How do I switch my baby from breast milk to formula?

Tracy And Luis - posted on 07/08/2010

I used to mix the breast milk and formula to transition my daughter. I started off with 3/4 breast milk and 1/4 formula then went to 1/2 and 1/2, then 1/4 breast milk ans 3/4 formula, then to all formula. This worked really well for us and I found that she had less tummy trouble because of it, too.

Heather - posted on 07/02/2010

Start mixing them together. I works wonders..

Kristi - posted on 07/02/2010

Mix your breast milk and the formula at first. Im not sure how much she is eating right now. But, start off using 90% breast milk, 10% formula. And every 3 or 4 days up the formula percentage. Babies are used to the sweet taste of breast milk, and formula does taste like crap. So mixing the two for a little bit will help her out. Good Luck!

Heather - posted on 07/02/2010

My daughter gagged and vomited whenever I tried formula at first, too. I finally had to progressively mix it w/pumped breastmilk. I started with mixtures of 6 oz breastmilk to 2 oz formula, then when she was solid w/that, 4 oz of each, then 6 oz formula and 2 oz breastmilk until finally I can do 8 oz of formula. I also mix in 1/4 tsp of light karo syrup per 2 oz of formula, on the recommendation of my daughter's pediatrician. That makes it a little sweeter like breastmilk. She only took about 2-3 weeks to transition to "straight up" formula and still does nurse some, as well.

Ogheneruemu - posted on 07/02/2010

Am actually facing same ordeal. my daughter is almost 9mnts and she likes breast milk more than anything. She eats when am not around her but when she sees me, she wont take take formula. I talked to some mothers and they advised i wait till when she is one but am planning on stopping her when she is 9.
My advise here is that, when you prepare the formula, give it to some one else to feed her and make sure you are not around her and see if she would take it.

Priscilla - posted on 07/01/2010

Maybe its the teat on the bottle she doesn't like. Try her on a teat that is more like the natural shape of the nipple when she feeds. They tend to be round on the top and flat on the bottom if you are able. Then try to feed her breast milk from the bottle every now and then so she gets use to the bottle, then throw in a formula bottle every so often. Are you still holding her as close when you are giving her a bottle? maybe she misses the closeness if your not. Or it could simply be she hates the taste of the formula. Try looking a round for a formula that tries to imitate mothers milk, they are out there. Most of all don't stress, she will get there eventually, and remember that with all the advice people may give you, you know yourself and your child best so you will work out what is best for both of you.

Tanya - posted on 07/01/2010

Try getting her used to the bottle more first by expressing your milk. Then don't be afraid to try different formulas. The only formula my son would accept in the end was heinz and it had to be in a nuk bottle and teat or avent! As a last resort try persevering for a whole day without breastmilk until she eventually drinks it, it is a hard last resort and requires a lot of patience but it might be your only option in the end.

Christina - posted on 07/01/2010

it could be the nipple flow. it may be too fast for her. you could try that. there is a formula that imitates breastmilk. if you havent tried that it may help.

Brenda - posted on 07/01/2010

I didn't produce enough breastmilk, so each feeding I had to nurse her than finish with a bottle of formula. So, maybe cut a feeding short and give her 2 oz of formula and gradually increase. Also, give her extra cuddles and love-- it may not be the milk but the closeness. Are you weaning her?

You might also try having someone else feed her and you leave (watch a movie, workout, something for YOU)