https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 14:54:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2300276 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:11:44 +0000 PrincessBaby 2300276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much for sharing similar experiences! It's nice to know that some babies just prefer a bottle and it is what it is! I had also considered trying to just BF in the am and the pm and no pumping, but this morning I could tell that my supply is already dwindling and it wasn't enough to make her happy and she was screaming within a few minutes. So I'm going to see how in pain I am by the end of the day and that may have actually been our last nursing session! </p> <p>I am a little sad, but also agree with a lot of others that it is very freeing to know that I don't have to gather up all of my pump stuff this morning, and I don't have to plan anything around her nursing schedule this weekend bc we can feed on the go with formula in the diaper bag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299837 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 18:57:33 +0000 winniebee 2299837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped pumping for my first at 4 months. He preferred a bottle, had reflux and a dairy intolerance and it was the best decision I could have made. You have to choose what's best for your family! Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299743 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 17:14:32 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2299743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ds 1 basically started to refuse to nurse around 4mo so I exclusively pumped until 6mo and by that point was pumping 10ish times a day/night and I couldn't handle it so we started formula feeding .. best decision I ever made<br /> now with ds2 he refused to nurse this weekend so I pumped.. I definitely know I can't pump exclusively for him because it's just not fair to my 4 year old to have to pump all the time so we'll see </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299697 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:01:58 +0000 Torchwood 2299697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I may have to. She's been bottle fed from the beginning, because of being a preemie, and she gets very frustrated at the breast. We're doing a lot to combat it, because I desperately want to nurse, but we'll see. I can share what the LC has us doing if you're interested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299695 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:00:05 +0000 beloved 2299695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Me ! Around 5 months LO stopped wanting to nurse. I pumped his bottles but I work a desk job and have an office with a door so pumping wasn't much trouble for me. It sounds like you are making the right decision for y'all's situation ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299644 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:24:28 +0000 rachiecakes 2299644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally understand. I went back to work at 7 weeks and the only time LO really enjoyed nursing was at night. The work weeks were easy because I was pumping and nursing only at night. That summer I spent many weekends inside the beach house all day because I was so worried about him breastfeeding, he'd fuss constantly.<br /> By 11 months he had zero interest, would turn his head and refuse. We were done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299633 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:16:00 +0000 beckysue 2299633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a very similar issue when I went back to work 3 month PP. The first day when I went to pick my daughter up after work she refused to nurse even though I knew she was hungry. It was so very stressful after having just finished my first day back at work (she was so stubborn after an hour of screaming I caved and gave her a bottle which she gladly took). I kept offering to nurse her for two weeks but she would only nurse in the middle of the night or very early morning before she was fully awake. I know it sounds ridiculous but I continuously felt rejected by my daughter. At that point I started exclusively pumping more for my own emotional well being than for any other reason. Trying to find time to pump (at home and at work), feed my LO and clean pump parts made me feel like I was not getting any quality time with my daughter. I switched exclusively to formula at 5 months and it was the best decision I ever made. </p> <p>At first I was very sad that BF didn't work longer for my daughter and I but I will also add that the quality of the time I spent with my daughter was so dramatically improved once I switched her to formula I never regretted my decision.