https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:44:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2040888 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:38:39 +0000 gingerbebe 2040888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: No he just resisted for some random reason. He gets mostly pumped BM and one bottle of formula a day and he just stopped taking any bottles unless we forced him. He would nurse for some reason but he's a poor nurser so he can't get full that way so I let him get nice and relaxed and then would Pop the bottle in and he would suck for a while and then realiZe it was the bottle and he'd fight again and then we would repeat. One thing I noticed is that when either me or DH would get frustrated or anxious the feeding would be way worse. My mom could get him to eat easier because she smiled and laughed and was just relaxed about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2040867 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:24:35 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2040867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope it's true that a baby won't starve themselves because she's been watching so very little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2040435 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:19:50 +0000 LuLu Mom 2040435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with ready-made and then transitioned to powder because of the cost savings. I had to mix 1/2 and 1/2 to get her used to it, and then eventually she took it. Honestly, a baby won't starve themselves, so it may scare you to skip a feeding but baby will eat when they are hungry enough, Lo is just being stubborn, I would just keep offering her it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2040429 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:14:38 +0000 QBbride 2040429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: I've heard that the powder can be kind of gritty so it might be a texture thing. Maybe mix it with the RTF to ease the transition? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2040421 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:10:41 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2040421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: did your soon go through the bottle strike when you introduced powder formula? I tried to give her a dream feed last night and she just cried and wouldn't take it. This is rough. Please tell me she'll eventually take it and I shouldn't worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039988 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 01:46:18 +0000 gingerbebe 2039988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son went through a bottle strike for the better part of a month. So I'm not sure if switching to powder is the issue or if it's coincidence. We basically force fed him or started him on the breast, which he would take for comfort and then PPP the bottle in after a few minutes. I have no idea why - it just resolved after a few weeks even though we didn't change a thing. Dreamfeeding may be your best bet until you get through this phase. Also DS likes his formula pretty warm while the BM bottles he'll take at any temp other than ice cold. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039971 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:46:11 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2039971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: yes, I tried mixing with best milk and she still didn't like it. I think I may have started with too much formula, but I don't have enough breast milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039896 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:07:23 +0000 MsMini 2039896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried mixing a small amount of formula in your EBM bottles? Then slowly increase the proportion of formula in each bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039823 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 20:56:58 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2039823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's the end of the day and she has had only 12 oz today. I tried giving her 1 oz powder with 4 oz ready feed, only ready feed and she has rejected them all. My supply was fine, but recently it's been going down and I can't pump enough to send to daycare, which she starts tomorrow. I actually have an SNS system, but she won't use it either. I'm trying not to worry, but it's hard when you can't feed your baby.</p> <p>People say babies will eat when they are hungry enough, so I'm hoping that she'll realize there isn't a choice, and start taking the formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039789 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 20:36:34 +0000 littlejoy 2039789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the immediate issue: do you have any access to supplies to make a homemade SNS system? You can put baby to your breast to nurse, and you slip a little tube next to your nipple. Baby will be sucking, and draw the milk from the bottle. I used one at the beginning of supplementing. </p> <p>A quick Google search brought this up: <a href="https://fruitfultree.wordpress.com/homemade-supplemental-nursing-system/" rel="nofollow">https://fruitfultree.wordpress.com/homemade-supplemental-nursing-system/</a></p> <p>As far as supply, do you have chronic low supply (a medical condition keeping you from making more milk)? If it's just low supply due to environmental factors (like your cycle, being sick, etc.), could you try some herbs or lactation teas? Pump, pump, pump?</p> <p>I usually mixed breastmilk &amp; formula. I had an extremely low supply due to genetic factors (so herbs, etc. don't work for me), but I had some donor milk to use every now and then, and we'd mix.</p> <p>What brand of formula are you using? We use Baby's Only Organic, and it's sweetened with brown rice syrup ... My babe has never turned it down, but did turn down an Enfamil bottle we made her on the road one day. So maybe the different brands can make a difference. </p> <p>I'd look out for signs of lethargy. Count pee diapers. If it's way lower than normal, I think babe would need to see a doc. If she's normal, I'd try what other's have recommended, and hopefully she'll get a taste for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039583 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:30:32 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2039583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: she took about 3 oz forced to her 3 hrs ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039567 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:00:30 +0000 spaniellove 2039567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: How long has it been since she last took a bottle or feeding? