Switching to formula at 3 months??

Nicole - posted on 05/12/2012

I never liked pumping but I pumped for my child for two years. Beyond the two years, I continued to pump milk to donate because ALL babies deserve breastmilk and I wanted to help mothers/babies in need. Donation didn't make me like it more but hey, it was needed. I don't like paying bills or pap smears either but I Keep Calm and Carry On.

Casey - posted on 12/17/2009

i have a couple of friends who tried to do this...the babies bodies were confused as breast milk digests very easily and formula takes a bit to get used to. most bfed babies have a bm mulitple times a day and formula fed babies...every 2 to 3 days. so you might be left with a very unhappy baby. and he will be confused. i had the same problem with family and friends wanting to keep him. bfeeding is a sacrafice and you should decide if its what you really want to do. Good luck switching to formula at 3 months!

Teresa - posted on 12/17/2009

As for what to tell everyone... feeding him is YOUR job for now. It is the ONLY way others can not help. There are many, many ways to get others involved w/out involving a bottle. W/ your boyfriend's support they should all back off for now. Let them feed him when he starts solids. :)



I don't see any reason to leave him at this age. You can get a break w/out leaving him. How about one of those friends or his father take him for a walk while you take a nap or a nice bath? Or watch him while YOU take a short walk.



He's only this little for such a short amount of time. Trust me. I look at my 21 month old son (or his EIGHT year old sisters) and think 'where did my baby go?' ALL the time.....

Ashley - posted on 12/17/2009

Ty very much everybody... I really appriciate all the advice and knowing the things you have done... I will have to try some of these things when switching to formula at 3 months. Anymore advice feel free to leave it!

Lara - posted on 12/15/2009

I know you said you don't like to pump, and I totally understand-- it can be kind of a pain. What I found made pumping easier for me was to have everything set up next to my bed at night-- pump, bottle, etc-- so in the morning all I had to do was role over and pump on one side while I feeding my daughter on the other side. Also, I made an effort to just nurse one side throughout the night, so that my pumping side would be extra full and ready in the morning. Good luck and stick with it, nursing lasts for such a short time in the grand scheme of things, but the benefits will stick with your child forever.

Tammy - posted on 12/15/2009

I agree, its great that your boyfriend wants you to exclusively bf. My husband wasn't so encouraging but he's fine now. From experience, my son was on bottles for a month and honestly its heaps of trouble, especially when you are able to breastfeed. Felt like I was spending all day washing and sterilising bottles. With your milk, its exactly the right temperature, always available, and you dont have to cart around bottles and formula whenever you want to go somewhere. There are other ways that family members can help out instead of just feeding bub. They could do housework, or take bub after you finished feeding him. The sling is a great idea, you can get your housework/shopping done and still nurse. I know my son absolutely loves going to the shops because of the activity and different things around him. You could also try breastfeeding him and then saying goodbye and leaving straightaway, that way you have at least half an hour before he is hungry again (not sure how often your bub eats, but i know my son eats about every hour and a half to two hours, so on the rare occasion i do go out by myself i know i've got at least one hour timeframe to get home again) As time goes by bub will become more efficient at nursing thus spending less time on the boob.

Megan - posted on 12/15/2009

I completely agree with April and think it is great that your boyfriend wants you to breastfeed exclusively! Some men do not think this way, so you are very lucky! My husband is like your boyfriend and I feel it is such a blessing. I am not working, but I am always on the go and bring my baby everywhere with me. I put her in a sling and she nurses while I shop and then when she wants to be up and looking, I just reposition her. It has worked out great! I rarely pump and she is six months old now and things have worked out wonderfully! Try taking baby with you and see how you like that! I always enjoy letting my daughter see all the great things in store and she loves the walking motion.

Minnie - posted on 12/15/2009

Quoting Ashley:

Quoting Lisa:

This community does not suggest or recommend formula for non-medical use.

