Oh dear this didn't end like I thought it would....

Kat - posted on 07/29/2009

I personally would try to continue breastfeeding & have the formula as a top up. Keep up the demand & supply cycle; sometimes being out & having to just pop out the boob is so convenient for you both. But you have to do what is best for you & for bub's development. As long as bub is getting enough it doesn't matter where it comes from.

Marcy - posted on 07/28/2009

Shannon sounds like you have the best of both worlds. I would just do whatever he is wanting at that time.

Nicole - posted on 07/28/2009

I would follow his lead and go with it. Whatever works for the two of you is great! Any nursing he can still do is beneficial.

Jaime - posted on 07/28/2009

keep nursing the reason he slept so long is because it is more difficult for his body to digest formula, so it made him tired like after thanksgiving. if you give formula mix it with 1/2 breast milk so the enzymes in the breast milk help break down the formula. also as long as you are breastfeeding, if you get sick your baby won't catch it because the breast milk has the antibodies that your body has developed to fight the illness. my friends entire family caught the stomach flu except her breastfeeding daughter!

Teresa - posted on 07/28/2009

Do what workd, I had to mix feeds because I had to return to work soon after, just try and keep feds to a regular time so that you dont become engorged again and the supply will keep up to it.

Melissa - posted on 07/27/2009

I decided before i had my daughter that i was going to breastfeed her fully but after a few days of feeding on demand and getting no sleep i decided to give her some formula,It was like instant relief as she went to sleep for longer,She is now 5 1/2 months old and i am still feeding her myself but she does get the occassional bottle,mostly at night time as it makes her sleep for longerI tried to pump my milk but she refused to take breast milk from a bottle. Good luck with what you decide to do,.

Nicole - posted on 07/26/2009

You sould still nurse him. Formula has no antibodies.

Leesa - posted on 07/26/2009

It sounds like you are doing a great job breastfeeding your baby. He is better off because of it despite not gaining what the doctor calls proper. Hey, I am all about getting a little sleep at night.

To maintain your milk supply, continue to breastfeed during the day and as often as he needs. Then if you need to suppliment at night use the bottle. It may not be the formula itself that is allowing him to sleep so long but the volume he is getting does not take as much energy. He will outgrow that. You will be able to pump your breast and save that feeding for the next night bottle. Anyway good luck, breastfeeding your baby is very rewarding.

Ladye - posted on 07/26/2009

im a mother of 3 my last baby is 6mths old and has not had anything but breast milk. she is fat and healthy however, my son lost weight nursing when he was 4 months old. the doctor tried to get me to put him on formula but i refused and he eventually caught up and was fine. all of my children were different. i suggest you get the book nursing mothers companion 20th annv. edition by kathleen huggins it is a great help and can answer any problem. it is worth the 11 dollars i paid for it. good luck and hang in there it is the best thing for your little guy. let him nurse.

Heather - posted on 07/26/2009

It sounds like he had a little nursing strike. This is common and nothing to worry about. Both my older two did it. Continue nursing as long as you and baby are happy with it. My pediatrician also told me to give formula, despite my objections, to get my baby over a short period of weight loss. It ended up being very temporary and, aside from a bottle of formula given by daddy if I was gone, he nursed exclusively until he was 15 months old. He is a very healthy baby and has been 90th percentile for weight.

Amanda - posted on 07/26/2009

I agree continue however he an you want. When my daughter was around 6 months she would take a bottle at night because nursing made her tired she would fall asleep before she got full and would wake up in the middle of the night.

Erin - posted on 07/26/2009

i would continue to nurse for as long as your comfortable with it and as long as he wants to. breastfeeding is not just about nutrition. i did both with my oldest daughter for six months, when she self weaned, she prefered the bottle when she was really hungry, and wanted mommy more for snacks and comfort

Rebecca - posted on 07/26/2009

I would let him nurse when he wants to even if its not all the time, the rest of the time use the bottle. As long as he is nursing sometimes you will continue to have milk, it will deplete but you will still have some.

Melissa - posted on 07/26/2009

i think that if he wants it and you want to, than continue nursing....as much or as little as YOU and HE wants. there is no reason why you can't nurse and still give formula when he really needs it or when you just want to. nursing full time doesn't work for everyone.