What can you do if your baby will not take formula?
8 Answers
How do I switch my baby from breast milk to formula?
Transitioning from breast feeding to using a bottle and formula can be difficult for babies. See what moms suggest for making the transition as smooth as possible and share your tips for moms who are making the switch.
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21 Answers
8 Votes
I guess the question to ask would be why you want to stop breastfeeding. If your little one will take a bottle, I'd probably start introducing the formula slowly (mixed in with expressed milk, if you can). It's just my opinion, but if you're able to keep nursing, why bother with the added expense and time - not to mention all the icky formula bottles AND icky formula diapers. I was really lucky with both kids - one self weaned at 2 and didn't have formula and the other only needed some formula as a suppliment while I was at work (but he'd eat anything!). Either way, good luck to you.
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Shawnn - commented on Feb 10, 2012
Again, you haven't actually answered the question, just passed judgment on a person for asking. Refer to my comment on Rebecca Richardson's post.
6 Votes
Ignore all the people asking why you want to switch. Its your choice and what works for you and your family. I can't believe some moms are so rude and condescending with their comments. Good for you moms that can breastfeed...it doesn't make you a better mom than one who bottle feeds! When I switched my kids over to formula from breast milk, I would slowly add a little formula to pumped breast milk. I think I started off with adding 1/2 oz then after a few days, I added 1 oz and so on. It worked with my girls and I'm getting ready to start the process with my son. Good luck!!
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Shawnn - commented on Feb 10, 2012
Spot on, Sarah, spot on!
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Stephanie - commented on Dec 27, 2012
my baby wont take to my boob any more and it gets really hard to pump my milk it take like an hour for a whole 2 oz. So my question would be should i do the formula and try and feed my son my boob when ever can take it? my email is stephanie_janbabi_91@yahoo.com if you could please help me im a first time mom and everyone is making me out to look like the bad guy when he just cant take to it.
5 Votes
I pumped and I had to give in a bottle that was 90% breast mile 10% formula for 3 days, then 85% breast milk 15% formula for 3 days...I kept doing this until it was full formula it took about 2-3 weeks. Also it has to be the right temperature, and the right bottle, my son liked the playtex drop in ones as the nipples are big its comforting like a breast, also they say they can smell breast milk so try and keep a fresh clean heavy sweater on seriously.
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Shawnn - commented on Feb 10, 2012
Excellent advice, Britany!
5 Votes
At 7 weeks I started formula and stopped the breast cold-turkey. My daughter became unhappy and extremely fussy at the breast. I was desperate! I had my sister feed her her first bottle and all went well. I was a little emotional at the thought of stopping the breast but baby is so much happier. My breasts were VERY painful and rock-hard for about 2-3 days until my milk supply slowed down. It took about a week or so for them to go back to their pre-pregnancy size. My sister-in-law weaned her baby slowly over the course of a month. She started supplementing more and more meals with the bottle. This method is less painful for mommy! Good luck!!
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Sarah - commented on Jan 5, 2012
Thank you for sharing a positive, HELPFUL comment.
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Shawnn - commented on Feb 10, 2012
Very helpful!
4 Votes
If you cannot provide enough nutrients with your breast milk, do NOT feel guilty! Or, if you have another reason for wanting to switch, again, DO NOT feel guilty!
These "moms" who are so rudely judging your abilities as a mother by whether or not you whip out your boob to feed your baby are just that. Rude, insensitive, ignorant humans.
If you would like to switch, I've done 2 different methods, both with success. The first was to mix the bottle 50/50. Since my eldest was starving anyway, he didn't care what he got, as long as it was FOOD!!!
For the second one, since the hospital INSISTED that I only breastfeed, I did that once, and then my hubby brought the formula we had brought to the hospital with us, and never bf that one again.
As the mother of 2 VERY HEALTHY, HIGH INTELLIGENCE boys, I am proud to say that I never felt an instant of the guilt that the "very perfect" breast feeding mothers tried to instill in me after I refused to bf my youngest.
You do what's best for both you, and baby, emotionally, and nutritionally, and you will be fine!
3 Votes
God, you women are judgemental ass@#$holes.
Not every woman has the perfect, awesome time breastfeeding for 6 straight months or more.
We all have our own circumstances and needs. Stop judging based on your own personal experiences.
If you can't offer helpful advice, why bother making someone feel like crap???
3 Votes
I haven't tried it but would say that if you have already decided to stop breastfeeding, to do so very gradually so that you don't end up with mastitis. Drop only one feeding every three or four days, and make sure that it's at the same time each day. Hard to do if you're breastfeeding based on hunger cues, unless you have one of those babies who always gets hungry at the same times. Probably easier just to breastfeed unless you are going back to work, in which case you will have to pump to provide your babies milk, and allow someone else to feed your baby. Some moms I have known haven't weaned to formula, but instead to solid foods (starting after six months) and regular cow's milk (although usually you don't want to introduce cow's milk until one year).
