https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 22:34:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510238 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:59:33 +0000 Happygal 2510238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with all the others here about going for an alternative to formula. I tried giving it to my daughter around this time b/c my supply had taken a hit due to pregnancy, and she made an awful face. We started with a ratio of WCM and breastmilk that I was still able to pump and/or use what I had frozen. </p> <p>She did seem to have tummy upset at first, so I switched her to a lactose free milk. She loves it! I've tasted it myself and think it's a bit sweeter for some reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510207 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:35:33 +0000 Anagram 2510207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: oh and also, when I've had stomach bugs, it takes a full week or two until my supply bounces back. So it will probably will come up some. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510178 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:18:18 +0000 mfa_lady 2510178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to echo what lots of others have said:</p> <p>1) You are awesome! 11 months is a huge feat and you should be very proud! I understand your disappointment, but you ROCKED IT. </p> <p>2) I'd go with WCM instead of formula! If the straight dairy makes you nervous, replace some other dairy snack (yogurt, cheese, etc) with fruits and veggies while you're making the switch. </p> <p>You guys got this. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510170 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:13:20 +0000 snowjewelz 2510170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to start supplementing by 7 months and went full formula after 9 months. She was totally fine! I was really sad, and totally had guilt that I couldn't EBF till 1 year, but you got SO close and you did such a great job!! And since you're so close to 1 year if formula is a no good you can certainly move onto WCM! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510135 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:34:07 +0000 JenGirl 2510135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs. You've done an awesome job. I had norovirus a month ago and it is no joke. Totally understandable to lose some supply after an ordeal like that. I agree with PP to think about wcm, especially for that small of an amount at that age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510132 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:32:07 +0000 Pollywog 2510132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's nothing wrong with formula, but I'd do goat or wcm at that age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510118 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:24:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2510118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Big hugs! We did formula for our kids after a year when my supply started going down. They make a toddler formula that you could try if you dont want to immediately switch to WCM. We supplemented with that after a year but still nursed for a few more months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510110 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:17:41 +0000 Pirouette 2510110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried to introduce formula at 10.5 months and my daughter would not touch it. So we moved to wcm during the day, i stopped pumping, and i managed to nurse her on demand until 17 months with no problem whatsoever. Good luck to you and know that whatever happens, you've had an awesomerun with nursing and should be very proud of yourself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510107 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:12:48 +0000 FaithFertility 2510107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started DD on formula at 7 months for her sitters, I just couldn't see pumping as a teacher at my job and not being stressed!</p> <p>She took it just fine, but didn't take bottles so it was given I a sippy and we found out she liked a straw cup better!</p> <p>11 months is awesome!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510100 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:09:49 +0000 lilyofthewest 2510100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:heart: to you all! I'll check in with the ped just to ease my nerves, but, I think y'all are right about formula vs milk. Especially since at my present output the cow milk would be 10-14oz total intake per week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510030 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 02:42:05 +0000 SweetiePie 2510030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Be proud of how far you got! I only made it 1 month so I am impressed with anyon that makes it past that :silly:<br /> And I too would ask my ped about just using WCM instead of formula. You transition to it at a year anyway so it could be harder than necessary to introduce formula then milk all within a month or two.<br /> Hold your head high, mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510019 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 00:34:02 +0000 erinpye 2510019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 11 months I'd just use cows milk. Don't be hard on yourself, you've done a really great job getting so far :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2510008 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 23:02:43 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2510008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Be proud, you've done great!<br /> I say this as a full time two time ff'ing mama who 1) wasn't able to make it work, and then 2) had health issues. I'd love to have made it that long, but I also understand not being able to continue when you really wanted to. I don't think you necessarily have to go to formula, right? I'd check with the pediatrician. But I wouldn't go for the WCM just to say I didn't order formula either. I hope you still get to nurse for as long as you want, even if it's not 100%! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509987 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:58:43 +0000 Miss Ariel 2509987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At dd's 9 month visit the dr suggested adding wcm to her bottles so she got used to the taste. By 11 months my supply was done too, but she was eating less from her bottles and eating more food. Also at that point her bottles were like 50/50 bm and wcm.</p> <p>Since you ordered formula already if you want to use it then do. But it is possible to instead start the transition to wcm at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509975 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:39:45 +0000 Truth Bombs 2509975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the recommendation to just supplement with WCM instead of formula. Seriously, you should be so proud of making it this far!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509971 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:27:21 +0000 youboots 2509971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started T on a little WCM at 10.5 mo with the blessing of my ped. In Canada the recommendation is 9 mo or more. Not saying anything really- my supply was getting low and it was time for us to get her accustomed to a change.</p> <p>Great job making it so far Mama!</p> <p>ETA she was weaned at 12.5 months, mostly her choice and we are all doing well with the change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509969 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:16:09 +0000 Anagram 2509969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: I would totally just supplement with wcm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509968 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:15:33 +0000 PawPrints 2509968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That really sucks and I'm sorry, but huge huge congratulations on making it so far breastfeeding! That is a tremendous accomplishment and you should feel amazing about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509966 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:12:00 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2509966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: agreed, in retrospect I wish I'd saved the money on formula and switched straight to WCM - in Australia they firmly recommend starting at 12 months and my husband wasn't on board with starting earlier, so we went with formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509964 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:09:48 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2509964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed my first to fifteen months. My second weaned at 9.5 months when my supply dried up. She refused formula so we ended up full steam ahead with solids and started WCM early. In Canada they recommend WCM from nine months.<br /> It might be easier to just move to cows milk a month early rather than switching from bm to formula to wcm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509963 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:09:28 +0000 lilyofthewest 2509963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ScarletBegonia: I'll take silver linings! I've been trying to give myself the pep talk that this doesn't mean ending nursing, but, it might mean the end of pumping on the drive in to work and staying up to pump at night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509960 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:05:58 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2509960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented 1 bottle a day from about 8 months but at 11 months switched to full time formula (for about 3 weeks, then switched to whole cows milk)....this isn't the commiseration you were looking for but I was SO happy. I let go of my expectation to make it to a year, and enjoyed fitting into my old bras, letting my boobs be involved in sex again (always too weirded out while nursing), and getting my body fully back. I also lost 10 pounds in a matter of weeks! So for me it was great. </p> <p>I would say, be sad for a while if that is what you are feeling, but try and focus on the freedom that nursing less will give you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-formula-supplementation-at-11mos#post-2509957 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:01:58 +0000 lilyofthewest 2509957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Feeling bummed. LO is 3 days shy of 11mos and I've just ordered formula for the first time.</p> <p>Our whole household had norovirus 2 weeks ago. Aside from all of the other things that are miserable about norovirus, not being able to eat or drink for 3 days is, apparently, rather bad for one's milk supply.</p> <p>I've been doing all the things I should (frequency, fluids, fats, fennel, fenugreek) but I've still been running a deficit ever since the norovirus weekend.</p> <p>And now the freezer is almost empty. So frustrating to get so close to a year and know I'm not going to make it.</p> <p>I'll take sympathy/commiseration/tips/whatever you've got! </p>