</p> <p>So, having been there myself, I say do what is best for you and your daughter. You have done a great job! Be proud of how far you have made it :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299590 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:54:11 +0000 ShootingStar 2299590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Choosing to formula feed isn't the end of the world. I stopped BF-ing around 7 months. It was really tough for me to pump at work because I was either too busy or people kept trampling over the time I put aside on my calendar with other meetings. My supply started going down from not enough pumping, and then I got really sick and had a horrible sinus infection. The only way for me to get any relief was by using a decongestant, and that totally decimated my supply. </p> <p>It was kind of sad to give up, but it was also really freeing. Parenting is stressful and hard and being able to stop all the hassle of pumping and pump bottles and parts was amazing. It was also so easy to never have to worry about feeding in public. We mostly fed powder, but for on the go I put some ready to feed in the diaper bag and it was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299581 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:48:16 +0000 Foodnerd81 2299581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your sanity is more important than your breastmilk. And I know you solo parent a lot and that is no joke. </p> <p>If she likes the morning session still, would you be interested in keeping only that one for a little longer? Not saying that you should, just if its something that would be good for both of you, it could be an option? </p> <p>Pumping is a pain under the best of circumstances. And you are not under the best circumstances! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299539 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:27:08 +0000 snowjewelz 2299539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD had a nursing strike too. She first had a bottle strike when I went back to work, and then when she got used to the bottle she hated the boob too! I just kept offering and offering (and during that period of a few weeks pumped at home too). Eventually she got over it. </p> <p>I do agree w/ pp that do what gives you sanity! I never had great supply, started supplementing around 6.5-7 mo, and now will prob completely wean by 10 months and while I feel like I could have done more to keep it going, I also would like to have my sanity! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299529 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:19:41 +0000 Mrs D 2299529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: I went through this. When I returned to work fulltime (at 4 mos) DD would scream and scream when I tried to nurse her when I got home from work at 5:30/6pm-ish. It was so sad that my few hours a night with her were so stressful. On the recommendation of a friend I tried a bottle for that feeding and she was peaceful and glorious. She kept her nursing sessions before bed and in the morning for another month after that - but then those became stressful for her. During that month I pumped a ton...when she transitioned to exclusively bottles my demanding work schedule did not allow for me to produce enough to meet her needs so we supplemented. She then began refusing breast milk entirely...so I stopped pumping instantly. Gave her what I could mixed 50/50 with formula.</p> <p>I went in to BFing with the mindset that "as long as it works I am committed" knowing I didnt want it to becoming un-enjoyable or a chore. I was completely at peace with stopping because nursing was stressing her, BM was obviously not her fave and pumping was stressing me. It was a win win for her and I which is what matters most! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299522 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:15:12 +0000 PrincessBaby 2299522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2littlepumpkins: thank you for commiserating:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299494 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:08:13 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2299494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't in this position but I think you've thought it through and you have to do what you have to do! It sounds like she definitely has a preference for the bottle and as someone totally inexperienced in bf'ing (I basically pumped then ff'd my first, #2 isn't here yet) it sounds like barring you becoming a sahm and doing this with all your time, it's not likely to change. Sorry it wasn't as long as you hoped, but 5.5 months is still pretty good in my book! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-stopped-bfing-bc-their-lo-preferred-a-bottle#post-2299485 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:05:21 +0000 PrincessBaby 2299485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Lo has been taking bottles from a nanny since I returned to work mid-July... I am in sales and therefore drive around all day and had been pumping usually 3x a day in my car. It's very stressful always doing it crammed in my car and I have never gotten great quantities pumping. I usually only pump 2.5-3 oz per 20 min session. LO is 5 mos and takes 5-6 oz bottles 3 times a day so I'm only pumping half her intake in the first place.</p> <p>Recently, she has become SO IMPATIENT with nursing and screams her face off bc it's not coming out fast enough, or maybe as forcefully as she wants. It's very stressful that I can't make her nurse, even when I feel super full and I know there's a decent milk supply in there. The only time she nurses well is very early in the morning when I'm super engorged. The rest of the time, she screams for a bottle.</p> <p>I feel like BFing is too much work with all the pumping just for my Lo to prefer the bottle, and I have decided to wean her. I guess it would be different if I pumped the amount she ate, but we're supplementing anyway. I briefly entertained EPing, but I have a 2.5 yr old also and I solo parent a lot, and it's not fair to my toddler that in the couple of hours I have with them each night, to spend extra time pumping on top of all the attention the baby requires.</p> <p>I am 95% sure I'm doing the right thing for everyone, but still a little sad that it's over so early. I hadn't expected this.</p> <p>I guess I'm just looking for commiseration! And wondering if anyone else had a LO that basically made the decision for them to wean? </p>