm not alone!

We are moving back to the States after being in the UK for a few years. I have been using a brand called Aptamil and am trying to figure out if I should ship over a crapload of Aptamil or try different US brands when we get back. He's happy on the Aptamil so I'm nervous about changing it up.

BTW he weighed in at 11 lbs 6 oz a few weeks ago (will be 8 weeks on Thursday) so he's probably 12 lbs or more by now. He's really long, but is this really huge?

MrsCrouch90 · September 2014

@queenieM‌ welcome to the thread!

Aptamil is not sold in the US. The FDA doesn't allow UK formulas to be sold here. You can however buy it online if that's something you'd be interested in. The closest formula here to Aptamil is similac advance but since your son is doing so well on Aptamil I would just go online and buy it. Just make sure you buy enough to last you since you can't go to a store a pick it up.

My SO and his parents just moved from the UK 4 years ago and his parents said they used Aptamil and loved it.

He's not that big. My DS has MSPI and he's 10 lbs and just turned 8 weeks. So you DS sounds fine to me.

emeek · September 2014

@queenieM my son is almost 8 weeks now and as of 2 weeks ago he was 11 pounds 9 ounces

kenziebug22 · September 2014

My DS is 13lbs 6oz as of yestersay, he'll be 8 weeks friday, hes a big boy.

NugsMom · September 2014

Just a reminder to ask for samples at your pedi's office. Today at DS's 2 month appointment they gave us a sample can and also some of those single serving travel packets. There also is an area where they put all of the formula coupons and we grabbed a few of those on our way out.

NugsMom · September 2014

Anyone else combo feeding breastmilk and formula? If so, how long do you plan to continue?

mustangholly · September 2014

NugsMom said:
Anyone else combo feeding breastmilk and formula? If so, how long do you plan to continue?

we are combo feeding. my goal was 8 wks. I have 4 days left. I also have a stash of 170 ounces in the freezer. I plan to slowly reduce the amount of breastmilk in each bottle so this should give LO at least a .5 ounce in each bottle for about a month. in total 3 months. I am having a hard time stopping my pumping sessions so it could be a couple weeks longer.

NugsMom · September 2014

@mustangholly‌ I'm jealous of your freezer stash. I never produced enough to have any. I go back to work Monday when DS is 9 weeks. I'm going to try to keep pumping but will see how it goes. I'm also having a tough time stopping.

mustangholly · September 2014

@NugsMom‌ I don't make enough. but supplementing more formula than needed gave me extra to freeze. Trying to stretch it out. The pain and time involved plus not producing enough make me want to stop. Every Session I Say OK this is the last one.....

shortstack930 · September 2014

DD keeps spilling formula out the side of her mouth! I've tried Avent, Tommee Tippee, and Dr. Brown's bottles and it happens with all of them. Any suggestions??

kenziebug22 · September 2014

shortstack930 said:
DD keeps spilling formula out the side of her mouth! I've tried Avent, Tommee Tippee, and Dr. Brown's bottles and it happens with all of them. Any suggestions??

This happens to DS if he isn't on the nipple far enough, we're still working on it, its getting better though.

NugsMom · September 2014

@mustangholly‌ I completely understand.

NugsMom · September 2014

@shortstack930‌ have you tried sitting her up more to feed? Also, maybe try paced bottle feeding to allow her to catch her breath and swallow every few sucks?

NugsMom · September 2014

@shortstack930‌ that happens to DS if he gets distracted or falls asleep while eating.

shortstack930 · September 2014

NugsMom said:

@shortstack930‌ have you tried sitting her up more to feed? Also, maybe try paced bottle feeding to allow her to catch her breath and swallow every few sucks?

@NugsMom‌ I've tried sitting her up more but that didn't work. I'll try the paced feeding though, thanks!

