I have a 4 month old baby boy whom i am breast feeding , he use to take a bottle also but now refuses how do i go about putting him on formula when im ready not sure how to start?

Suzie - posted on 03/25/2009

Thankyou everyone for all your helpfull advise , from what everyone has been saying i have decided i am going to express a large supply of breast milk and try each day to give him a bottle maybe in a different place and try to be with someone else giving it to him and (Now i know he will be ok when he doesnt feed for an hour because he will eat when he is hungry! ) I will also let my husband try, but he can only help at night right before my babies last feed of the day so might not be the right time to try an give the bottle?  Any how i will try all the usefull Ideas everyone has given me and combine then together. I didnt think i could keep breast feeding to get him use to bottles but i am now confident i can :)

Piper - posted on 03/25/2009

Never give honey to a child under one year old--it can contain botulism and their immune systems are not able to fight it.



You can definitely reheat breastmilk--millions of moms pump and freeze breastmilk to be given to their babies by bottle when they're not together.



I didn't have much luck getting my daughter to take a bottle, but I think it's best if you get someone else to give the bottle to your baby when you're not there, as another poster said.



Good luck!

Laurie - posted on 03/25/2009

sorry to hear it. But I feel your pain. My son who is now 7, refused a bottle as well .He acted like he was going to die. Have you tried a little honey on the nipple of the bottle?

Melissa - posted on 03/25/2009

Start by replacing one of his feedings w/ formula.  I would choose one that is in the middle of the day and when he is not starving. Then 2 feeding and so on. Hope this helps, it worked for me.  :)

Sarah - posted on 03/24/2009

I did not breastfeed with my first 2 boys (not because I didn't try, but because we just couldn't seem to figure it out between us!). I DID with my third, and he was far more clingy. I spent whole days doing nothing but sitting on the sofa with him nursing, and then passing out, then nursing, etc. He wasn't getting much sleep, and neither was I. I began offering a bottle at times when I needed an hour break (or when the older boys were really needing my attention for a bit). He wasn't into it at first, but then figured it out. But he would NOT fall asleep except in my arms. I firmly believe a lot of it has to do with the comfort. The bottle is not what he is used to. Its not the same position as nursing. You could try changing the ROUTINE, also. If you usually sit in the same place to nurse, pick a different location for the bottles. And remember that unless there is something wrong with the flow from the bottle, or his ABILITY to latch onto it (not that he doesn't LIKE it), he WILL eat when hungry...

Angela - posted on 03/24/2009

I went through the same thing w/ my son. Finally the teeth came and something had to give. I finally had to go "cold turkey" with the bottle. It took three days of tears(mine) and a very cranky baby, but it worked!! I also switched to a glass bottle and for some reason that made a huge difference.

Nicole - posted on 03/24/2009

I agree that you need some time from all the breastfeeding. My sister in law breastfed her first baby but she had colic so she would not take the bottle at all and stayed on her mother night and day!!! She stuck with it for 8 months. a tough road but, she did it!! anyway, im a firm beleiver that breastfeeding is 100% the way to go but, certain circumstances come up and most mommies switch to formula. Breast milk does not dry up all of a sudden. its because you don't drink enough water and milk to keep up your supply. I would suggest that for the next 3 weeks, feed the baby and then pump, at first, you will be lucky to get an ounce but, this will increase your supply. Trust me, i did this and within a month i had a freezer full of milk! This way when you want a break, you thaw out a bottle and let daddy feed the baby while you take 20 minutes to go pump and do whatever else. If you microwave the bottle, it takes some of the nutrients out of the milk, but, its ok. Your right, you can't reheat that bottle but, if you do warm it up under hot running water then you can do it again later.... keep me posted! i breastfed my first for a full year, she ate nothing but mommy milk and my second for 10 months. i started working 7 days a week and i couldn't keep up, so i used goats milk thats the next closest thing to mommys milk and its good for him..... my mom is a nurse and her best friend works in the labor and delivery department and i keep in close contact wtih my mid-wife on all of this and don't get discouraged!! You can do this!!!! you can email me also if you have any questions!! anjl24@hotmail.com!! Good luck dear!!

Emily - posted on 03/24/2009

Quoting Suzie:

well i just need sometimes for him to take a bottle, i would prefer to breast feed so i have tried expressing for the bottle but he refuses then once the breast milk goes cold you cannot heat it up again :( so i run out of milk ! i dont want to stop yet but sometimes need more than four hours alone and so my husband can be more involved , im really asking so i can plan for the future i wanna at least breast feed ntill 6 months because i beleive its the best start for a baby !! Thankyou for your responses to my question

I would suggest waiting til 6 mos if that is the case. Continue pumping for whenever you need a quick break until then because you know he will atleast eat warmed botteld milk.  At six months he may be more open to different flavors including that of formula. Neither of my kids would take a bottle from me (even of breastmilk) but they had no problems taking one from my husband as long as I wasn't around. He will eventually drink it- in most cases- but don't push it so soon if it isn't absolutely necessary.

