My Baby Won't Transition from Breast Milk to Formula! Help...

Hi E., great job BFing him for so long. I'm not sure if you have a breastpump, but my only suggestion would be to pump breastmilk and add a little formula to it in a bottle. Then if he's receptive, gradually increase the formula and decrease the breastmilk until he is 100% formula.

I would try mixing the formula and breast milk. Start with way more breast milk than formula and slowly increase the amount of formula until he's taking it. He might just not like it at all, if you can hang on a few more months you could just switch him right to milk. Good Luck!!

I wish I could help you see how much I regret putting my first 2 children on formula when I returned to work. They're grown now and as I've watched them nurse their older babies, I've felt such sadness and guilt that I did this. At the time, I saw no other options.

Many moms work and breastfeed. Formula introduces all kinds of risks and removes the valuable immunity your baby has been getting from you. The fact that he's a good size doesn't in the least diminish his desire to continue to be breastfed, as you've discovered. He's still an infant in every way.

I don't want to offend you or be nonsupportive but I want to ask you to rethink this, which is what I feel your son is asking of you by his "dramatic" reaction". You could also consider postponing your return to work until he's over a year. Just think about all of this from his perspective before you totally turn that corner.

Alfalfa is what I recommend to moms who want to wean off of breast feeding. It is natural, won't hurt mom or baby, but gives the breast milk a not so pleasant taste and that the baby does not like. If you are interested in knowing what Alfalfa I recommend, email me or call me at ###-###-####.

With regards to the formula, have you tried different brands?

Let me just add.. it's perfectly ok to nurse a 7 1/2 month old.. I know many moms that nurse past 1 1/2 or even 2 years! It's ok and great for your child!!

If you are dead set on the transition a type of bottle that may make it easier is the Adiri nurser. Since I am now a SAHM, my daughter has been exclusively breastfed for 3 1/2 months now and I wanted to be able to at least go out for more than a few hours and not worry about rushing back! So, I had tried many bottles, and this one worked right away. It may be the bottle more than the tast of formula, but I would do the mixing like the other;s suggested!
R. L

I would also recommend pumping. Obviously your baby knows what's best for him and BREAST MILK IS BEST! Give your baby the nutrients his body is asking for!

My daughter had the same reaction to formula. I tried everything to ween but ended up getting a pump bc it was a nightmare she will be two in october and she is still bf 2x a day good luck and I hope it works out for you!

E.,

My son went through this same thing. He never really did end up taking a bottle. He would skip a meal if he had to but he would not take a bottle. And to this day He does not drink milk he is now 4. The doctor says he probably does not like the taste and if they don't like the taste there is nothing you can do to get them to drink it. I did not work outside of the home so I did not have to worry about this. Have you tried other things in a bottle like juice or water and does he gag on these? If not than it the formula that he does not like. If he gags with other things than its the nipple on the bottle try another style. I used the advent bottle and that seem to work great.. I wish you good luck with this.

It may be the bottle he's not liking; try pumping the breast milk and putting it in a bottle. You could also try to mix it 1/2 breast and 1/2 formula. Good luck!

Have YOU ever tasted Forumla? It's NASTY. I can't even stand the smell.

Have you tried Pumping?

And Umm why are you concerned about your babies weight? Breastfed babies tend to be a bit plumper because they are getting the correct ratio of protien/fat because your breastmilk is designed specifically for him.

E.; its a shame we have to take away what is natural for a child and give them something they dont like, yet when it comes to giving them vegetables we let them not like it, and dont serve it to them, us parents are funny like that, the child will eat when hungry , if you are dead set about stopping breastfeeding, then wait till child is hungry and maybe buy another nipple that he does like for the bottle, or water the formula down a bit till he is used it just a few times, its not good to have it watered down, just be happy and keep up the good work, D. s

I have a few different things here. 1st I would talke to your Dr. about when you can go to milk my Dr. let's baby's go to milk at 9 months so maybe you could hold off till then so you don't just get him switched and then have to switch him again. If that isn't an option then I agree that mixing breast milk with the formula is the best way and slowly up how much formula is in it. Have someone else give him the bottle while you are not around. Eventually if he is hungry he will give in and drink it. Someone suggested maybe he didn't like the taste/feel of the nipple. If you try mixing the formula and he still reacts they might be right so I'd try a sippy cup. I wish you the best.

