Transitioning to formula

[brewcitygal]

I've decided to switch ds (3 months) to formula.

I really like nursing him, but I just can't keep up with what he needs pumping wise when I'm at work. Plus, I'm starting a new job next week and I know the orientation is intense and I won't have time for pumping.

Any tips? I have about 60 oz. of breast milk stored in the freezer.

[daometjing]

We always had to supplement, so DD transitioned with no problem when I stopped pumping at 6ish months. I started mixing formula with breast milk in increasing amounts until she was getting just formula.

[fickleflamingo]

We transitioned cold turkey, but I didn't have any extra and his BM bottles were always fortified with formula. I would just mix together and take it slowly. I found that formula was much harder on his stomach, so it might help if yours has any issues.

[heybulldog56]

I made the switch around 3 months also due to supply issues and had been supplementing since his birth That whole time period is a blur and I never produced enough to create a stash. So, basically, I have nothing to contribute! I just stopped pumping and made the switch to eff. Good luck! And congrats on the new job!

[brewcitygal]

Thanks for the tips! I hope he transitions easily.

Pumping gives me anxiety so I'm ready to stop. I wish I could have had a longer time off so I could just EBF, but alas we need the money.

[sudokufan]

We mixed formula and breast milk for awhile, because my supply was low, and just decreased the amount of milk pretty quickly. If you haven't already gotten him used to taking bottles from the fridge, I strongly encourage it! That allowed me to mix up formula in a pitcher and let it sit in the fridge to get rid of air bubbles, and then not worry about rewarming it. I liked not having to mix in the middle of the night, and just pull a bottle straight out of the fridge and serve.

[ChickenOnSunday]

We fortified my breastmilk with formula to up the caloric content and would offer that same bottle a second time. The dietician at our hospital said we were fine to offer the combo a second time as long as it wasn't out of the fridge for more than an hour. Don't waste the liquid gold!

[mrsw062610]

Jan 20, 2015 12:02:02 GMT -5 daometjing said:

We always had to supplement, so DD transitioned with no problem when I stopped pumping at 6ish months. I started mixing formula with breast milk in increasing amounts until she was getting just formula.

We did this around 7 months. We did 3 oz BM and 1 oz formula, then half and half, then 3 oz formula and 1 oz BM. And then just formula. She did fine with it. We are actually doing that same thing with formula and WCM now.

[thepardoner]

Jan 20, 2015 12:02:10 GMT -5 fickleflamingo said:

We transitioned cold turkey, but I didn't have any extra and his BM bottles were always fortified with formula. I would just mix together and take it slowly. I found that formula was much harder on his stomach, so it might help if yours has any issues.

This. When we transitioned he got really constipated & gassy. We ended up having to switch to similac sensitive formula because of it so just be prepared for that as a possibility

[anakah]

The twins were supplemented formula from the beginning. I never mixed the two, it was either a formula bottle or a BM bottle. They didn't care what was in it. We did have problems with gas and constipation so we stuck with Similac Sensitive. I also second getting him used to bottles out of the fridge. So convenient to be able to mix up all the bottles for the day and just take them out of the fridge to feed as needed. Unfortunately, my babies were snooty and only wanted warm milk.

[snowflake]

With DS1 I had to start supplementing around the same time as you. He had some GI issues to start with, so I went with Gerber Good Start Gentle, which had partially broken down proteins (I think that's what it was). I just mixed formula with the BM gradually like many others did and had no issues at all as far as refusing bottles.

[sassypantzz]

Cold turkey here and we had zero issue.