My baby girl is 7 mos old today. She has been exclusively breastfed with the exception of introducing baby food at 6 mos. She now eats baby food 3x a day and nurses. She takes bottles of pumped milk but I mainly feed from the breast.
She will NOT take formula. She refuses the bottle when it's formula and makes a really funny screwed up face.
Come Jan I'd like to wean her from breastfeeding and have her on formula.
How can I make her like/accept the formula? How do I go about weaning a baby that won't take formula?
Thanks for your time!
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ETA: Wanting to answer questions and exlplain myself better in regards to your responses, but I can't "talk back" on this website, so I am adding addt'l info here. Hope you all see it.
My milk supply is dwindling so I am taking Blessed Thistle. She only gets about half of what she needs at a feeding now so I have to feed her twice as often When I pump I get 3-4 oz when I'm completely full). She is not sleeping through the night. No matter how much I feed her during the day, she still feeds at night 3,4,5 times...and genuinely eats! No comfort feeding here to go back to sleep...she eats! I took Fenugreek before and it helped but it made baby and I both very gassy and made me have loose stool and made my hypoglycemia worse. I am hoping the BT helps. I just started taking it yesterday, trying to talk myself into nursing longer...if this doesn't work then I may be done. I have nursed my daughter for a month and a half longer than I nursed my son. She is biting me often with her 2 bottom teeth and I am just ready to kinda have my body back. On the flip side, I think that to myself and I feel guilty for cutting her off and giving her formula. Not that formula is bad...but BM is so much better. If I could give her that, why not.
I am on the fence.
If anything I suppose I'll pump and bottle feed to avoid the biting, etc...I may stick it out a few more motnhs...it IS cheaper also. Another plus in this economy.
And just so you all don't think I am a HORRIBLE mother, lol...all of her solid food is homemade and mostly all organic. She has 2 bottom teeth and is currently working on the top 2 aswell. Thanks.
Thank you all for your responses. I DO need to eat better. I don't drink much water. I don't drink much of ANYTHING! I have a 2 1/2 y/o son also so I stay busy and "forget". Not an excuse, I know. I also don't eat well because I get so busy also. Another piddley excuse, please don't flame me. It's a viscious circle, really. While formula AND goat's milk is expensive....I think I will really make an asserted effort to eat better and drink water. Maybe setting the 24 pk of water bottles on my kitchen counter instead of in the cool garage would help remind me to drink more, LOL. And I DO need to eat better. I do just not enough and with the holidays around the corner (and even before) I cannot say no to sweets. Heck, that may even help me lose the 20lbs that I still have and wanted to lose before I even got prego again.
QUESTION: Can I continue to nurse and supplement with goat's milk as you would with formula, INSTEAD of the formula?? I need some help sometimes as far as opportunities to pump and freeze as a reserve. Since she won't take the forumula, I was just wondering if goat's milk would help me do that?
I will pump every 2 hours during the day and then nurse at night since it is easier/more convienent. Hoping I won't have to here pretty soon...if this plan pans out.
Then should I pump at NIGHT? Or just first thing in the AM?
Thanks to all who have commented and private messaged me also. I appreciate your time.
Start off mixing 3/4 breast milk and 1/4 formula for a couple days, then increase the percentage of formula as you think she's getting used to the taste! Good luck!
I put a few drops of formula on the breast. That worked after a couple of times. I did that because the hospital showed me that way. I had to give my baby some formula at first because she had low blood sugar (she was a preemie). I agree that formula stinks and tastes gross but I give only one bottle a day. It has been a lifesaver. I was having a horrible time putting her to bed. Now Daddy gives her a bottle and that is their special time. Like you my supply is not the greatest. I have had doctors tell me that is good to do as well just in case of an emergency. I decided to do it because it scared me that she would not take the formula. I made me feel better knowing that if needed she would take it. I like you had the mommy guilt. I got over it. One bottle a day is no big deal. So this is just a suggestion to try. Then you can pump at night. Sorry to ramble on. Hope my story helps. Just to let you know you are doing a good job. I am all about breastfeeding but it drives me nuts when you ask moms for advice on here and they leave responses trying to make you feel guilty! 7 months of breastfeeding is an accomplishment in itself! Good luck!!
When I transitioned my son I started off with 2oz of formula and 6oz of breastmilk. As he got used to that I slowly increased it. It might take a few weeks but your daughter will eventually get used to it, if you do it slowly. It would be like someone all of the sudden giving us soy milk after so many years of having cows milk.
I would slowly mix your breast milk with some formula until the latter is introduced gradually. I do not agree that formula deserves that bad a rap. There are many different ones to choose from as well. I think your daughter has gotten the nutrients from 7 months of your breast milk to create a wonderfully healthy immune system and if you've been scared off of formula now, you can try rice milk or almond milk, etc. Health food stores have many alternatives as well. Good luck!
