Weaning - Omaha,NE

Dont' attempt to wean or change the routine of a baby or child, when they are going through a growth-spurt. Wrong timing.

6 months old, is a growth-spurt time in a baby. And need to be fed on-demand.

All the best,
Susan

First of all, let's give a well-deserved "whoo-hoo" to all the posters touting their own successes and advocacy for breastfeeding. Whoo-hoo. Yawn. You all may now step down from your little pedestals.

This mother has not asked for opinions on what is best or how long to breastfeed her child. She is asking for suggestions on how to transition her daughter from breast milk to formula because she has DECIDED THAT FOR HER AND HER DAUGHTER, it is time to switch. Why is nobody's business but hers.

CO, I'm sorry you were responded to like that.

I think it's good advice to mix breast milk with the formula for awhile and your little O. will make the switch gradually. It IS a change for her, so start gradually. Can you pump some and mix with the formula? Start by 1/4 formula and 3/4 breast milk, and gradually decrease the breast milk and increase the formula over a week's time?
When she transitions to whole milk in another 6 months, you may have to do the same with formula and whole milk! :-) Good luck!

My only suggestion is to make sure you are mixing the 2 at first. When we weaned my son, we put mostly breastmilk with a little formula and then slowly adjusted the ratio the other way. It worked fine for us, but our son is also a great eater. We weaned at 6 months as well. As far as nursing, don't let these moms make you feel bad for weaning, you have to do what is best for you. I felt guilty but it was very hard for me to keep going as a working mom and I figured my sanity was important for my son as well.

The longer you can breastfeed, the better, of course. I nursed till my son was 2and a half and weaned very gradually, which made it easier on me in terms of breast pain from engorgement. Go as long as you can on the breastfeeding side of things, and pump so you can gradually add formula to the breastmilk - maybe that'll help her get used to the taste.

I am really surprised she won't drink formula. In my opinion formula is sweeter tasting than BM, although BM is best for baby, some mother's don't have any other options than to use formula. I have a 7 month old and we also use Nestle Good Start, we use the Green though and my son does awesome with it!
I would just keep encouraging her to the new formula, you could try a different one, but I don't think they will taste any different. I would, however, tell you not to use the Similac (blue can) with Iron, we had very very bad luck with that. When you mix with water, it tends to get very bubbly and this left our babies very gassy and uncomfortable! It was not good!
Good luck!

You know, I just got done reading the other postings and all I have to say is wow! This mother is reaching out for help, not to make her feel she is doing the wrong thing by weaning her baby from BM to formula. As I stated before, some mother's don't have any other options other than going to formula. I know, I was one of them. Our second daughter was born with a very rare chromosome abnormality and couldn't breast feed, along with her disability she has low muscle tone and had very poor sucking reflexes, she had a really hard time drinking from a bottle, let alone my breast. I would have done anything in the world to BF her until at least 6 months, but I couldn't. We all have to do what is best for us and our lives at home. I have three kids, my last two were bottle fed with formula and they are just fine. Even my special needs daughter is healthy as a whistle! Yes, we all know BM is best for baby, but it certainly will be OK if a mother chooses to put her baby on formula, they will survive! In my case, I worked an 8-5 job and finding time in between my work schedule to go to the bathroom to pump to keep my BM up was a challenge! Formula is what my husband and I chose to do, and my kids are just fine!

Have you ever put formula in your mouth? It's very likely that a combination of the unfamiliarity and the foul taste is putting her off.

Breastfeeding provides great relief from teething pain, as the incredible suction babies need to create pulls their gums away from the nasty, sharp teeth within.

You do know that the American Pediatrician Association recommends breastfeeding for *at least* two years... do you think your pediatrician knows?

6 months is a tough age for weaning (learned that the hard way... TWICE). When it's time for your daughter to eat, try giving her 2oz. of breastmilk, so she's still hungry when it's gone, but not STARVING, then give her the rest of what she would normally eat as formula. Usually, once there's a little something already in their tummies, babies are more open to new things since they aren't in freak out mode. It's going to take a bit of time, and probably tears on your end and hers, but persistance is key. You'll get there! Hang in there, and good luck!

I have done this and would recommend diluting1 to 2 ounces of formula with 4 or 5 ounces of your breast milk. Do this for at least a week or longer, then slowly add an ounce at a time until she is completely on formula. My kids had a hard time changing over too, it must be our rich sweet milk! I am in the process of changing my 5 month over right now. This is what worked for me-- Good luck.

J.--Minnesota

There's nothing wrong with formula or your timing. You have to do what you think is best. Try mixing just 1 oz of fomula in with a bottle of breastmilk and gradually increase it until she's drinking all formula. GL and no hard feelings about weaning!