https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:44:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1881674 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:49:06 +0000 Pirouette 1881674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sparkler: that's awesome! i'm going to have to find some. thanks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1881606 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:07:15 +0000 Sparkler 1881606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: They actually have these little 8 oz packages too, which I found really handy when we were first transitioning too. They don't need to be refrigerated until opened and were nice to have on hand when we weren't at the powder stage. I just got ours at the grocery store, but it looks like this:http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gerber-Good-Start-Gentle-Ready-to-Feed-Infant-Formula-8.45-oz-4ct/19757637 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880810 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 21:04:08 +0000 Pirouette 1880810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sparkler: ah I didn't realize the Gerber came in both formats. I just bought the only one they had in the store. Glad to know she got used to it pretty quickly, hope my lo does the same!</p> <p>@Rockies11: thanks! Guess I'll try the pre mixed and see how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880805 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 20:52:15 +0000 Rockies11 1880805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: yeah someone told me that the pre-mix was more tasty and easier on the belly for primarily bf babies. I also didn't have any transition time due to a late work booking, and so we just nipped into Walmart, bought it, and crossed our fingers. She didn't have loads of it, but she had enough to survive a very long day without her mom! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880793 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 20:42:18 +0000 Sparkler 1880793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we first started I used the gerber good start that was liquid and mixed that was breast milk before we started the powder. My pumping output dipped, so I would just send to daycare whatever I was able to pump the day before along with formula and they did the mixture to get my daughter through the day. I never had a stash due to a lot of social obligations before 6 months that ruses it up and I was never able to rebound from. Anyway, within a week or 2, she got used to it. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880756 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:56:18 +0000 Pirouette 1880756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tidybee: interesting...did the similac stuff have less of a distinct smell? I feel like the powdered stuff smells nasty!</p> <p>@Rockies11: we tried a cup and she took a few sips. But I'm wondering if it's maybe the powdered stuff that's not working for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880639 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 17:28:34 +0000 jetsa 1880639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: ooh, I'll have to find that. That's way way cheaper! He's gotten to the point of refusing all other food, other than yogurt, pouches, &amp; puffs. The gerber grabbers are fruit+veggie but they're pricey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880636 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 17:22:03 +0000 Applesandbananas 1880636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: he likes the pumpkin zucchini apple yogurt or something like that, it's not considered one of the fruities, even though it's got apple in it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880614 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:43:18 +0000 jetsa 1880614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: the beechnut fruities? I have a hard time finding anything less than $1.25 but I will only buy them with veggies because he'll eat fruit :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880597 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:17:19 +0000 Rockies11 1880597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: we bought the pre-mix kind and gave it to her in a cup not a bottle and she went nuts for it. Wouldn't drink the powder and wouldn't drink it out of the bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880593 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:11:19 +0000 Applesandbananas 1880593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I buy the cheapest pouches because he eats a ton of them, like 10+ a week (I send them to daycare to serve as an alternate snack when they're having cookies or pop tarts or other really sugary food. I think the brand is Beechnut, they're on sale most of the time for $0.75-$1.00 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880580 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 15:45:19 +0000 Tidybee 1880580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a tough time. I would just keep putting an ounce in with the rest breastmilk. i ended up switching to similar sensitive liquid formula and she took that pretty easily...or she was just hungry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880575 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 15:41:38 +0000 Pirouette 1880575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: yea, she eats solids like a champ but has always preferred milk from the tap haha. So the bottle can be a struggle, and her weight gain isnt great. Thanks, I'll check them out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880567 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 15:30:13 +0000 jetsa 1880567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: ahh I see. We like the gerber grabbers because they are vegetables and fruit. I've also heard good things about the little green reusable pouches as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880561 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 15:26:23 +0000 Pirouette 1880561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: I know this at heart, I just want her to grow! I mean, I'm growing very tired of the "she's 9 months? But she's so tiny!" comments :( I'm hoping formula will be the answer once she adjusts to it!