Switching to Formula - Jackson Center,OH

My daughter also did not like formula plus it made her constipated. My pediatrician told me for the constipation to add dark Karo syrup. 1 teaspoon for every 4 oz mixed formula. We did this with her 1st morning bottle and her late afternoon bottle. She loved the taste & her bowel movements weren't so thick & pasty.

Congratulations on making it 6 months! Going from nursing to formula is tough on a baby...breastmilk is easier to digest and is sweeter...it has flavors...formula is going to take some getting used to..talk to your pediatrician..they may be able to give you samples...I would maybe try the stuff for sensitive stomachs? Maybe that's easier? For sure I would mix breastmilk in at least for the first little while!

the statement "how can i make him like it" made me chuckle. a very serious statement. it's pretty hard to "make" someone like something. breastmilk is a lot sweeter and easier on his stomach. i'm sure after some time, and switching more and more milk he may get use to it. if he is 6 months old you may also start giving him the formula or mixture in a regular cup. he may be so interested in using a real cup like mom and something new that he may want to start drinking it. if he has not yet had a bottle it may be an issue.

Yup, it's been said, but (just like when you switch to milk later) just start mixing breast milk with more and more formula until you are giving only formula. Not only will it likely make the transition much easier on baby, but it means a little more breast milk for just a little longer. Depending on the kiddo, should only take you a couple of weeks to completely make the switch. Good luck!

Have you tried warming the formula? We weaned my daughter at that age and she wouldn't take formula unless it was warmed. Now she'll drink it room temperature but if you don't have enough expressed milk to mix the two try warming the formula and see if that makes a difference.

Start by mixing mostly breast milk with a small amount of formula, and than over the next few weeks slowly decrease the breast milk and increase the formula. This works also when you are ready to go from formula to milk.

As others have said, try mixing the formula with breast milk. Start with mainly breast milk and slowly work up to more and more formula with each bottle.
Hope it works for you, it did for us. And don't let anyone try to guilt you into breast feeding forever, your baby has had a great start, and will continue on very well with formula.

Just another thought.......if mixing bm and formula doesn't work. Maybe it isn't the formula, but the bottle itself? Maybe a different shape bottle, or maybe just having a bottle is upsetting him? My second child wouldn't take a bottle (even with bm in it) no matter which one or who gave it to her. She actually sat in daycare for 10 hours a day and drank nothing! Not matter how hungry she got! It made me feel horrible.

First grats on BF'ing for this long! Can I ask is there a specific reason you are wanting to swith to formula? You can keep BF'ing for as long as you want to, there is no medical reason to start formula at 6mo.
As far as 'getting him to like it' I can't give you any help. It's like asking you to switch from filet minon to a greasy fast food burger... you would pitch a fit too lol. The formula is harder on his digestive system too. He more then likely has a much harder time processing the formula and it my give him a tummy ache. My daughter actually went 18hrs w/out eating because she wouldn't take a bottle. I BF'd her for 33months.
EDIT: Just to be clear I wasn't trying to 'guilt' you into continuing to BF. I know there are some formula companies out there that send out an email saying "Your baby is now six months old so you can switch to formula and start having fun with them." There are some moms out there that don't know you can BF past six weeks let alone six months. And as for what I said about formula not being processed as well as breast milk that is medical fact. Again, not trying to pressure you into BF'ing if you are ready to quit. It's great that you nursed this long! Good luck with your DS and I hope you find what works best for you both.

I gradually introduced it. 1/2 BM and half Formula, then 3/4 formula and 1/4 BM. Also make sure the temp of the bottle is similar to the temp of your Breast milk. Should make it easier for him. Good luck

Might be delivery method. Are you trying bottles? Try a sippy cup or straw cup. Give it to him at meal time in his high chair, not laying down cradled. My first son started to be weened to a sippy at 6 months and we were done by 9. He usually didn't drink more than 2oz at a time. He was a great eater and snacked on his cups all day so it seemed fine. Formula consuption was at the low end of ok but he was in no way lacking in nutrition. Second son got to like formula from a bottle buy sitting in a bouncy or in the baby bjorn while I chased the older brother around. Second boy the formula in the cereal thing (see below) helped a lot.

Are you doing baby cereal? Use the formula to mix the cereal (how about a nice banana, avocado, baby cereal formula mix). Then he will get a better taste for it. I found the best luck I had with both my boys was to not associate it with breast feeding. It is something different. A totally new food. Delivery needs to be new too.

If you do do bottles, I highly recommend the playtex nursers or any other bottle with a bag. Sitting up or waking around with the bottle is so much easier. You don't need to tip it back at all.