Help me please! (BM to formula)

[junebugjam]

I know I am an infrequent poster these days but even my son's doctor has been pretty unhelpful with this, so I was hoping someone here would have advice or ideas.

My LO has been EBF since birth. About a month ago I made the decision to stop pumping and work and start supplementing. It was at this same time that my LO decided to start refusing bottles all together, breast milk or formula.

Long story short he will not take bottles anymore (very rarely) so he drinks little to nothing while I'm at work all day, not even water or juice. He doesn't understand the sippy cup despite my best efforts.

I've purchased two types of formula. I think he doesn't like the taste. So I tried one today (don't judge me) and I don't blame him. It's disgusting. And it smells. I'm not knocking anyone who uses formula. In fact, I envy you at this point. But my question is, HOW to I get him to drink it? Are there any that taste decent? He eats fine but I'm mostly concerned he's not getting enough fluids during the day.

He loves the baby food pouches so we bought reusable ones and put the formula in there. He made a face and looked like he wanted to throw up. I'm at my wits end.

[lilyelayne]

No first hand experience, but have you tried mixing BM & formula and then easing off the BM? Maybe doesn't help if he's refusing all drinking vessels... Just have to be careful not to pre mix the bottles too early cause the BM can start digesting/breaking down the formula.

[junebugjam]

lilyelayne I have mixed them. Sometimes he'll drink them, sometimes not. My fear is that now he's associating bottles with something he doesn't like.

[mishka29]

It's funny that you posted this because I tried formula for the first time an hour ago. And I wanted to vomit. (I was hoping LO would drink a little from her cup plus nurse then I would get a full night sleep lol).

Anyway, even DD1 tried and said it was yucky. I had to run down and check that it wasn't expired bc it was so disgusting. I think it's because of the iron. But now I'm wondering if they all taste this funky.

[taberbtb]

junebugjam how old is your LO? Is he one of the older or younger babies of the group? While not ideal, you can discuss with your pedi about the possibility of switching to WCM earlier than one year. While I'm not saying you should do this I know in some cases your doctor may agree that switching could be beneficial if you absolutely cannot get him to take any formula but that would be a conversation to have with your pedi.

Not sure how little liquid he is taking in a day but DD drinks only around 16oz/at this point. From participating on the formula friday thread I know she's on the lower end compared to others but it works for her. She does use a sippy cup but probably only takes 1-2oz water total from it a day. I try to make sure she gets enough liquids from her "solids". Yogurt, fruit/veggie pouches, etc.

ETA: If the formula tastes anything like it smells I'm amazed any baby drinks it.

[tortor4]

Have you tried any that say for supplementing? They're slightly sweeter than the other ones.

[junebugjam]

taberbtb he'll be 10 months on Wednesday. I'm nursing morning & night and he still wakes up at least twice a night (probably to make up for what he doesn't drink at night). I just went and stocked up on liquid-y solids. He's on antibiotics for an ear infection so he has a bit of diarrhea, so that in combination with not drinking as much worries me.

tortor4 I haven't tried the supplementing ones. We're trying a pre-mixed one tomorrow. He took a little sip from a cup today and didn't make a gross face, so we'll see I guess.

[seamonster]

Dec 14, 2015 20:28:51 GMT -5 tortor4 said:

Have you tried any that say for supplementing? They're slightly sweeter than the other ones.

This might help. Otherwise I'd mix and slowly increase the amount of formula. You could even do this with proportions of supplement formula to regular formula until he's all on regular formula.

[tortor4]

Dec 14, 2015 20:35:42 GMT -5 seamonster said:

Dec 14, 2015 20:28:51 GMT -5 tortor4 said:

Have you tried any that say for supplementing? They're slightly sweeter than the other ones.

This might help. Otherwise I'd mix and slowly increase the amount of formula. You could even do this with proportions of supplement formula to regular formula until he's all on regular formula.

This. Although here the supplementing kind are the same price as the regular, and from what I understand from our pedi, the fact that it's slightly sweeter than the others is the only real difference. It's all for marketing. The supplement kind is DDs favorite and she's been 100% FF since like 3 days old.

[tortor4]

Dec 14, 2015 20:35:17 GMT -5 junebugjam said:

taberbtb he'll be 10 months on Wednesday. I'm nursing morning & night and he still wakes up at least twice a night (probably to make up for what he doesn't drink at night). I just went and stocked up on liquid-y solids. He's on antibiotics for an ear infection so he has a bit of diarrhea, so that in combination with not drinking as much worries me.

tortor4 I haven't tried the supplementing ones. We're trying a pre-mixed one tomorrow. He took a little sip from a cup today and didn't make a gross face, so we'll see I guess.

Good luck, I hope he found the one he likes! So funny because the pre mixed ones are literally the only ones DD doesn't like. Babies are weird!

[tortor4]

junebugjam oh also! If you haven't already, go to the Similac and enfamil websites and sign up. They'll send you rebate checks you can use towards formula and they may send you samples too!

[WittyLittle]

Random thought, have you tried making bottles warmer? J won't drink unless I make it above skin temperature. Watch out not to make it too hot of course, but I get the feeling it tastes less strong when it is a bit warmer. I hope it gets sorted soon! Good luck!

[junebugjam]

Dec 16, 2015 6:32:53 GMT -5 WittyLittle said:

Random thought, have you tried making bottles warmer? J won't drink unless I make it above skin temperature. Watch out not to make it too hot of course, but I get the feeling it tastes less strong when it is a bit warmer. I hope it gets sorted soon! Good luck!

Not sure about temp since its at daycare that's the issue. I know they warm them but not sure how much.

He tolerated the similac advanced pre-made formula mixed with breast milk, so I'm sticking with that for now.

Thanks for all the advice!