</p> <p>@Applesandbananas: @Mrs. Yoyo: any particular brand that is good ? I'm gonna order some pouches! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880550 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 15:10:21 +0000 jetsa 1880550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: she will eat it if you aren't there even if she doesn't like it. I realize it's horrible advice but she'll either choose to eat more food or will eat the formula =\ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880522 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 14:22:59 +0000 Pirouette 1880522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: I'll look for some reusable ones...thanks! I hope that works. We just made her an avocado formula shake and tried to spoon feed to her and just ended up with avocado everywhere haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880516 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 14:09:52 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1880516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I second pouches. I have a spoon-hater but he loves those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880409 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 11:42:01 +0000 Pirouette 1880409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: we're using Gerber - the gentle one. I also have similac sensitive to try next but wanted to do one at a time for adjustment. </p> <p>@Applesandbananas: ooh good idea!! I wonder if she could feed herself with those! She just wants to do everything herself these days </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880393 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 11:28:25 +0000 Applesandbananas 1880393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: my LO went through phases of rejecting the spoon but he loved (still loves!) pouches. There are reusable pouches too, that you can fill with whatever you'd like! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880371 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 11:11:28 +0000 Pirouette 1880371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: thanks! We've tried flavoring regular bm with things (fruit mostly) and the response has been kinda mixed. But maybe when it's the only option she'll take it? She has only had yogurt so far, because she has a milk allergy and we're trying to ease into it (to complicate matters further!)</p> <p>@Applesandbananas: thanks so much! I had asked the ped previously and he'd said a year but maybe he'd be OK with another alternative? She actually eats a ton of solids, but doesn't love when we feed her. I may have to push the avocado though, maybe I can make a little shake out of it and she'll take that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880365 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 11:02:04 +0000 wonderstruck 1880365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What kind of formula are you using? It took a few different types before we found one that worked well for our LO (Gerber is what we ended up with.) And I did mix it with BM for the first week or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880359 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 10:53:25 +0000 Applesandbananas 1880359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: have you talked to her ped? Some peds are okay with WCM at 9m, some suggest 10m, 11m, some say a year. Maybe your ped would be able to give you some good advice!</p> <p>My LO got bottles of bm at daycare but I also kept those ready to feed nursettes (2oz) in his cubby just in case he was extra hungry one day or I was late picking him up, etc. he would take it if he was really hungry. </p> <p>Also, around 9/10m, my supply dipped too and my IBCLC suggested just sending what I pumped and challenging daycare to really try and discern hungry cues from general fussiness. We also went from 2 purées per day to 4 (1 breakfast, 2 lunch, 1 for snack) and that, combined with daycare truly discerning hunger from fussiness eliminated my supply issues.</p> <p>If weight gain is a concern, you could always try serving LO puréed avocado, it's full of healthy fats!</p> <p>Good luck with the transition to supplementing and try not to worry! I think it's really normal at this age to decrease milk intake and increase solid intake! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880341 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 10:34:07 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1880341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: oh no! Yes you don't want to waste the BM you do have. I've never used formula but is there anything you can kinda add to it to sweeten in that would be safe? Have you already introduced dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc)? Maybe a splash of almond milk? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-introducing-formula-to-a-bf-baby#post-1880285 Sun, 28 Sep 2014 09:13:40 +0000 Pirouette 1880285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo is 9 months and we're introducing formula. Unfortunately we had an incident with my freezer stash so I don't have much milk left. I tried giving her a little formula straight and she wouldn't drink it, and I tried mixing it with a little bm and she took a little, but today won't take it at all. I have so little milk that I really don't want to waste any, but is there any other way to adjust her to formula? I feel like this is a tough age to do so, because she knows what to expect and it's not formula. </p> <p>We also can't really take it slow because I woh and it's Sunday! So...any tips? Is this the kind of thing where she'll eventually take it tomorrow because I'm not here? I'm still bfing a decent amount, though my supply has dropped a lot. </p> <p>Any tips?! </p>