3 Votes
my baby boy, who is currently 9months & still breastfed, eating solids & has formula occasionally ;oP originally was not impressed but still satisfied when i first expressed into a bottle but when i tried him on a formula bottle he refused and then stubbornly refused the bottle with or without breastmilk, i found that if i mixed a few scoops of formula in with his powdered porridge (as he loves anything off a spoon) he eventually gained a liking for the formula taste, i tried him on a bottle again and he still didn't like it (he's never even taken to a dummy so i put it down to the texture that he hates) i started making him his formula and putting it into a slow release sipper cup, he loves it so it's a win win situation now, he's all sipper cup and straws ;o)
3 Votes
Just curious on why you want to switch?
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Kris - commented on Oct 10, 2011
Yes, Why would you want to switch should be addressed first :)
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Sarah - commented on Jan 5, 2012
please shut up
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Christina - commented on Jan 5, 2012
why should she need a reason? Maybe shes tired of it...every breast feeding experience is not the same for every woman. I am on my 2nd child and I personaly am exhausted of it.I switched my 1st daughter at 10 months straight to regular milk. one feeding at a time. took me 3 weeks.
3 Votes
You can also try mixing half formula and half breast milk and slowly decreases milk over a couple of bottles.
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Jay - commented on Sep 13, 2011
My baby wont take a bottle at all! :( x
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Britany - commented on Sep 29, 2011
Nither would mine I had to try every bottle on the market...There are ones that are just like breasts at toys are us..they do wonders a lil expensive but just buy one its worth it. My son would only take the Playtex drop in ones because the nipple was large.
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Adriana - commented on Sep 30, 2011
My baby only accepted bottles when I started to give him fruit juices and water by the time he was 4-5 months. He is 10 months now, and he is being breastfed and won't take formula, nor cow milk nor soy milk... I will soon wean him off, but don't know yet how...
2 Votes
It really depends on the baby. My son refused a bottle with anything in it (breast milk or formula) at 9 months. He would take a cup with water, but not milk or formula (his choice), during the day while I was at work and then breastfeed in the evenings and at night. My 8 week old daughter will eat anything you put in front of her. The only "practice" bottles she's had (since I haven't gone back to work yet) have formula in them and I breastfeed her. I will have to supplement her some, because I won't be able to pump enough for her while I'm at work. I'm a nurse and it's physically impossible to get away from my patients enough times to pump. Her "practice" bottles have been formula because I didn't want to use my stored breast milk and I want her to get used to the formula taste. I'm trying to stockpile, however its extremely hard. My body makes just enough for her and not much extra. Some moms are able to gradually make the formula switch, others are forced cold turkey. It really doesn't matter how it happens as long as the baby is okay with it. There's no right or wrong answer. Good luck!
2 Votes
I'm also wondering why the switch?
The health benefits of breastmilk over any substitute for both your baby and you are so extensive that it would be worth considering staying with it if you can. I also fed right through a subsequent pregnancy, and now have a thriving 6 week old son and my 3 year old daughter is pretty much self weaned.
Formula commonly leads to gut problems like constipation, messy smelly poo, and a compromised immune system so you baby is likely to get sick more often and more seriously. These as well as the long term health benefits of breastfeeding to at least one and preferably two years old, are pretty compelling in my book!
Babies prefer breastmilk for good reasons :-)
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Sarah - commented on Jan 5, 2012
well, arent you PERFECT.
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Brittany - commented on Jan 5, 2012
i'd say she is and her breast fed babies too! ;)
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Carol - commented on Jan 6, 2012
hahaa Sarah I am cracking up reading your comments because I am thinking exactly what you are saying. I just stopped breastfeeding this week. My daughter has an extremely big appetite and not to mention fussy and frankly I could not keep up. She is almost four months old. I am proud that I did it that long and I now I need to move on! We are all good mothers!!!
1 Vote
I had to transition my son at 8 months because I wasn't pumping enough to feed him and I was going back to college.
What I did was change 1 feeding every 4-7 days (depending on how well it was going) by replacing the breastfeeding with a fomula feeding. The transition took just over a month, and he never noticed a thing!!
Some moms pump their milk and use just a bottle first so the baby doesnt notice the breast-bottle transition when they switch the fluid from breastmilk to formula. But i didnt have to do that, my son would drink anything LOL All I did was make sure he wasn't falling asleep nursing OR on the bottle because these are very bad habbits that a child will develop if you let them. Because he was always awake for feedings (at the start and finish) He wasn't so much "comforted" by breastfeeding as much as he just wanted fluid :P So he was happy to take it in a bottle and never noticed the switch to formula. His stomache handled the transition well with only a few spit ups and now he's doing amazing at 9 months & 1 week old, he's on formula and never noticed a thing :)
0 Votes
easy peasy - I just mix fed for a while with breast and bottle then gradually reduced the amount of breast feeding and she hardly even noticed :) plus by reducing like that you don't get sore boobs - because you can still breast feed or express milk when they get too full - and they start producing less if your using less..choosing a good formula is the hard part :) I'm using nurturecare gold digesti plus - its got prebiotics and probiotics for good healthy digestion and it's the only one so far I have found that has omegas in it for brain development - the other ones made her constipated or reflux..
