Weaning and Getting Son to Take Formula

You have my sympathy. That really stinks. I would suggest using powdered formula over premixed . It seems to taste better. Or try a different brand. Maybe it upsets his tummy. You might have to use one of the expensive easy to digest brands. Have you started solids yet? That may help, too. Good luck to you and baby. Everything will eventually work out.

I'm sorry this is hard for you, I can tell by your post.... I was thinking possibly a milk bank to help ease some of the pressure of the transition period....but start slow with mixing the formula with the breastmilk, 10% formula, then more the next day....he will adjust, I promise! In the meantime, try to enjoy the rest of your time nursing him...they are only babies for such a brief period! Blessings and prayers to a safe surgery and speedy recovery!

In the end, it's more important for the baby to have his mom than it is to have his mom's milk. I had to go through something similar when I had to start chemo just before my daughter turned 12 weeks.

We really didn't have enough time to wean, so we just had to do our best with the little breast milk I was able to pump and store.

She was very non-finicky and transitioned to formula well. She didn't care what kind, she just wanted food. Perhaps that's why she's consistently been in the 90%+ for weight (she's slimming considerably now that she's 2).

My advice is to see if your pediatrician has samples of different brands. They're not as easy to get as they used to be. Or, check to see if you can get coupons for the different brands and get small containers to see if you can find one that he prefers. We were fortunate that she didn't care, but we ultimately went to the Kirkland brand because of the expense (we'd had an extensive conversation with the pediatrician about it as well to get his blessing).

Good luck with your surgery.
Don't panic. Babies won't go hungry. You may need to find different bottles with different nipples that he prefers and have someone else be the one to introduce it since their senses of smell are so attached to you scents.

I agree with your choice to stop breastfeeding, it's best for both of you, so don't beat yourself up about it. Keep mixing the breastmilk in if you have it - maybe just 25% formula at a time.... to help. It's an adjustment and he will adjust eventually - just give him lots of cuddles and love as he transitions. Most importantly go easy on yourself and take good care. Prayers for a safe surgery...

i dont know the nature of your issues but you can always seek the advice of another LC as rarely one has to completely wean, Either way start off with one ounce of formula ( or half and ounce) mixed with BM and slowly work towards more formula. the main reason i suggest another LC is that if she wasnt able to give you this simple advice she may not be qualified enough. I have learned not all LC are created equal so please get advice from more than one. If you are in the NW suburbs email me and i will get you the # to a great one!

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i dont know the nature of your issues but you can always seek the advice of another LC as rarely one has to completely wean, Either way start off with one ounce of formula ( or half and ounce) mixed with BM and slowly work towards more formula. the main reason i suggest another LC is that if she wasnt able to give you this simple advice she may not be qualified enough. I have learned not all LC are created equal so please get advice from more than one. If you are in the NW suburbs email me and i will get you the # to a great one!

My heart goes out to you. I'm currently beginning the weaning process of my 6 month old because of my own health problems right now. I nursed my first for 11 months so it's very hard for me. One woman suggested mixing some apple juice in with the water for the formula because it gives it a sweeter taste (as your ped. of course before to see what they think but eventually you can stop adding the apple juice. she said 1/4 juice and 3/4 water). Also, the company The First Years makes a bottle called Breast Flow which a lot of breastfed babies like. I'm sure it's at BRU or Amazon. I also second the holding them really tight idea. My six month old likes to be hugged while she gets a bottle and she does much better. She still only takes 4 ounces at the most but at least at this point she'll take the bottle AND formula. Good luck!

Im trying to wean my son as well...He hates the formula also! My daughter, (4) had the same problem. I tried and she wouldn't take it. So I had other's try to give it to her (hubby and mom) She would fight it, but in the end she gave up the fight because she got pretty hungry! For instance, I tried to wean her during the late morning feeding. I wouldn't give her any other food or water to quench her hunger so she was pretty hungry when I would give the bottle. Offering it to her when she was pretty hungry seemed to encourage her to drink it more than when she was just a little hungry. It took several weeks, but we did it.

Try to master one feeding session at a time. Then work up to two sessions weaned per day as so on. Hopefully you wont struggle with clogged ducts and other issues that way. Worked for me...Hope for the best for you.

