Supplementing with Formula - Omaha, NE

When we started supplementing my daughter, we mixed about 50/50 formula with breastmilk and she transitioned well.

you can mix breastmilk with the formula and mask the taste. since you have a lot of breastmilk saved up, mix the bottle with more breastmilk than formula and hopefully you will have enough until you are back.

my daycare teachers say that they've typically mixed formula with breastmilk to make it more paletable, so that could be one option. downside of that is if he doesn't take it, it's wasted breastmilk (which kills me!).

another thought is that he will likely not take it from you, knowing the good stuff is right there in front of him. but from the sitter, he might tolerate it. my girl didn't like to take bottles from me, but from hubby was no problem.

and finally, let's assume he doesn't take much formula while you're away. in that case, probably have sitter ration out the breastmilk so he gets some every day, and have sitter feed him lots of other foods (that assumes that he is eating other foods now) to fill his belly, so he doesn't go hungry.

as far as introducing formula, i've read conflicting methods: some say to offer it when they're hungry, some say to offer it when they're not starving so they're not so angry. regardless of when you offer it, it's probably best to give it to him from the sitter, not from you.

good luck!

Try mixing the formula with breast milk and gradually increase the formula until you have nothing but formula. Also, your child may take the formula better from someone other than you or your husband.

I kept my four month old granddaughter for a week while her parents were moving (mom flew back for her once the house was set up). We had *almost* enough breast milk frozen but knew it wasn't going to be enough so what I did was mix some formula with the breast milk with each feeding. I started out with about 1 part formula to 7 parts breast milk and with each bottle I'd increase the number of parts formula and decrease the parts of breast milk. That stretched the breast milk out so it lasted longer and baby didn't have as many tummy issues. Breast milk just seemed to be easier on her tummy. Also, in the month or two before the trip we tried several brands of formula and found that one brand seemed to be a bit easier on her tummy so that's the one we used. I can't remember which it was, but that would likely be different for different children, too.

Part of the issue may also be that if you are there the baby wants to nurse; she may take a bottle (even with formula) better for someone else than she will for you. You need to be out of sight and where baby can't hear your voice. Also, you may want to try different nipple types for the bottles, too.

Has he ever takent he bottle before? I was on maternity leave and my youngest was solely breastfeed and at about 8-10 weeks or so I tried giving her a bottle and tried on and off until she went into daycare at 12 weeks. She wouldn't take the bottle of breastmilk from me, my husband or my husband when I was out of the house. She refused it from the daycare lady the first day and the second day it took her 45 minutes to get her to eat from the bottle. Your child will eat if he's hungry enough. He'll figure it out. My daycare lady would lay her on the side and left the nipple by her mouth. She'd flip sides to mimic breastfeeding. I'd suggest trying different bottles and nipples. My first child liked Dr. Brown's but would pretty much take anything and my second ended up taking to the playtex drop-ins with the brown and then she went to the clear nipples. Good luck. Keep trying and if he doesn't get it he'll get it with the caregiver he's staying with. It'll be lots of crying I'm sure but being persistent and putting that nipple by him he'll get it. Maybe try a sippy cup.

I agree with trying a mixture of formula and brestmilk. You could try one ounce of formula and two of breastmilk and see if he'll take it. If he doesn't, you won't waste as much breastmilk. Does he like his milk pretty warm or cold? My son wouldn't drink his bottle unless he temp was just perfect.

And I also agree with having someone other than yourself feed him the bottle. Especially if he's never had a bottle before.

My pediatrician has told us before that if a baby is hungry enough, s/he'll eat anything. Sounds cruel, but your son may be faced with that when you're gone. Either he takes the bottle from the sitter or his belly will continue to hurt... and you won't be around to breastfeed him...

What about a different brand of formula? Is the nipple similar to a real one? My son refused some bottles because of that.

I would try a mixture of breast milk plus formula first - it won't taste so foreign to him. Then, you can either continue a mixture while you are gone if you have enough breast milk, or slowly transition over several days gradually adding more formula and less breast milk to the mixture.

It may be different when someone else feeds it to him. If he eats food you might try mixing it in his cereal.

Make his bottles part formula, part breastmilk.

I guess as far as supplementing formula, I would suggest trying to mix tthe formula with a lille of your breats milk. See if that helps. But only a little breast milk, use water to fill it the rest of the way, this way he is tasting the formula and your milk.

We tried many different bottles/nipples before finding one my son would take. Then did half and half and gradually increased the formula but the biggest thing was for me to be NO WHERE around, if he knew I was in the house he wouldn't take it. For awhile he'd only drink a little bit but as he got used to it he'd take a whole bottle from my husband or mom if I was gone. Try a couple times a day, possibly before he is starving and frustrated but also when he is so hungry he'd eat anything and hopefully by the time you leave it isn't a problem! Enjoy your trip!