I am trying to transition my daughter over to formula.?

Question

How should I do this. I tried once and she didnt like the formula. Also, whats a good formula? There are so many now a days. Please help. She is 3 months 1 week.

(Kealey) I have nuthin against breast feeding in fact I do pump now she is getting to a point where she is demanding more and I just want to make sure she is getting her supply. Also, I get afraid when I drink with my friends that it can affect her. I do not want to stop feeding her the breast milk if there is a way for me to keep going I will.

Answer 1

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_wenbrebo_pep.htm

Your pediatrician will tell you which formula to use. It is specific for your baby.

Weaning from Breast to Bottle
When should I begin weaning?

If you need to or want to stop breast-feeding, it is best to wait until your baby is at least 4 weeks old. If you are going to use breast milk in the bottles instead of formula, it is best to wait until then so that your milk supply is well established and you can effectively pump your breast milk.

If your baby is older than 9 months, he is probably ready to wean straight to a cup rather than to a bottle.
How much and how often should I feed my baby?

The amount (ounces) of formula or breast milk that most babies take during each feeding can be estimated by dividing your baby's weight (in pounds) in half. For example, if your baby weighs 8 pounds, your baby will probably drink 4 ounces of milk per feeding. No baby should drink more than 32 ounces of milk a day. If your baby needs more than 32 ounces and is not overweight, consider starting solid foods. Overfeeding can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive weight gain.

Babies generally need:

* 5 to 6 feedings per day for 1 to 3 month old babies
* 4 to 5 feedings per day for 3 to 7 months old babies
* 3 to 4 feedings per day from 7 to 9 month old babies

If your baby is not hungry at some feedings, increase the time between feedings.

If you are using formula:

* Be sure to watch carefully how your baby tolerates the formula. Look for rashes, spitting up, and/or bowel problems. If any appear, you should talk with your doctor and ask if you need to change formulas.
* Use iron-fortified formula until the baby is at least 1 year old to avoid iron-deficiency anemia.

If you are using breast milk:

* Make sure you have enough breast milk pumped for each bottle feeding and that you store and warm the milk properly.
* Pump your breasts around the time you would have nursed your baby. That way you can maintain a good supply of milk.

How do I wean my baby?

* Take your time: Plan ahead and give yourself and your baby plenty of time. Slow weaning gives your baby time to adjust. It also allows your milk supply to lessen slowly and saves you from engorged breasts. Some mothers experience a mild depression when weaning as a result of changes in hormones related to their milk production. This is more likely to happen if the weaning is done too quickly.
* Hold your baby: Hold and cuddle your baby while giving him a bottle. Try to make bottle feeding as warm and comfortable as nursing was. Bottle feeding also gives the fathers, brothers, and sisters a chance to feed and help care for the baby and it spreads out the work!
* Eliminate 1 feeding at a time: The speed of weaning will depend on your baby. In general, however, it is best to give a bottle for one nursing session at a time. After you have replaced a nursing session with a bottle, wait 5 to 7 days. Then, if the baby is doing well, give a bottle for a second nursing session. Do this until giving a bottle has replaced all nursing sessions.

The early morning and late evening nursing sessions are usually the most difficult for your baby to give up. Wean the baby from these last. You will soon learn which feedings are your baby's least favorite and when his appetite is generally lowest. Replace these nursings first.

What if my breasts become engorged?

If your breasts become engorged because you are not nursing as much, allow your baby to suck 15 to 30 seconds from each breast to relieve your discomfort. Make sure that you don't nurse any longer, however, or you will trigger your breasts to produce more milk and the engorgement will get worse.
What if my baby resists the bottle?

Your baby will probably resist at first. Stay calm and go slow. Touch the baby's lips with the bottle nipple. Do not force the nipple into his mouth. Let your baby draw the nipple in. If your baby is not upset by the bottle, you can move the nipple into the mouth further.

You may want to try putting breast milk in the bottle at first before trying formula. Your baby may not be as resistant to a familiar drink.

Choose a time to introduce the bottle when your baby is slightly hungry and will be more willing to try. Do not try the bottle when your baby is very hungry because he is likely to become upset and frustrated.

Do not spend more than 10 minutes at a time trying the bottle so you and your baby do not get too frustrated.
What if I have problems with weaning?

Setbacks in weaning can be caused by many things, including stress, major changes in meal or bed times, or illness. If such setbacks occur, wait until the situation improves or the illness is over, and then continue the weaning process. Call your baby's doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Answer 2

I'm going to respond to your update rather than answer your original question.

You said you wanted to use formula because you were concerned that she's demanding more and want to make sure she gets enough. I think that's great. However, you should know that breastmilk works on supply and demand. The more baby demands, the more your body will supply.

So, the best way to make sure she gets enough to eat is to feed more frequently. The more your nurse your baby, the more milk you'll produce. When she goes through a growth spurt, you'll find she'll nurse much more frequently, which may make you think you don't have enough milk. In fact, she's boosting up your supply so that you can keep up with her growing body.