Kelly - posted on 03/24/2009

I did the same thing at 4 months for the same reason.  My son took to the Playtex nursers as well.  I let my hubby bottlefeed and I would breastfeed.  It is not a bad idea to pump a couple of times and have some breast milk stored for critical moments.  My doctor recommended Enfamil lipil with iron.  I have had no problems and have seen zero changes in my son since starting it.  I use it for one bottle a day and it has worked very well.  Give it a try:)

Tamara - posted on 03/24/2009

Quoting Suzie:

well i just need sometimes for him to take a bottle, i would prefer to breast feed so i have tried expressing for the bottle but he refuses then once the breast milk goes cold you cannot heat it up again :( so i run out of milk ! i dont want to stop yet but sometimes need more than four hours alone and so my husband can be more involved , im really asking so i can plan for the future i wanna at least breast feed ntill 6 months because i beleive its the best start for a baby !! Thankyou for your responses to my question

You can warm a bottle of breastmilk by placing it in a pan of warm (not boiling) water.  So there's no need to switch to formula.  :)  Also, if you want to build a supply, make a pumping date with yourself.  Mornings are usually a good time to do this as your prolactin levels are pretty high in the AM.  Freeze your milk in 2 or 3 ounce portions so you're not wasting any milk.  HTH. :)

Suzie - posted on 03/23/2009

well i just need sometimes for him to take a bottle, i would prefer to breast feed so i have tried expressing for the bottle but he refuses then once the breast milk goes cold you cannot heat it up again :( so i run out of milk ! i dont want to stop yet but sometimes need more than four hours alone and so my husband can be more involved , im really asking so i can plan for the future i wanna at least breast feed ntill 6 months because i beleive its the best start for a baby !! Thankyou for your responses to my question

Sandra - posted on 03/23/2009

I first started by alternating from breastmilk to formula for instance try to give the baby breastmilk for the 1st feeding, then give an ounce to two ounces of formula and keeping alternating it until you decide that no more breastmilk and just continue with formula make sure you find a bottle that almost resembles your nipple so it won't be hard on the baby to distinguish usually the playtex bottles are the closest to natural nipples.

Megan - posted on 03/23/2009

I would love some help with this also, as I am trying to change 1 of my baby boys feeds from breast to formula and he is 4 months as well.

Megan - posted on 03/23/2009

when my son was 31/2 months old i stopped producing milk so we had to switch him to formula fast. because i had no milk left my son was so hungry that he took the bottle even though previously he had refused. switching to formula is easier if you mix it with breastmilk to start. i did 3/4 breast milk ( i had some frozen) with 1/4 formula to start and then gradually decreased the breast milk amount. he didn't even notice the change. best of luck with it, have patience and don't give up he'll take it eventually!!

Tamara - posted on 03/23/2009

Can I ask why you want to put him on formula? Are you getting ready to go back to work? Is it because you think your milk isn't enough? (It is, I promise. :) ) Is your SO wanting to take on some of the feedings?

Janine - posted on 03/23/2009

 In my experience,  the type of teet you use with bottle feeding and also the flow from the teet can be a factor.  I tried different types of teets - (there are ones that resemble the shape of the nipple).  Also try expressing and using breast milk in the bottle more often than offering the breast.  If you are trying to introduce formula.....slowly try converting...one bottle (feed) of formula, the rest of the feeds; bottled breast milk, then two (feeds) of formula....(not necessarily in a row) or you can give a little bit of formula and little bit of breast (half and half) for the one feed....although not in the same bottle..lol.  I have tried all of the above and also had to try a few different types of formula too. As some are heavier on the tummies than others!

Hope this makes sense and is of some use to you.  Good luck!

Nicole - posted on 03/23/2009

Breastfeeding is  a daily job. Its hard but, sooooo rewarding. Is he refusing to take the bottle from you or everyone? Because if its from you, he is getting nipple confusion and knows you will give in. You should save a feeding or four per day that someone else feeds him a bottle and don't give in, if he is hungry he will take it. Try to not be in the room. My son did the same thing. I was determined to feed him from Avent bottles because i was convinced they were the best. but, 10 bottle types later, he liked the playtex nurser bottle, it was soft like mommy. He was a hard one to feed but, he eventually took it, it is just persistance and patience. Babies can also tell when your nervous and fed up, thats when they cry the most. Try to remain calm and if he skips a feeding its ok, because most likley by the next feeding he won't care what is in his mouth as long as its milk. My little girl went from the nipple to the sippy cup. She was over a year though. My sister owns a daycare and has a 2 year old that still takes a bottle at bedtimes. Its all up to you. Good luck and let us know if you need anymore help.

Susi - posted on 03/23/2009

When are you planning on put him on a bottle? If you are ready now you could try feeding him the bottle first then latching him on. You could also try some water with karo syrup in it in between feedings.

Erin - posted on 03/23/2009

I would try a different type of bottle, with a different nipple, if he's refusing the other ones. You can just start with a few ounces at a time, if he seems more hungry, feed him more. He'll stop once he's full (the nice thing about being a baby-- I wish I as an adult, would just stop when I am full.)

Good Luck!

Vanessa - posted on 03/23/2009

Try to give him the bottle when you think he would be hungriest, maybe he will be less picky.

Kimberly - posted on 03/23/2009

It depends on when you are going to start bottle feeding him. If he is old enough you can go straight to a sippy cup.