8Mo. Old Will Take a Bottle, but No Dice on Formula

Have you tried mixing breast milk in the formula? I started with 3/4's breast, 1/4 formula, then after a couple of days, half and half, then 1/4 breast, then at the end full formula. It worked like a charm for my boys. You can use the same method when you are ready to move to cows milk.

Good Luck and Blessed Be.

I returned to work full time when my daughter was 5mo old. By the time she was ~6mo, she started refusing to take a bottle, no matter what was in it. I was breastfeeding her in the morning before work, upon arrival home (as much as she wanted!), and at bedtime. Normally I was lucky enough to be able to spend my lunch hour with her due to the proximity to my work location, so I would nurse her again then. When she quit taking a bottle, I had them feed her cereal with breastmilk (whatever I had been able to pump the day before). After a couple months though, as we continued to introduce other foods to her diet and she was eating the bm-cereal less, I started 'saving' all my milk for when she nursed. I think that by 8 mo she was back to just getting milk when she nursed (4x per day). Your real challenge is that lunch feed, but I found that was easier to fit into my day when I was not taking other breaks to pump. By 10 months, she started refusing me at lunch, prefering to show off for me or her friends! Those were some desperate times for me, but not her!
I have always tried to 'listen' to my daughter and my body, and that is what I would recommend to you. If she is refusing formula with such determination, set yourself at providing her with what she prefers (breastmilk - smart kid!) with the same determination. You will be glad that you did, because it really is the best food for her! There are lots of recommendations on increasing supply on this site, as well as recommendations on lactation consultants. Good luck!

Keep pumping. The more you pump the more you'll get. Sometimes it takes a little while for supply to pick up, but if you are diligent about pumping it will happen. Personally I don't think juice and food is sufficient until she's old enough for milk. You should probably try to build up your milk supply by pumping, or try another type of formula. My youngest was the same way. He absolutely refused formula. So I pumped like crazy while I was at work, believe me I know it's a pain. A lactation specialist advised me to pump right after I breastfeed in order to boost my milk supply. She said at first you won't get much, but if you keep trying, you'll start getting more. Good luck!

Don't wait so long between pumpings! The more you pump, the more milk you'll have. At that age, they definitely still need the nutrients from breastmilk, so skimping seems like a bad idea. I pumped for a year with my son, who is now 14 months. My supply also dropped as he started eating more solids, and I ended up sending a little less per feeding to the daycare (so he would get 4 oz per feeding rather than 6 oz, which is what he had before he started solids), and he got water if he was still thirsty. I know it's often hard to find the time during a busy weekday to pump, but even if you can find 10 minutes a couple of extra times a day, you'll see benefits in your milk supply. Good luck, and congrats on nursing for so long!

If you are interested in increasing your supply, check out www.kellymom.com
Ideally you would be pumping as much while you are away from your little one, as often as you would be nursing her if you were together. If you try powerpumping to get things up again (adding two or three more pumping sessions a day, also pumping for 5 to 10 minutes after your daughter has finished nursing), it generally takes 48 hours before your breasts will respond and kick in with the milk on their own.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#increase
Found on www.lalecheleague.org that more short pumping sessions are more beneficial that fewer longer ones.
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/pumpwork.html
Remember to be patient with the pump, it's just not the same as your daughter. And trust in your body, with a little work and time it can help provide the milk she will need while you are apart=)

don't know if someone suggested this, but you can pump on one side while she nurses on the other side. You get a good let down this way, usually some great milk (that my otherwise go wasted), AND, its not extra time. It does take some coordination, but i find it easiest with my 'lesser' hand held single pump than with my 'nicer' double electric pump. The handheld was cheap, and has come in handy for a few other things as well.

I've also had luck with goats milk.

Some babies wean early. There must be dietary guidelines for those babies, so, it seems like she could also do okay with less milk - maybe ask your pediatrician.

She will not take the formula bc it tastes horrible!! Have you ever tasted it? I would pump as much as i could even if you do not get a lot you will stimulate your milk supply.

HI A. -
Please try and continue to pump. When my son was 3 weeks old we were in a horrible car accident. He spent almost 2 months in the ICU at children's hospital here in seattle. I pumped EVERY day, about every 3-4 hours, for almost 60 days. When we were finally discharged I had to continue to pump as well as have him on formula. It took almost 3 more months to get me back up to soley breast feeding, but I did it because I know it is so important to have babies drinking mama moo juice. I think, like another mama, that if you nurse her in the morning, have one bottle of breast milk waiting for her during the day as well as some gerber (or your own ground up food) and then when you see her again in the afternoon nursing her again and then again at night that she will be nursing enough. But I would definetly pump AFTER you nurse, that is the "fattest" milk and will fill her up better in the daytime when you are not there. It takes dedication, but it is so important.
L.
FYI - my son is FINE now, healthy and wonderful even though he had massive injuries. I truly believe that Children's saved his life....but I also think that my moo juice certainly helped. When they were finally able to give him any "food" (after 1 month on a resperator) they gave him my milk because it had the most nurtients.

