bottle feeding a bf baby

Michelle - posted on 01/04/2009

Definitely mix the breast milk and formula--more of the breast milk to start until she gets used to the formula taste. That's the only thing that worked for us--that, and me pumping at work 4-5 times per day so my husband would have some milk to take the night shifts! :)

Kate - posted on 01/04/2009

I tried giving my baby a bottle with formula as a top up after a breast feed and even before a breast feed with no success. My daughter is a slow weight gainer so the maternal and child health nurse was wanting me to supplement her feeds as well, but my daughter had other ideas. She is 7 months old now and I am needing to return to work and she still will not take a bottle (even with breastmilk). She just chews on the teat like its a toy! As my daughter is now only having 4 feeds per day returning to work will be easier. I add either formula or expressed milk to her cereal and custard at lunch and offer her milk in a cup. It sounds like you have a hard time ahead but stick it out, it will get heaps easier. Sorry I don't have any solutions, my daughter is a very stubborn and I didn't win with the bottle!

Sara - posted on 01/04/2009

I'm with the others who suggest that your baby may be going through a growth spurt. Waking up to feed more frequently is her way of increasing your milk supply... so go ahead and do it! There may not be any need whatsoever to give formula (unless you are just wanting to).

Angela - posted on 01/04/2009

i have too tried formula with my son and he would spit it back up. i tried several different types and never did find one that he adjusted well too. there is no real evidence that formula helps them sleep thru the night. some children too just done sleep thru the night. my son cosleeps wtih us and is just now starting to cut back on his nursing at night. he is 18 months old and in the last week on his own has cut out 2 nursing times. good luck as everyone else has stated ur baby is just growing.gt

User - posted on 01/04/2009

I actually do what Jennifer suggested. We mix 1/2 milk & 1/2 formula everynight in my daughter's bottle. She sleeps through the night that way and doesn't seem to mind the formula. She is bf at all other times.

Heather - posted on 01/04/2009

one thing that i did read in a breast feeding book was to breast feed in a warm bath with your baby. it is supposed to help the baby relax and sleep, plus help you relax too. i havent tried it so i cant say how well it helps. good luck.

Rebecca - posted on 01/04/2009

Have you tried cosleeping? Of course, it must be done SAFELY, but I found it absolutely necessary as I had my kids close together and desperately needed the sleep. We attached a bassinet to our bed so I could just reach over and bring the baby into bed to nurse. Once you both get used to it, you actually both basically stay asleep while doing this. Seriously, they've done studies that show you don't wake all the way up! Your baby still needs to eat at night, so it's a great way for her to get the best nutrition without the excessively interrupted sleep. I also feel it helped my babies sleep better more quickly. Since they didn't need to wake all the way up to get the food they needed, they got used to "sleeping" through the night. I have an 11-month-old and our transition from bassinet to crib by the bed, to crib farther from out bed, to finally out of our room went very smoothly.

Good luck, and make sure to research how to do it safely if you do try cosleeping!

Emily - posted on 01/04/2009

I would avoid the formula - there's no evidence that it helps babies sleep... many doctors have been seduced by formula company marketing and aren't terribly well educated about breastfeeding. I agree that it's probably just a growth spurt and will pass shortly. If not, Richard Ferber's book has good information about reducing nightime feedings and Dr. Jack Newman's book has great information about breastfeeding.

Jana - posted on 01/03/2009

my advice would be to avoid the formula supplimentation at all costs as this will start to effect your supply. The idea that a formula bottlw will help your baby sleep longer is a myth as is the one about putting cereal in a babys bottle before bed. It just does not work. As pp have stated, it sounds like your baby is going through a growth spurt and the only solution is to feed more often. From your post it sounds like yoru baby will take a bottle of breast milk from the nanny? If so, then things look like they are moving in the right direction! This time will pass and she will go back to her regular feedings. You have to be very very careful with supplimenting as this often leads to weaning.

Lydia - posted on 01/03/2009

Don't give your baby formula. Many babies respond badly to formula, which would cause her to sleep worse. Using formula increases her risk of ear infections, allergies, and other health problems - including SIDS. She is probably going through a growth spurt and will be back to sleeping longer between feedings within a few days. I know the sleepless nights are difficult, but keep in mind that they are normal & healthy, and especially that they are temporary.

Monica - posted on 01/03/2009

I agree with the other moms advice about trying to mix the formula with the breastmilk. Also some babies won't accept drinking formula from a bottle when they know their mom is near so maybe try having your significant other doing the 10 p.m. formula feeding & try warming the formula up to so it's more like the real thing.

Shannon - posted on 01/03/2009

It sounds to me like she is just going through a growth spurt... meaning she will want to eat often. I don't think the formula if you can get her to take it will help much. As far as why she won't drink it, it may be that she doesn't care for that particular formula... or the shock of having mommies milk all day and then that one that is solid formula just doesn't sit well with her. Why not try adding a couple ounces of formula to your milk over time to get her used to it, just like you do if you change formulas.... you may find that by adding say 2 oz of formula to yours at one feeding may give you an extra couple hours. Good luck on whatever you choose to do....

Jennifer - posted on 01/03/2009

have you tried mixing the formula w/ breastmilk in small increments to get her used to it? that might help - good luck!