Howdy,
I just did this, as I went back to work last week. I asked my doctor and he gave wonderful advice that worked like a charm. Mix a quarter formula to 3/4 quarter breastmilk for 3 days, then half and half for 3 days then 3/4 formula to 1/4 breastmilk for 3 days and then all formula. My daughter also gagged when first introducing all formula and this technique worked wonderfully. The second NECESSARY thing is to have a nipple that is similar to your breast ... we use the advent bottle with the super flexible plastic nipple that is large at the base so her tongue didn't need to readjust. Since she was 3 months at the time of this transition, we went straight to the next nipple flow from newborn (the #2s). Hope this helps!

Good luck!
Monque

P.S. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about switching or going back to work. You did awesome breastfeeding for so long.I am always shocked and a little disappointed in those mothers that drag other mothers down because they chose a different path for their children, motherhood is hard enough without us judging one another.

My guess is that he is objecting to the smell/taste/shape of the rubber nipple; not only is that so unnatural to him, it is DEFINITELY not mom!! Babies are SO smart and will hold out for what they want and know as love. I fully believe in baby-led weaning, but I also believe that breastfeeding has to be a win win situation for the parties involved (at least the majority of the time); when a mom is ready to be done nursing, it is time to be done; our babies pick up on our vibes. Just as if in the rare occurrance, when a baby weans themselves, way earlier than a mom was ready - mom needs to let it go, she cannot force feed him. I respect your choice to begin to switch to formula - you have given your baby the best start.
My suggestion is that it should not be you giving him the bottle - and you should probably go out for a walk. As long as he knows you are around, he will let his preference for you be known.
Formula is so much different than breastmilk; taste temperature and the suck/swallow needed.
Be patient. The nipple on a bottle is long and hard much different than the one on mom.
If you have a friend who can help, daily, you may find your baby coming around to accept the bottle/formula, esp if he is hungry.
Possibly your husband can help, but babies often know how tightly connected dad is to mom and may refuse from him too.
Can you start daycare part time, so you can nurse him through the transition, but let him have a bottle while he is at daycare? Though, there are those babies, that will hold out for the reunion with mom......even if it takes a while.
I do know that babies are adaptable and your little guy may just need a little bit slower transition to these changes.
You have done a great job so far and I am sure you will continue to figure out how to best meet his needs.

Have you thought about getting a pump and keeping him on the breastmilk? Believe me, I know it can be a pain, I've been pumping for 7 months now. If you are interested in going this route, you can rent high grade/quality pumps. I have a Medela Symphony from Busch's that cost me about $56 a month ( I will be so happy when my little guy turns 1).

If you are dead set on getting him on formula, then I would agree with the other moms and start mixing the breastmilk with the formula to get him acclimated to the taste.

Good Luck!
M.

Could you pump and send your own breastmilk mixed with formula...start with just breastmilk and then add a bit of formula so he gradually gets used to the taste. It might not be just the formula. Does he take a bottle of breastmilk well? He might not like the nipple on the bottle rather than what is in the bottle. Lots of variables here. I nursed all mine til they were at least a year old+ and they just quit by themselves, one at 2, one at 15 months and one at 3. He is still using the breastmilk as his main source of food so this is a little harder! Try to make the transition as smooth as possible for him. It's terrific he has had all the advantages of breastfeeding for this long...good going!!

It's commendable that you are nursing your son. I nursed my son until he was almost 2 years old. But some of the best advice I received about weening my son came from a co-worker. She told me to ween my son to a cup instead of formula/a bottle. And that is exactly what I did. So once he was weened from breast milk, there was no need to ween him from a bottle, he made the transition well. I had already been giving him water and juice from the sippy cup, and he made the transition quite well. And he never drank the formula. At 5 mos, I started giving him food, baby food, and gradually introduced some of the foods that we ate, in particular plenty of smooshed up vegetables. He is a young adult now, and he grew up healthy, and he's very health conscious, and he eats plenty of vegetables. Hope this helps.

~Y.