My son is 8 months old and has been exclusively breastfed. I am going out of town for 2-3 days next week and am concerned that I may not have enough frozen supply of breastmilk for him. I am looking for some advice on supplementing with formula for these few days. What kind of formula? How best to introduce it? I have read that some babies don't like formula and then don't like certain kinds, etc. I don't intend to keep feeding him formula once I get back, but I don't want him hungry while I'm gone. I know there are some ways to temporarily increase my milk supply and/or pump more for storage, but I have done that and will still be short. So for this question, I'm looking for guidance more on the formula end than the breastfeeding end. Thanks VERY MUCH!
Thanks for the advice! We stretched our breastmilk supply by adding only 1 oz to each bottle. He took it fine and no digestion probs! I pumped the whole time I was gone and I've got a good backup supply again. Thanks again!
Hi A.!
My exclusively breastfed son, also 8 months, will not take straight up formula, but will take it if I mix it with breast milk. We use Similac advance formula, usually a ratio of half formula half breast milk. I just got back from a weekend away and this worked well for us to stretch the breastmilk I had pumped. Best wishes!
We breast fed our daughter and when we switched to regular formula (she was a premie so had to be on special formula for a while) we went with Goodstart. It is what her brothers were on and they did really well, neither one could handle Simlac or Enfamil as it was too harsh on their stomachs.
I exclusively breast fed but my son wasn't gaining weight so I had to add a scoop of formula to every breastmilk bottle (no water, just the powder of the formula to give it more calories). Anyway, our pediatrician recommended Nestle Goodstart because it digests most similar to breast milk. It worked great, but my son wasn't picky about food...if it was food, he ate/drank it. I agree that your son might like it better if it was mixed with the breast milk you have. Hope that helps!
I have had to supplement with formula. What my ped.MD recommended was to add just a bit (maybe even jsut 2 oz) to a breast milk bottle. That way you can stretch the frozen milk a little further. Hope this helps.
I also second the idea of starting the formula transition now so he can get used to it. I used Similac Advance for my daughter when we stopped breastfeeding. Since he is 8 months old, you probably have him started on solids, which will probably help him to not have an upset tummy about the formula. We had no issues when i introduced it as she was 9 months old and had been on solids for 3 months already. She didn;t even notice the difference as far as i could tell. She still likes her formula (Go & Grow) now that she is 13 months. I use it to supplement her nutrition with the whole milk.
Most formulas get pretty foamy/bubbly when you mix them up, so have some gas drops on hand to either add to the formula to take away some of the bubbles and prevent any tummy aches or to give to baby before/after bottle. Also second the idea mix formula first then add the breastmilk. Good luck. Start now so any problems are worked out.
A small can of Similac Advance (`12 ounce can) lasted me about 3 days when my daughter was on full formula, but it depends on how much your child drinks in a day. each can tells you the total amount it will make in ounces so don't buy more than you need if you will not be continuing it.
Hi A.,
I had the same problem, my son is almost 6 months (my first as well)and about a month ago I got very bad flu which decreased my milk supply and had to turn to formula to get him through the day. What worked for me was using Similac the new formula with the immune support in it and after I mixed his bottle before I fed him I would put a dose of the mylicon gas drops right in his bottle which helps with formula gas and sweetened the formula a bit so it was a little closer to what the breastmilk tastes like. He took to it no problem. Hope this helps!
Formula should always be a last resort in a breastfed baby- I'm sure you know this. It should be forth behind breastfeeding, feeding your baby your milk in a bottle, and using another mother's milk. Are there any friends/relatives who would be willing to donate a small amount of milk if needed while you are gone? I know I would be more than willing to do this for someone if they asked me. Then you wouldn't have all the issues with potential problems with formula. Just thought I'd include this option...in our society we tend to forget there are much better options than what the formula companies are paying big bucks to get us to believe! Especially this time of year with cold and flu season it is very important to keep his immunity up. Good luck!
I had this same experience... I had a baby who would not take a bottle of formula...he didn't like it. So my sister in law mixed formula and stored breastmilk together (I think about 2/3 breastmilk and 1/3 formula. He couldn't tell the difference and she said she had no problems getting him to drink the bottles. I used Nestle Supreme Good Start. That is what I had my son on after he didn't want to nurse anymore and we had really good luck with it. Have a good trip and good luck with everything.
just pump pump pump.
hmmm. this is a tough one. if i were you, i would buy some cans of liquid formula. i cant tell you that it will get drank, but its easier to prepare, it supposedly tastes better, and since its temporary, you wont have to worry about having a whole lot of open can left over.
as far as whether or not she will drink it, i dont know about that. but it will most likely be at the end of your time gone, and she might have a 'bottle strike' anyway and just be fine with less.
:D if nothing else, have the caregiver give her water when shes having solids, so that shes getting something she needs, but its not taking away from the times shes nursing with lots of bonding.
good luck!
try your local la leche league! they might be able to help.
Hi A.,
My guess is that you are going to get a variety of answers on this. My son was breastfed and I supplemented with Target's store brand of "regular" formula. (I forget what exactly they labeled it, but it was *not* the soy formula or the formula for babies with upset tummies.)
Whatever formula you choose, I would introduce it now, before you leave, so you know that your baby will tolerate it. On Day 1, start out with 1 ounce of formula in each bottle, on Day 2, do 2 ounces, and so on, until you've reached the breastmilk/formula ratio you expect to your baby to drink while you are away.
One tip about mixing breastmilk and formula: Put the formula and water in the bottle first, BEFORE you add the breastmilk.
Good luck!
Yeah, I would have him drink all the breastmilk and then give him formula. I use Similac. If he's hungry - he'll eat it, even though it will be something a little different. He won't starve himself. Don't worry! Maybe you can even pump & freeze some while you're gone so you can replenish your supply. Good luck!