Ahhhh...she's a smart baby! Slowly add formula to her b-milk bottles, like 1 ounce formula w/ 3 ounces b-milk and gradually increase it...only after she readily accepts the bottles. Also, you may have better luck w/ a different brand...my daughter hated Similac, but took Enfamil no problem...then we went to Kirkland's which she loves. My nephew only likes Carnation Good Start. While I was breastfeeding my daughter, I started giving her a little "cold" formula in a sippy, she found this interesting because it was so different...cold and in a different container...then we were able to begin formula in a bottle over time. Don't give up...just go slowly. And if you can keep nursing or pump, all the better...but I get it if you can't! You've done well this far :-)
Hey J.,
You have done a marvelous job, you are to be commended. :) There should be no problem with goat's milk and you can get it at Trader Joe's. Mix it at first with a 1 to 4 ratio and gradually increase goat's milk after a few days. You have given your child a wonderful gift in nursing her as long as you have. Hope this works for you. Merry Christmas,
V.
Good! She's smarter than mom! She doesn't need synthetic formula that is not good for her. Your breast milk was what gave your baby girl a better immune system. Synthetic formula is unhealthy. She now needs good healthy home made food, many of which should be rich in polysaccharides. As breast milk has 5 of those saccharides when baby is off the breast, diet should be rich in them to continue a good healthy body and gut. Don't forget...70% of the immune system is in the gut and that doesn't come from synthetic formula made in a lab.
Good, healthy, clean organic fruits, veggies, lean clean meats, tofu and sprouted whole grains. Of course made so baby can eat it. Go to http://www.HealthyAnswersOnline.com to learn more on how to care for babies with good nutrients and without formula.
Why do you want to wean a baby that young? Breastmilk is the only milk they should have upto a year old, and then they can have regular milk. Formula is basically processed milk or soy with sugar added, and it tasted pretty bad to a baby who is used to Mama's milk. For you daughter's health and brain growth, I would stick it out a few more months unless there is some medical issue or major reason you need to stop. If you must stop, I think you start mixing it with breast milk, more BM at first and then slowly change the ratio until the baby is accepting the formula.
J.,
Most breastfed babies won't take formula willingly. It smells awful and tastes just as bad. You can try mixing a little formula into the bottles of breastmilk and then slowing increasing the amount of formula. A great resource if you are interested is www.kellymom.com search for "low milk supply" and you'll get a pretty comprehensive list of all of the things you can try to increase your milk supply.
:-)T.
I had the same problem with my baby. I put just a little formula to an almost full bottle of breast milk for 2 days. Then I put 1 ounce of formula to 5 ounces of breast milk for a few days. I did this until the bottle I was giving her was all formula. (I think it took almost 2 weeks for the whole process) It takes time for them to get used to the taste. It is very different!!!! My daughter was having stomach issues so I had to switch to a formula that was easy on the stomach. I finally found one that she would tolorate. (did taste the formula and it was horrible) I felt guilty giving it to her because of the taste. But she did well on it.
Good luck!
I would try a few different formulas, one every 3 or 4 days to see if she will take to one of them.
My milk totally dried up at 6 months. So formula it was. My DD couldn't handle the lactose in regular formulas. It would make her very gas-ey and fussy. We tried Good Start, Similac and Enfamil. Then we tried Similac Isomil Sensitive/Lactose Free. That's what she took to and never looked back.
Since your daughter is eating solids, I wouldn't worry too much about her not taking to the formula. If she won't drink formula (and I can't blame her...have you tried tasting it? It's gross!), will she drink water from the bottle? She will be getting most of her nutrients from the solids...just make sure she is getting enough fluid from water or even some watered down juice. I wouldn't recommend the juice unless she won't drink anything else. You can also give her more watery fruits like grapes and melons, just puree them for now.
You're not a horrible Mom. Your milk is dwindling and there is not much you can do about it. It's just nature. I was taking a tincture called More Milk Plus to try to keep my milk flowing, but my body was just done breastfeeding.
So as long as she's getting enough fluids and getting enough solids she will be fine.
Good Luck!
If you can hang in there a few more months, or pump and freeze enough to get her to the one year mark you wont need to give her formula :) Good luck! Great job on exclusively breastfeeding this long mama!
I went through the same with all my kids (3 so far and I'm currently nursing baby number 4 our 5 months old and no matter what I try, my milk supply starts to disappear).
None of my kids would consider formula. I couldn't really wean them. One day I just ran out of milk and that was it. After that we had a few VERY hard days until they got used to drink something else. We watered down apple juice (1 oz apple juice 4 oz water) which fortunately they liked (they wouldn't drink tea either!).
We don't have any allergy problems in our family, so we introduced solids more quickly, like giving 2 new foods at a time to make sure they weren't lacking anything. One of our kids even refused to eat any baby food. He went from breast to table food!
After their first birthday I started giving them regular milk, but it's not a big hit either.
In regards to the biting... You can get through it and teach her not to bite. As soon as you feel those jaws start to clench, yell something like "no" or "ouch", break suction and put her on the floor. Leave her there through the likely crying session that will follow, and then pick her up and tell her that hurts Mommy, no biting. Some kids only take one lesson, others take a bunch. It does work though.
As for supply dwindling: Are you getting enough protein and fluids? My midwife swears by getting adequate protein while breastfeeding. Eating a balanced diet is imperative for good milk production. Keep taking the herbs that your have if they seem to be working, as well.
