How can I make the transition from breastfeeding to formula?

Ellen - posted on 05/07/2012

From a doctors perspective Dr.Beliloskvy said either stop lactating, or start a medication that is incompatible with breast feeding, and go straight to formula. Abrupt change does not seem to be any worse than any gradual change, as far as chances of formula causing a reaction. Breast is best, of course, but when you have to stop, there is no problem if you stop at once.

At least its good to know in a health perspective, Im sure the emotional attachment will be hard to break though

https://www.healthtap.com/user_questions/1475-how-can-i-transition-from-breast-milk-to-formula

Janice - posted on 05/07/2012

I agree with the other moms that your daughter's attachment has nothing to do with breastfeeding. I have only breastfed while my best friends have only bottle fed and our children are equally "attached." Babies love their mama and you need to be there for her whenever you can.



If you "must" leave your daughter due to work or something important than just pump for the time you are gone, in order to keep up your supply. Lansinoh makes a 30$ manual pump which works great. If you just dont want to breastfeed that is your choice and like Dove said I'm sure your daughter will transition easily since 1/2 her feeds are already formula.



I'm like Dove - my daughter is 2 &1/2 and the only time I have spent a night away was when I gave birth to my son who is now 5 months. I breastfed her till 17 months and she was 25 months when her brother was born. She didn't cry for me because she was old enough to be with out me and because she is a Daddy's girl ;)

Dove - posted on 05/07/2012

The first time I left my son for 10 hours he was 2, so you probably don't want to hear what I would REALLY like to say right now.

I will just say that there is no reason you can't continue to breastfeed while you are with your daughter and pump when you are not. If you don't pump, your supply will eventually dwindle down and you can just stop. If she's used to bottles of formula already then THAT transition probably won't be anything to her. If you are expecting her to be away from you for hours and days at a time and not cry for you... Yeah, good luck with that.

Toni - posted on 05/07/2012

I can't leave my baby girl for more than ten hours without her wanting me either, that's not due to bf'ing that's because she wants her mom! Tbh I found that as my daughter has got older she has naturally become more comfortable with other people (she's 11 months).

If it were me I wouldn't leave my daughter for extended time periods at such a young age unless absolutely necessary (work purposes, funeral etc) and I wouldn't wean her from the breast so I could, especially if she already had most of her feeds from a bottle of formula, it seems pointless to me...considering it is recommended to bf to at least a year, preferably 2 years (not six months, six months is for introducing solids).

Rebekah - posted on 05/07/2012

Do you really have/want to wean entirely? If she's already comfortable taking formula, I'm not sure why you wouldn't be able to pump for the few nights you'd like to be away from her, and then continue to nurse her when you return.

And I really doubt the reason she cries for you is b/c you are nursing. You're her mama. She loves you. She's attached to you. Even if you formula feed, you're not going to be able to hand her off for days and days without her longing for you... that's just the way babies are (especially at such a young age).