TricksyPixie · September 2014

Hey ladies, need advice. LO eats sooo slowly from the slow/ size 1 nipples, but I'm not sure when and how to transition to medium/ size 2. Any advice on how to tell if she is ready and how to switch?

ksspiff · September 2014

Every brand has a different recommendation on what age to change nipples. (Dr brown says lvl 2 at three months). When my DS starts getting real slow or fussy during feedings, I'll try lvl 2. Prolly during the day, when he's most awake, I'll try it out so I can see how he takes it and make sure he doesn't choke

TricksyPixie · September 2014

Well, mine is three months this upcoming Thursday... And she is so slow at taking a bottle now. It can take OVER and hour. She has taken a bottle with a nipple I think is faster (because it came from dollar general and didn't specify a flow) and she seemed to do okay.. So.. Maybe I should switch?

TwizzyG · September 2014

TricksyPixie said:
Hey ladies, need advice. LO eats sooo slowly from the slow/ size 1 nipples, but I'm not sure when and how to transition to medium/ size 2. Any advice on how to tell if she is ready and how to switch?

Sounds like she's ready to switch. An hour is a pretty long stretch (usually will be about 30 minutes). That's what was happening with my DD. It would take her an hour and she was getting so frustrated during feedings. I bumped her up to a 2 and she did great.
Give the 2 a shot and see how she does!

TricksyPixie · September 2014

Ah! Great! I will buy some on DH's next day off!

alyss0nl · September 2014

I would agree that switching will do the trick. Ever since we moved to the stage 2 nipple it takes him 15-20 mins to eat 6oz.

Aab7114 · September 2014

Can anyone explain to me why as LO gets older they need a bigger nipple size? Seems backwards to me. They are older and stronger, so they should be able to suck better from a smaller nipple than when they were newborns.

alyss0nl · September 2014

The nipple holes get bigger, allowing faster flow. The older they get, the better they get at sucking (for lack of a better word). When they are newborns they are still practicing sucking, therefore need a slower flow. If any of that makes sense...

TexasGirl81 · September 2014

alysson.lawless said:
The nipple holes get bigger, allowing faster flow. The older they get, the better they get at sucking (for lack of a better word). When they are newborns they are still practicing sucking, therefore need a slower flow. If any of that makes sense...

This!!

Also the faster flow bigger nips allow your little ones to fulfill their thirst or food (milk) at a faster pace which they need as their tummies grow. If the newborns had the faster flow nips, a lot of babies would most likely choke on the fluids.

Have you ever gotten a milkshake and the damn shake is so thick it won't come out if the straw? It's frustrating. Lol!! Imagine LO trying to suck, they will get frustrated and probably throw the bottle or scream.

glitterclaws · September 2014

TexasGirl81 said:

alysson.lawless said:
The nipple holes get bigger, allowing faster flow. The older they get, the better they get at sucking (for lack of a better word). When they are newborns they are still practicing sucking, therefore need a slower flow. If any of that makes sense...
This!!

Also the faster flow bigger nips allow your little ones to fulfill their thirst or food (milk) at a faster pace which they need as their tummies grow. If the newborns had the faster flow nips, a lot of babies would most likely choke on the fluids.

Have you ever gotten a milkshake and the damn shake is so thick it won't come out if the straw? It's frustrating. Lol!! Imagine LO trying to suck, they will get frustrated and probably throw the bottle or scream.

Great analogy Texas!

Aab7114 · September 2014

Thanks! I was so confused about the concept, but that makes sense. Maybe that is why baby is getting frustrated at some feedings!

TricksyPixie · September 2014

Aab7114 said:
Thanks! I was so confused about the concept, but that makes sense. Maybe that is why baby is getting frustrated at some feedings!

Maybe! That's why I'm gonna try bumping Anna up to medium/2. She does ok with dr. Brown size one, but her other bottles def need 2s. Can't wait to go buy some today.

TricksyPixie · September 2014

New nipples made all the difference!

alyss0nl · September 2014

Hooray! So glad to hear it! @TricksyPixie‌

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