It is in your son's best interest to epress your milk if you must leave him. Have you considered taking him with you to do errands and nurse on the go?

See:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/b...

yes i do take him with me... everywhere. but everyone wants me to leave him with them so i can have a break bacause i have not left him anywhere since ive had him and everyone wants to feed him... i am just really exhausted and have been thinking that if i go half and half hes still getting breastmilk but i can get a little more help from everyone... including his father. idk i hope ur not mad because i posted this question... i see your a moderator and im not trying to offend anyone i just dont have other ppl to talk to that are also breastfeeding every other mother i know is not breast feeding theie child. i just needed some advise

It's not a matter of offending- I'm sure you haven't offended anyone. It's just that those are community guidelines, and it really is in your baby's best interest to continue to exclusively breastfeed. 

You are of course welcome to talk to fellow breastfeeding mothers, but we just cannot recommend you give your son formula for a non-medical reason. 

Concerning your exhaustion, I bet lots of mothers have excellent tips to help you out there.  I personally found that bringing my babies into bed with me and nursing while sleeping got me a ton more sleep.  When doing errands, a soft baby carrier really helped me nurse hands-free while shopping.

Can you elicit help from your family and friends with things other than feeding?  Someone to make meals for instance, or someone else to get those groceries.  Someone to do chores while you get your feet up, or take a bath.

Ashley - posted on 12/15/2009

Quoting Lisa:

This community does not suggest or recommend formula for non-medical use.

It is in your son's best interest to epress your milk if you must leave him. Have you considered taking him with you to do errands and nurse on the go?

See:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/b...

yes i do take him with me... everywhere. but everyone wants me to leave him with them so i can have a break bacause i have not left him anywhere since ive had him and everyone wants to feed him... i am just really exhausted and have been thinking that if i go half and half hes still getting breastmilk but i can get a little more help from everyone... including his father. idk i hope ur not mad because i posted this question... i see your a moderator and im not trying to offend anyone i just dont have other ppl to talk to that are also breastfeeding every other mother i know is not breast feeding theie child. i just needed some advise

April - posted on 12/15/2009

I think you are lucky that your boyfriend wants you to EBF!! That is awesome. There are so many men out there that think that BFing is gross or they think that the child should be weaned as soon as he is one year old. You are lucky to have such great support!!



Also...some mothers who go to work will leave their babies in daycare and often times that baby will WAIT til she gets home to accept any kind of food!! Mother's milk is that precious and important to them that they will refuse a bottle for anyone.

Minnie - posted on 12/15/2009

This community does not suggest or recommend formula for non-medical use.

It is in your son's best interest to epress your milk if you must leave him. Have you considered taking him with you to do errands and nurse on the go?

See:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/b...

Teresa - posted on 12/15/2009

Unless you HAVE to be away from your child (work, etc..) for a significant length of time I would not switch or go half and half or anything like that. If you are only away from him for an hour or two at a time and you nurse right before leaving... There is no need for formula... or bottles. There are many people on here who will provide you w/ links and such against formula, but my point of view is a strictly selfish one (even though I DO believe that breastmilk IS best). Formula is EXPENSIVE and bottle making is time consuming. Breastmilk is free and always ready and available. :)



He is your son though and the decision is yours to make.

Casey - posted on 12/17/2009

i have a couple of friends who tried to do this...the babies bodies were confused as breast milk digests very easily and formula takes a bit to get used to. most bfed babies have a bm mulitple times a day and formula fed babies...every 2 to 3 days. so you might be left with a very unhappy baby. and he will be confused. i had the same problem with family and friends wanting to keep him. bfeeding is a sacrafice and you should decide if its what you really want to do. Good luck switching to formula at 3 months!

Ashley - posted on 12/17/2009

Ty very much everybody... I really appriciate all the advice and knowing the things you have done... I will have to try some of these things when switching to formula at 3 months. Anymore advice feel free to leave it!