I would try:

Playtex nursers with the brown (latex) nipple. It is very much like the breast and was a life-saver when I was trying to get my son from bottles he got in the NICU to breast. It was my in between bottle and worked!

Start with mostly breastmilk and little formula (75% breastmilk/25% formula) in the bottle and make sure it's the temp he used to-body temp or even just a hair warmer. Then gradually start upping the amount of formula vs. breastmilk.

Keep in mind too that breastfed babies don't feed like formula fed babies. He is used to small, frequent nursings. 3 ounces may really be his norm for a feeding. Breastfed babies eat about the same amount per feed from around age 1 month to around age 6 months! Then when they hit that 6 month growth spurt they up their intake for about the next 3-6 months. Amazing little buggers aren't they!?

Best to you both.

I wish this had happened while I was still nursing--I had more than enough milk to share for my girl who just never appreciated my "gushers". I would have loved to donate. There are other women out there who will too!

On another note, good for you for doing what you know is right for you and your baby. If you can do some milk freezing as you're weaning down to keep up a mix, would that help too with your son and your sanity? Milk freezes for a good 3 months, especially in the bags.

Be well.

Can you look into getting donated breastmilk instead of formula?

There is a big differance in taste & texture of breastmilk & formula... so some kids have issues with it. Also, one of my sons had really bad gas from formula, but no issues w/ breastmilk. We had to use tummy gas drops on him... which helped greatly and then he started eating a bit more formula.

As for weaning... it took me about 2 months to wean my last. I dropped a mid-day nurse/pump section at a time. Wait about 5 days for your body to adjust and then drop the next. The 2 hardest to stop were the first & last ones of the day... which we the last 2 we got rid of.

I do understand the blocked ducks... they are very painful & I've been told the only way to help them is to have the baby nurse more often w/ the chin where the blocked duck is. Mine were always on the underside of my breast - which ment that I had to lay in bed with my little guy laying parallel to me (which was my least fav position). So, they kinda hinder the weaning process.

To be honest - nursed babies sometimes only take a few oz of formula. Since it is thinker & fills them up quicker the breastmilk. As long as they are not hungery right away & are having the correct # of wet diapers you should be fine. In time he will start drinking a little more formula - that is after he gets use to it. Also, maybe try to feed him before he is super hungry... since babies are moer likely to try new things when they aren't completely hungery (they have more patients then).

As to feeling guilty - I did with all of them when I weaned them... the last was 10 mo old when he weaned. But something I did do was hold him close when I gave him a bottle as well. That way he still got the close cuddling holds he was use to w/ nursing, but now he got to look me in the eyes more. But also, sometimes it is easier for other people to first start the bottle routen... since they will sometimes wait for mom to give in. And if they can see, smell or hear you - they will wait... so if someone can help to begin with it might make it a little easier.

Sorry that you are having issues with your health, but you are doing the right thing!!! You are truely protecting your child & doing the best that you can for him... which shows that you love your child. Please take care of yourself & your little one! I hope everything works out for you and your son!!

I only have a 4 mo so I am unfamiliar with weaning. It must be extra stressful for you since you need to quickly improve your own health. Have you thought about applying to a milk bank for breast milk donations? I haven't had a similar experience so I'm a little limited in the help that I can give. Just wanted to wish you all the best since you are going through a rough time.

Since I've never had to experience what you're going through, you have my sincerest sympathy! My best friend has something similar going on with her baby as well. When her son was 6 months old, she found out she had a severe thyroid problem and rather than nurse her son radioactive breastmilk, she was faced with weaning. Long story short, she didn't end up having that procedure, but she will be having surgery very soon to take care of the problem, so she'll have to wean her son at 10 months (since I think they still have to do the radioactive dye for that, too). She's been working on one feeding at a time and that seems to help alleviate issues with blocked ducts. As your boy gets more used to this being his new source of nourishment, he will adjust.

I know it's hard, but you can do it! You're a good mommy for wanting to make sure that you are healthy for your family and don't let anyone tell you any different!!

My prayers are with you that you are able to fully recover from your surgery!

Maybe you should look into goats milk...... A lady I know did that with her baby when she had a tubal pregnancy and unexpected emergency surgery and absolutely could NOT breastfeed anymore either. Her daughter adjusted quite well to it. (Some people DID donate some breastmilk to her first and when that was gone is when they switched to goats milk instead of formula....)