I need to wean my 4mth old DD onto formula as I’ll be returning to work in 2 months and cannot express (I’ve tried every day for the past month to no avail) I used to top her up with formula when she was under 1 month and she took it happily however she hadn’t had it in a couple of months and the last two times we have tried she flat our refuses the formula. She is happy to take breast milk in a bottle. I would love to mix feed but I literally get 30ml from both breasts if I’m lucky in an expressing session. Does anyone in a similar situation have some advice? How can I stop baby refusing formula from bottle?
- I combine expressing sessions throughout the day, I express some then put it in the fridge, then do it again, chill new lot to the same temperature and then combine Tamara
- would recommend using the dr Browns bottles as they they best on the market & babies take to them really easily. Sherree
- What pump are you using? I was using the little medela swing and only getting 20ml from each breast with 15mins spent in each side. I’ve now hired the symphony and in 10mins get 70-100ml total within 30mins of BF. It’s a hospital grade double pump, worth the money as gets the milk flowing! Katelyn
- You could feed morning and night and on weekends and formula when you’re at work Elana
- I can’t express either so am trying to wean my little one so I can return too. She isn’t taking a bottle either so I don’t know what to do Carla
- Breast first then have 100ml formula ready to go next to you, hopefully your lo gets drowsy on a breast and pull off say half way through feed and try the bottle, i found its easier when sleepy to trasition to the bottle as bubs not all alert and onto you lol after a week of this try to lessen feed and up formula. Vanessa
- I also struggle to express a good amount; things I’ve found to help are to take fenugreek tablets for a few days, and pump in the morning. While pumping, I press (& hold) on various parts of the breast which seems to encourage the ducts to release milk. Emma
- crank up the electric pump. Do it every 3hrs if you have to. Within a few days you will have boosted your supply and gotten in the rhythm – I did this for the first three weeks when my bub was born prem and boosted my supply so high I was filling the fridge up faster than she could drink it. Get a good electric pump and try another one out if that one isn’t doing it for you. Medela swing worked great for us Louise
How did you encourage baby to drink formula from a bottle? Share below