Don't focus on "having your body back"... are the problems and risks that go with formula really worth a few short months of breastfeeding? It's a non-perfect, man-made, commercial excuse for way too many people. Give your child more of what is perfect for her and continue to feed her the way she was made to be fed. Besides... that stuff is expensive. She obviously doesn't like it. She still likes your milk, even though your supply is dropping. Let her nurse on demand, keep giving her solids and don't concern yourself with powder!
After reading your additions, I didn't bother reading the other responses...
I too, at almost the very same point in my son's life began experiencing the NEED for weaning from the breast due to my own health issues and loss of supply. It killed me to have to switch him over, but I couldn't help it.
I tried several different formulas until I found one that worked for my son. I would recommend trying a few before you totally give up. And, you can supplement one feeding with formula and the next with Breast Milk. This is what I did until about 9 months or so when, I HAD to start medication that my son couldn't ingest in BM.
We started with Enfamil Lipil, tried Nestle Good Start, Costco and then finally ended up with Enfamil LactoFree...my son's tummy was very sensitive and this one worked best. I have to say, my son's Pedi did not jump up and down and say that formula was better.
Also, I started my mixing it with BM when I began his transition...so, it was half and half. He still got the sweet BM taste, but as we progressed to my complete loss of BM it was easier to move him to straight formula. Oh, and I fed on demand straight through 7 months, and did so as long as my son needed the nourishment. This is totally normal for babies of this age and stage, who need additional nourishment due to growth spurts and development.
You are not a horrible Mom...you are doing what you can. And, while formula isn't the 'BEST' according to doctors and such...there are formulas that do not have sugar added and are recommended as alternatives. They even make Organic Nature's Best that I've heard good things about.
I think if I could have gone to at least a year I would have been happier, but it was just not something medically that was possible. If it is a teeth issue, then I would encourage you to pump every two hours as you are able to and this helped me enormously to keep my supply going and then bottle fed my son too. It was easier for relatives to HELP OUT and keep him on the good stuff that BM has.
Don't worry about what others think or say, just do what is in your heart and you guys will be okay.
Best wishes.
D..
Formula is full of corn syrup, which is probably why the research shows that it increases the risk of diabetes. Formula and breastmilk are not even close when it comes to nutrition and taste.
Some moms have used goat's milk, with a whey protein, molasses and fish oil to sub for formula. Peds jump up and down screaming that formula is better, but there are many recipes for healthier formula - if you must...but breast is always best....and easier.
My sons both weaned themselves around 16 months....down to one feeding each day. We also never give our kids solids until they have teeth - I figure that way I know their digestive system is ready for solid food - and we have no food allergies, like so many kids these days. #1 got teeth at 8 months. #2 got teeth at 4 months. 3# is 8.5 months and no sign of teeth yet. Every child is different, but I would listen to her when she makes those faces. I wouldn't want to eat something for every meal that tasted like forumla does. Sounds like you have a pretty intelligent daughter.
Why does everyone want to feed formula? I admit I am old fashioned but it does not taste good, breast milk is sweet, formula is not.
I don't have an anwswer for you but is that your only option?
Hi J.,
Try mixing a little formula into a bottle of breast milk. As your little one starts to accept the mixture gradually add more formula and less breast milk. After a while she should like formula.
Jenn,
Keep up the good work, it's hard nursing and having the full responsibility of your child. My advice (from a holistic practioner viewpoint)is to not introduce formula unless it's goat milk based. So many formulas have corn syrup and soy and milk that is impossible for babies to digest properly. I think she is giving you a clue and saying "if you make me eat this, then I won't feel good". I think you can start introducing goat milk yogurt by 9-10 months. It has easily digestible proteins so it won't cause constipation, rashes, gas, bloating, mucus - like regular formulas will. If you do switch to formula please consider giving her a powdered probiotic to help with digestion and prevent constipation. Hope this helps.
L.
Holistic Practioner
Redondo Beach
WHy not just pump and freeze it? Why would you feed her chemically made formula when you have the breast milk that is made for her specifically?
http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/galact.asp
This is a good guide to increasing milk supply.
Good luck!
American Academy of Pediatrics website gives this recommendation about breastfeeding:
"It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.
Although economic, cultural, and political pressures often confound decisions about infant feeding, the AAP firmly adheres to the position that breastfeeding ensures the best possible health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant."
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/ped...
Formula's gross, I wouldn't drink it either. I realize that docs say to switch to formula if breast milk isn't available, but I agree with Vicki and say try Goat's milk... My husband was raised on goat's milk in place of breastmilk (his mother's milk dried up at about 3 mos!), and our baby was too (mine dried up after I went back to work and no amount of pumping EVER allowed enough for freezing and storage!). Both of them are strong and healthy, at the proper height/weight ration, and he's just starting to get used to regular cow's milk (so much cheaper than goat's milk) and goes through about a gallon/week!
Good luck.
I don't know if you have tried different formulas but my daughter who was also exclusively brest feed for 8 months had a har time with formula except for "GOOD START" from Nestle she chuggs that one maybe you can go on their website and see if you can get some samples just a thought.
