Any advice for getting my baby to take formula? She is breastfed right now.?

Question

But I will not be able to after I go back to work. pumping is not working for me.

Answer 1

Hi there,

It sounds like you are really having a hard time producing for a pump and you might be worried you won't be able to make it work when you go back to work.

You may not have heard of La Leche League, but they have lots of info on breastfeeding situations. You may want to try their new parenting forums to see if you could find and answer there too. Yahoo Groups also has a Working Breastfeeding Mother's Group, which is a really welcoming group.

Some moms pump and use breast milk exclusively, others pump as much they can and mix feed (formula and breastmilk). A lot of times babies of working mothers can reverse cycle, which means not nursing or eating during the day and waiting for mom to get home and then nursing the rest of the evening. Which may or not may not be something you want. The pros are you get to bond and reconnect with baby at the end of the day and are you have to sit down so that takes you off your feet for which makes you rest.

Good Luck in whatever you decide to do and I hope you are able to find a workable arrangement. Also Congrats on the birth of your baby.

Answer 2

I started mine with a feed in between of formula, just skip the feeds that you won't be able to do in the day, I did use the breast pump but it was hard work, so with the second I started after about 3 months, I still breastfed in the evening. I used cow an gate. it seemed to go down well. I was told sma gold is closest to breast milk, but after seeing all the newborns vomitting it up in hospital, I decided to try cow and gate. It doesnt seem as thick and creamy looking.
Just keep trying with a couple of ounces before your about to breastfeed and she'll soon take it fine.

Good luck!!! Its hard going!

Answer 3

I had my children in the 60's. The reason I mention the year, because the nipples on bottles have changed so much since then and my answer might be worthless. But I'll give it a try any way.

As for formula I had no problem with any of my children switching from breast milk to formula. But.... when it came to the bottle itself, I did have a problem. My first child wouldn't take to the bottle at all. My neighbor (God Bless her) told me to use preemie nipples. I did, and it worked great! After about a month of using the preemie nipples I changed over to the cross cut nipples.

Answer 4

first of all, make sure you can relax when your pumping.. my son wouldnt take a bottle period even with someone else holding the bottle and that was with formula and that was with pumped breast milk.. So I mean it just depends on the child.. You can still nurse her and pump, try everything.. Is there a convienient place where you can pump when you go back to work? GOod luck hon

Answer 5

You can continue to nurse while you are together and offer her either formula, pumped milk, or a combo of the two when you are apart.

Have someone other than you offer the bottle. She's smart.....if you do it she'll hold out for the good stuff!

Does she take bottles of breastmilk and won't take the formula bottles or does she refuse bottles all together?

What kind of pump are you using?

Answer 6

start by mixing pumped breast milk with formula, and gradually add more formula and less breast milk until you are down to just the formula. That's how I did it. But I also suggest continuing to breast feed when you are available. There will still be enough breast milk for a while as long as you continue to do it at least once or twice a day.

Answer 7

Do not give your baby cow's milk, that is not recommended until child is 1 year old. Try Nestle Good Start, it does not smell as bad as some of the other formula, it has more of a sweet smell. Baby may associate this with your breast milk.

Answer 8

Try mixing breast milk and formula. WIth my son once I forced him to take a bottle he refused to breast feed. I definitely reccomend always serving formula warm. make it as much like breast milk as possible.


I just read someone said to give cows milk. Cows milk shoul dnot be given to a baby under 11 months and then only in small amounts not as a replacement for formula.

Answer 9

The only thing that worked for me was giving it FIRST thing in the morning when baby is the hungriest. Dont give her anything else but the bottle, she will be hungry enough that she will break down and take it. Once she is used to the taste, you will be able to give it to her anytime during the day.

Answer 10

Beware some babies won't take it. Both ,y kids were breat fed and my son was fine with formukla but not my daughter. Pumping is a pain but you may beed to find someway to make it work for your baby.