Juice is not beneficial to babies. It is bad for their maturing teeth and is basically just sugar water. Most anyone will tell you that water/milk is best for all reasons. Good luck!

My son couldn't handle formula so we switched to goat milk. It's much easier on the tummy and it doesn't taste half bad. Consult with your pediatrician. I hope this helps. By the way, you can purchase goat milk at most grocery stores. It's in with the regular milk in the dairy case.

Until 12 months and beyond milk (bm or formula) really needs to be their main source of nutrition. Solids at this point are just for fun and practice.

Until 12 months, I'd keep pumping so that she can have some milk while you are away. At this age they only really need 4 milk feeds during the day and you are already feeding 2 feeds at home, so you'd only need enough breast milk for two feeds during the day while she is at day care.
Hope things work out.

Here is a great link.
www.thebabywhisperer.com
Click on Boards and under EAT, go to BreastFeeding.
The mom's on there are great and will be able to help you figure out how to get her take formula if needed.

Originally I mixed breastmilk with formula for her. She took that fine. When I dried up it was a different story. I know this sounds bad, but what I had to do with my daughter is to add a little bit of sugar to the formula bottle. Formula isn't sweet like breastmilk, so babies tend to not like it. I found that adding a little sugar (1/2 tsp for 8 ounce bottle) gives it a sweet enough taste for her to take it without any problems. Might wanna try it?

Hello A.

I would keep pumping and talk to a lactation specialist about helping to boost your supply. There are many things you can do to boost it. I would stop giving your baby juice.My pediatrician advised me not to give my son juice till he is at least one years old and that it wasn't needed. If you really have to give your baby formula are you cutting it half and half with breastmilk and see if that helps. Also would whom ever is going to watch your child for you bring then to you work so you can nurse on your lunch break?
Good Luck

A baby that age needs primarily milk for food, so I would say no dice on hoping she'll eat enough solids through the day and get by on morning and night nursings only. Her digestive system is probably not developed enough and still needs mostly liquid. You could try regular milk, but the odds of having difficulty are higher (my baby couldn't drink regular milk without digestive problems until over 15 months, though that's unusual).

I once had a crisis and was away from my 10-month old for a whole day. She was so picky she wouldn't even drink breastmilk older than 24 hours, so I was freaking out that she would starve. Her grandma blessedly ran into a mom at the grocery store who turned her on to the Enfamil Lipil pre-made LIQUID formula, in a can. The gold and yellow stuff, I think it says "our closest formula to breastmilk" on the can(s). It tastes WAAAAAAY better than powdered formula (which is nasty. every tasted it?), and my baby looked at her funny for a minute while tasting it, and then drank the whole bottle and continued to do so for the rest of the day. I've heard this from another mom too. The pre-made is more expensive, but worth it (and you can probably transition her to powdered from there).

Make sure that whoever is feeding her the bottle is not you and you're not around. Sounds like you have a mom willing to help.

Good luck!

Breast feeding is very important for brain development. They have found now, that up to 2 years of age for a child makes a difference. Breast milk has nutrients for the brain formula does not have. You can up your production by taking Fenugreek and pumping more often even if there's no milk at the time. Let her suckle even if there's no milk - more often to get up production. Also, getting more rest really helps. Drink lots of water.

One problem may be you have already started giving her juice. From all that I have read and what peds. have told me the past two years is that babies should not get juice until they are at least one year's old. Maybe try stopping the juice. I would not dilute the formula though.

I started weening my son who is now two, at 4 months due to an illness I have. I did it over 2 months. The key is not to give your baby a bottle with formula for her first or last bottle of the day. Pick one like lunch and try that. Do that for a few weeks and then pick another one like in between breakfast and bedtime. The first morning bottle and bedtime bottles would be the last to go. You have to do what is right for you AND your baby, so introducing formula should not bring you any feelings of guilt, I know I have been there.

When you do reintroduce juice. Only give her 4 oz. a day and dilute it. Since you are nursing, when you feed her solids, she needs to nurse first. I am bottle feeding my second I am feeding her cereal and purees first. Good Luck.

You can try making your own formula it isn't that difficult, it would certainly be healthier and a lot less expensive and perhaps she will find that more paletable. One thing to keep in mind that there may be something in the formula her body is allergic to. Generally you either crave or despise the things that are harmful to you...just a thought.