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039563 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:58:08 +0000 spaniellove 2039563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've switched between Alimentum RTF and powder and you'd think they would be identical but the ingredients are actually different, plus the finished product has a totally different texture. The powder has corn while RTF doesn't. When we committed to switching back to powder, we had to do a very gradual transition, 1 oz of powder to 5 oz RTF then 2 oz/4 oz the next day and so on. </p> <p>@chibee: None of it is covered for us! Stupid PA-based plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039535 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 14:56:29 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2039535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried just giving her ready feed, and she rejected that also. I don't have enough breast milk, and she's only eaten 6 oz today. Any ideas on what to do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039504 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:58:38 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2039504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree wth switching slowly. They definitely taste (and smell!) different but I think the powder is actually milder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039436 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 11:23:15 +0000 erwoo 2039436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try slowly mixing it into your breast milk or ready to feed. Do a 75% BM/RTF to 25% powdered for a couple of days, then 50-50, then 25-75. It helps them slowly get used to the new taste. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039299 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 03:03:08 +0000 Bubbles 2039299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have tried a tiny taste of both kinds, and the powder does taste a bit more unpleasant! What I did when switching DS from breastmilk to formula and then formula to WCM was to mix them gradually, one extra oz of formula vs BM per day. He never noticed the difference doing it like this :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039294 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:18:46 +0000 nana87 2039294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a different experience--Lo hasn't had any problems switching back and forth between breastmilk, powder, and ready to feed . We use all 3 pretty regularly </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039288 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 01:12:25 +0000 Kimberlybee 2039288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD would not take the powder form so we bought our Similac ready feed from SAMs club. We also signed up for coupons and would get them in the mail from Similac. I also tried to get it from Target anytime there was a sale. My niece took the powder form just fine though, she loved it and would drink it up fast! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039283 Sun, 25 Jan 2015 00:37:24 +0000 chibee 2039283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went from bf supplemented by powder (good start gentle) to alimentum ready to feed. He didn't have problems with the powder but sucked the ready to feed alimentum down! However the alimentum ready to feed is extremely expensive and if it wasn't covered by insurance for us we would have been fine with powder. I found powder formula to be thinner than the ready to feed. When he was on the gerber powder, I gave him its ready to feed counterpart every once in a while and I did notice he ate that faster. Maybe babies just prefer the consistency of ready to feed more sometimes?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039180 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:16:03 +0000 BabyPenguinXO 2039180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't comment from experience but I've always read and heard to mix them as you transition... The sudden changes can throw off their digestive system and cause an upset tummy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039179 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:15:58 +0000 Anagram 2039179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: Maybe she needs a slower transition to powder? Try mixing 3 oz ready-to-feed with 1 oz powder for a couple of days, then half and half, then 3 oz powder and 1 oz ready-to-feed, etc? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039178 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:14:05 +0000 Charm54 2039178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started out with good start ready feed and I EPed. The ready feed got super expensive, so I tried good start powder. It was a complete failure - she got major gas from it every time we tried. </p> <p>So we switched to the Good Start liquid concentrate and it was a complete lifesaver - looks just like the ready feed , but cheaper - you mix 1/2 liquid formula and 1/2 water.</p> <p>It's about $10 more expensive than the powder per week, but it was easier on her tummy so worth it. I don't know if she didn't tolerate the powder because we were always switching between pumped milk and formula, depending on what I had available ? She did fine going between the two liquid forms </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039174 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:05:56 +0000 cookiemomster 2039174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried donor milk for a week when DD was 5 weeks or so. She was already used to the taste of formula, and wanted nothing to do with breast milk so we gave up fairly quickly. She never had an issue switching between ready feed and powder, but we recently tried using a gentle tummy version as it was all that was available and she wouldn't take it. </p> <p>Not sure if that's helpful or makes sense- mostly i just know at least our baby can tell the difference between different kinds of food and she is selective about it. Also crazy selective about temperature- she only drinks it if it's cold. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039169 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:01:40 +0000 blackbird 2039169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ready feed is very expensive, so we did the powder kind. The nurses said it tastes different but E never cared much. She'll eventually take it, maybe you'll have to mix it or something </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-milk-v-ready-feed-v-powder-formula#post-2039167 Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:59:47 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2039167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 4 month old is primarily fed breast milk, and supplemented by ready feed formula once in a while. She took the ready feed formula just fine, and today we tried the powder formula since I'm not making as much milk. She took one little drop of the powder stuff, and would not take it. I tried to give her a new bottle with the ready feed, and she still wouldnt take it (probably thinking it was still the same thing?)! So now, she's skipped a feeding.</p> <p>When you transitioned from breast milk to formula, did your LOs have any trouble? Is there a huge taste difference between the ready feed v. powder? We use the Gerber Good Start ready feed, and today I tried the Gerber Good Start Supplementing in powder form. I'm worried that she suddenly will not take formula. Has this ever happened to anyone? Did your LO take one brand of formula, but not another? </p>