Let's say she eats 24 ounces currently, and still seems hungry. If you kept nursing, you might increase your supply to 30 ounces. However, if you give a bottle, your supply will stay at 24 ounces in the best case, and decline to 18-20 ounces in the worst case. So giving supplemental feedings of formula may not be a good idea given your reasoning.

Now drinking and nursing is a good thing to be concerned about. The best way is to handle it in moderation. If you want to have one beer or glass of wine, nurse your baby first, and then have the drink immediately following this. You can nurse your baby again when she's hungry and not worry. If you want to drink more than one drink or drink heavily, you should pump a few hours afterwards and dump out the milk (i.e. pump and dump). I ususally nurse my baby and put him to bed, and then I can have a glass or two of wine, knowing it will be 5-6 hours before I have to feed him again and the alcohol will be out of my system.

If you do use formula, use regular iron-fortified LIPIL formula. This is the best for most babies. Don't use soy formula or hyperallergenic formulas unless instructed by your doctor. The actual brand doesn't matter much, but pick one and stick with it.

Answer 3

That is around the time I switched my daughter to formula. She needed more milk and I wasnt making enough because I was pumping when I needed to at work. I would breastfeed her while I was with her and I started out giving her 1 bottle of formula a day and slowly increasing it. I used the playtex disposable bottles the nipples are suppose to resemble the breast nipple to they have a easy transition. For the formula I used Enfamil lipil with iron. The formula you use depends on your daughter if she is lactos intolerant, has colic, spit up alot, allergies etc. This was the first formula I used and she was fine with it, it seemed like she didnt realize the difference. You have to try different formulas to see her reaction, thats the only way to tell. Hope this helps

Answer 4

I would wait a little while. You child is just probably hitting a growth spurt and needs the extra feedings since she is growing so fast. If you are giving nursing her let he nurse as often and for as long as she wants to. If you are pumping and giving her a bottle try finding time to pump more often and you will see you supply increase in a day or two.

If you still feel like she needs formula try mixing a bottle of half formula and half breastmilk. You can also try adding a little bit of coconut milk to the formula. The reason why she probably doesn't like formula is that it taste really bad compared to breastmilk so adding flavor to the transiational period.

Answer 5

Generally, we have patients using either Enfamil Lipl with Iron or Similac Advance with Iron - the difference between the two is the same difference between Coke and Pepsi. If there's any kind of digestive issues, (like colic, etc,) there's other ones on the market.

As far as weaning - as someone said, do it gradually. (It'll be the same as when you wean from formula to whole milk when she's a year old.) Do three parts breastmilk to one part fomula. When she gets used to this, then do it half and half of each until she's used to that. Then make it three parts formula to one part breastmilk, then start adding more formula to less breastmilk. It'll be easier on you, and less stress on her little tummy.

Good luck!!!

Answer 6

You shouldn't! Why would you even want to if you've been nursing successfully? There are no good formula as far as I'm concerned, and very few good reasons to switch yet. If you're going back to work, pump your milk. You can do this by substituting a bottle of water for one nursing session and pump that. Consider that nursing our children is the only reason women have breasts.Nursing is what makes us mammals. Why would you want to give your baby a product developed in a lab and manufactured in a factory when the best thing for her is right there, never needs to be heated or prepared, and doesn't cost anything. In all the questions I've answered, I've never wanted to talk to the asker so badly. Please modify your question or add details so I can help.

Answer 7

mix half breastmilk with half formula for a few weeks, and slowly add less and less breast milk til its all formula.
I use simalac with iron, just regular and my daughter is fine with it, i dont do the DHA and ARA because ive read things about it that i dont like but they are all basically the same, Also contact your county WIC office, you may qualify and they give you about 8-9 cans a month, saves a couple hundred dollars.
about bottles, there are a couple that are close to a mothers nipple, playtex has them thats what i use, and soothies(like the pacifier) and Dr brown.You may want to use a dr borwn or playtex drop ins because they empty like a breast and will be close to you and not cause much gas or colic.

Answer 8

Go slowly to avoid painful engorgement, plugged ducts and mastitis. Don't ever let anyone tell you to wean cold turkey.

Is she used to taking bottles? Can you start out with bottles of expressed breastmilk and slowly transition to bottles of formula? Have someone else offer the bottle. She's smart and knows that you have the good stuff.

Check out the information at the link below on weaning.

Answer 9

my 7 month old daugher was 4 months when i put her on formula, I mixed the formula and breast milk ounce by ounce together, than, i would take away a ounce of breast milk and replace with formula, untill the whole bottle was formula, I have used EMFAMIL LIPIL, with all 3 of my kids, WIC helps witht that id you recieve WIC, and if you plan on formula feeding your baby, check into WIC, a great program.......... good luck

Answer 10

What brand of formula is really up to you, or rather to your baby. Some babies are picky so if one doesn't work, I'd try another.