Hi A.,

Your daughter can tell, easily, the difference between the formula and the excellent breastmilk you have been feeding her. There is a connection with Mommy every time she gets breastmilk, even if it is from a bottle held by someone else, and she feels that. I know it's a challenge to think about trying to keep up your breastmilk if you are returning to work and she is going to be in daycare, but if you have been breastfeeding all this time (GOOD FOR YOU!) then I don't see a reason why you would not be able to pump successfully for your time away from her. She is old enough now that you could breastfeed her in the morning before you leave her and in the evening as soon as you are together again, then again when she goes to bed (or whatever your routine is), and not have to provide all her caloric needs through breastmilk while she is in daycare. She can eat some solid foods, and you can provide supplemental breastmilk through pumping. If you work with a lactation consultant (contact La Leche League in your area) you will get plenty of experienced help with figuring out all the in's and out's of pumping and keeping up your supply for her.

Finally, my own youngest child is 9 years old, and my eldest, at 18, was the only one who--18 years ago--saw a regular allopathic pediatrician for advice on how to raise her. (I later found a ped and a couple of naturopaths who were completely willing to work with my orientation towards breastfeeding and natural parenting). The comments I am reading regularly on Mamasource about the assumption that you should start with regular milk at one year old are somewhat disturbing to me. It apparently is the "latest" pediatric advice, given how many mom's here are accepting this as a given, but when my first daughter's pediatrician told me that her one year birthday was the time to stop breastfeeding, I found myself a different doctor! There is NO REASON to stop breastfeeding or to switch to regular milk at one year--the average age of breastfeeding worldwide is much longer than that, and my own daughters (along with the children of many of my friends) continued regular breastfeeding well into the second year as a regular source of nutrition. For comfort, continued ease of care (for me, too!), and ongoing nutritional and immune system support, we kept nursing until 3 or 4--though only at night or when they got hurt or something.

Moms, if you are being told by your peds that you "should" stop nursing (or bottle feeding) and switch to cow's milk at 1 year old, please question this and do a little more research. Mothering Magazine is an excellent resource for a little reality check. There is no reason to switch just because of a date passing.

Blessings,
Fiora

Okay, I went through this with my oldest and what I did was eat lots more fruit and vege's and eggs to get my protein levels up, but then worked on getting more good carbs into my diet and eating more things that would help me produce milk so I could pump more for reserve. You will also need to take your pre-natals or some sort of multi-vitamin to keep your energy up, and make sure to rest as much as you can so you can relax enough to pump. I realize that it is stressful to go back to work and worry about a little person when they are in someone else's care, but if you want to continue to work and keep her on your milk, then you have to reduce the stress level.

This could also include cutting out activities such as weekend events and getting more rest with her when she naps, or even having a little glass of wine or beer (if you like either one of those) so it increases your milk, right before you go to bed. As long as you do not drink more than one glass (and I always make it a small glass), then it won't hurt the baby. Sometimes, your body just needs a little boost.

My best friend from Kansas also says that her Aunt in Colorado, who is a nurse said to eat lots of oatmeal and grains to keep good carbs going and be able to produce enough for your kiddo. Also, start pumping on a regular schedule and your milk within a week will change its schedule to fit your needs. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

I wish you the best of luck, and know exactly where you're coming from. If you feel uncomfortable with any of the options I mentioned, please don't hesitate to contact your OBGYN or a nutritionist.

Best regards,

Kim B.

A.,

Until your baby is 2 years old they need the extra fats in breast milk or formula for brain development. Talk to your baby's doctor and see if there is an alternative that you could come up with.

Melissa

You should most likely talk to your pediatrician. There are many different types of formula to try...soy....etc. On the juice tip when you mix fruit juice with water it also takes away vitamins so honestly it is better to just give "real" fruit and stay away from fruit juice as it is filled with so much sugar.

I would say to ask your pediatrician their thoughts on starting her on milk a little bit early, I don't think it would hurt her. The main concern is if there is a milk allergy. You could also try soy milk or rice milk instead of formula. Food and juice will nourish her fine even if she doesn't take formula. In no time she will be eating more solids and you won't need to worry.

Yes please continue to breastfeed as much and as long as you can! Is there a way you could nurse her at lunchtime? And there is no need to ever give her cow's milk - it is meant for calves, not for humans, and causes many many health problems (see notmilk.com).

Hey A.,

I would definitely consult your daughters Dr. before relying on juice and food alone all (work) day. Also, you may be able to start giving her whole milk a month or so early. I know some moms that have done that and it has worked out fine. Have you experimented with other types of formula or mixing it with breastmilk??

Good Luck

I would continue to pump as much as you can. I don't think it is safe for your daughter to only be on solids and juice until she's a year, there are nutrients in breastmilk and/or formula that she needs. I have never done formula, so I don't know if this would work, but I know it worked for me sometimes when trying to introduce new foods. I would mix breastmilk in with whatever it was I was feeding my kids. I would start out with a pretty high concentration of bresatmilk and then over time use less and less milk and more and more of whatever it was I was trying to get them to eat. Maybe it would work with formuls. As for starting cows milk at 1 year, with first two, I continued nursing them and slowly introduced cow's milk over a 3-4 month period of time. I'll be doing the smae with my youngest who will be 1 year in 2 weeks.

I hope this helps.

M.