0 Votes
Main thing that helped me ween to formula: Patience. I am 100% all about breastfeeding and wasn't entirely sure either what to do. I would say, try to give formula at night. When they are hungry and tired, it wont really matter. I never used half n half cuz I couldn't pump. My breasts just didnt like it I g uess lol. So I gave her a bottle at night, in time I added a tsp pablum to help her tummy fill up to sleep harder. Just gradually do it :) Youll both do great. Just know you both CAN do it, and be patient. And itll work :) BE CONSISTENT :D
0 Votes
Ok ladies, found this web site by browsing for my answers... My baby girl just turned 1 year few days ago, last 2 days she DOESN't eat at all! Only thing she is willing to eat is few crackers and gerber juice! My pediatritian is on my back, makes me feel like the worst mom because she is only 18 lbs... I was exclusively BF until 6 months, then introduces solids while still BF. Here I am today decided to switch to formula and she refused it! I don't know what to do, Im worried she is hungry, I coocked her puding, sup, cream of wheat, served light tuna, banana (she normally loves)... all refused without even trying! Vanila wafers, crackers and juice can't be enough! Feel like im doing something wrong. Im first time mom, have no experience. Will appreciate any advice from pro-moms like you ;-) And what about the formula? Just keep trying until she accept it? Thank you!
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Rebekah - commented on Jan 16, 2013
have you tried eating in-front of her and make out like it's the best thing in the world and she will get curious and start wanting what you have - natural human behavior :) Might work - give it a shot.. Don't feel like a bad mum I know loads of people that have had the same problem - very frustrating... but try and make meal time really exciting for her and she will get excited about food?
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Basma - commented on Feb 10, 2013
Maybe she wants to be independent .. Eating by herself .. Give her a spoon with a plate of some her food to try to eat it .. Dot give her a full plate or she will play with it .. It will be messy at the beginning.. But some if the food will end up in her mouth .. If this is the case .. Independence .. Be patient and she will eat better
0 Votes
I would start by pumping breastmilk and fortifying it with a little bit of formula then gradually increase the ratio every week until they are drinking all formula. Most strictly breastfed babies will refuse straight formula at first because it isn't as sweet as breastmilk.
0 Votes
If you need to make the switch, I would suggest getting a bottle with a slow-flow nipple similar to the sucking she'd be doing on the breast, and if you can, pump you milk and add a bit of the formula, then gradually reduce the BM amount and increase the formula. It'll cut down on wind/colic, get bubs used to the formula bit by bit. And it should decrease your chances of REALLY sore/hard breasts and mastitis! Best of luck!
0 Votes
I had no choice but to change my daughter over to formula. I had frozen breast milk that I would give her and slowly add formula until she was comfortable taking only formula. It did take some time though because she had a sensative stomach so we went through 4 different formulas until we found one she liked. I did waste a lot of breast milk doing this but I felt it was the best for my daughter.
0 Votes
I am trying at the moment! It is not going well at all! I offered my six month old a bottle of formula 2 weeks ago and he refused, screamed and spat!... He then refused food from a spoon for 10 days after and now will only take food from his dad while he is eating! And he wont take a bottle of breast milk either now, so I cant leave him now at all!
But I am still thinking of Breastfeeding to 12 months, and weighing up the fact that we want to start trying for another baby before then and I think I still want to introduce some formula so I can leave him for a night......
-4 Votes
i switched my son to so good strawberry soy at 8 mths. we got a rectangular nuby cup with slits instead of a bottle (would not take a bottle) and he was offered it after he had nursed, or at supper or when i was unable to be with him. it was a life saver. it offers alot more vitamins than cows milk and has only 2% more sugar, a small price to pay for a life change. he is now 14 mths and although he still bf at night and during the day at home he is quite capable of keeping himself hydrated while mommy is away. He actually perfers the strawberry soy (so good is the best tasting) over the cows milk.(he threw it across the room and yelled at me).. if baby is younger and you must use formula try using it in the cup i suggested, they are only $6 at walmart.
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Brittany - commented on Dec 30, 2011
#1 why are you giving a 8 month old something other than breastmilk or formula? #2soy milk is not the best choice for boys. #3 who would choose anything else after being given flavord milk? in my opinion this is horrible advice.
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Erin - commented on Jan 7, 2012
Wow is all I can say!!!! These negative comments are just plain rude!!!! I'm big on breast feeding but bigger on moms being supportive and sensitive to other moms!!! We can all learn something from each other if everyone isn't thinking of themselves ( aka Brittany) and being total b*tch faces( b again)!!!! Do what you feel is right for your baby!! You're his/ her mother and god gave you that baby and wouldn't have if you didn't know what's best!! I have 4 kids and they were all different and needed totally different things. The best advice I would give is to follow your heart :)
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Leonie - commented on Feb 4, 2012
totally agree with you erin, each to their own as for some of the above statements... very offended... i'm surprised admin lets this crap go on, this person asked for advice/other peoples tactics not opinions on what you all think she should or shouldn't do... havn't got anything nice to say don't say it at all...
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