https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 02:43:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1234731 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 21:12:02 +0000 blackbird 1234731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aw, it'll get easier! He smells milk on you, he'll get used to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1234331 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:16:47 +0000 shinymama 1234331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: When my LO didn't want to drink it, we would wait until he was really drowsy/sleeping and do a dream feed to get more ounces into him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1234242 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 18:46:08 +0000 coopsmama 1234242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: @swedishfish: Thanks guys for your congratulations! :) We are definitely excited!! </p> <p>Good news...LO has now taken formula a few times. It's still a struggle and he cries throughout but my DH has found that if he hums or sings to him while holding him close, he'll take the formula. He's now had it 4x. Unfortunately, he still won't take it from me so I'm sure I have a hungry LO today but DH will be home soon to give him another bottle! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1231071 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 20:52:43 +0000 swedishfish 1231071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: no advice except keep trying. Eventually he will have to eat it. Congrats on your pregnancy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1231064 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 20:44:33 +0000 maybebaby 1231064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No tips, but congratulations on your pregnancy! While it may not have been what you imagined, your LOs will grow up the best of friends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1230818 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:54:35 +0000 coopsmama 1230818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I ended up buying Baby's Only Organic -- it's a cow's milk formula. I tasted it and it isn't horrible and one of the reasons I went with this one is because the reviews online made it sound like it didn't smell or taste as bad as other formulas! I must have a picky LO. :) </p> <p>@scg00387: @Ms.SK: I will look into donor breastmilk programs right now! Even if I could only get enough to mix with the formula to get him used to it...that would be great!</p> <p>@Bookish: Thanks for your encouragement. It's nice to know that someone else has struggled with the feelings that come with having to transition from bf to formula -- and that your LO survived and is thriving! I will keep offering and will tell DH that it's his job for awhile to work with him and the formula. :) I'm sooo looking forward to being in a good place with him -- where he'll take the formula bottles and I don't have to be such a nervous mama about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1230099 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:45:16 +0000 Ms.SK 1230099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you thought about donor breastmilk? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1229983 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:18:42 +0000 Bookish 1229983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I'm so sorry, that's a rough thing to deal with! Don't feel guilty!! Your little man will be just fine no matter what :) </p> <p>As for tips... honestly, we just had to keep offering until she took it. At first she refused to take a bottle from me, so we had DH feed her them. Slowly but surely she grew accustomed to taking a bottle, and now she will take one just fine from me, even though I'm still nursing occasionally.</p> <p>You just have to be patient and persistent, unfortunately. I still have my guilt moments, but when I see how happy and big she is, I know that I have nothing to feel bad about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1229958 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:13:00 +0000 immabeetoo 1229958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: You could also investigate milk share programs; Human Milk for Human Babies is the one I've tried to donate through before. So sorry, that sounds frustrating :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1229939 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:09:52 +0000 blackbird 1229939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think in that case, you have to keep offering it. He will get used to it. What formula did you buy? some of them taste better than others. I know soy is bitter </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1229910 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:03:45 +0000 coopsmama 1229910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I would love to be able to do that. The problem is my milk supply dropped so quickly I'm unable to achieve a letdown with my pump. :( Sometimes I can't even get a letdown with LO. It's so frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1229893 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:00:39 +0000 blackbird 1229893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I'm sorry you're in this situation. Have you tried doing 75% breast milk, 25% formula, then moving to 50/50, then moving to 25/75, then to full formula? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-transitioning-from-ebf-to-formula#post-1229876 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:57:43 +0000 coopsmama 1229876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little guy is 5mo and has been EBF his entire life. I'm (unexpectedly) 7 weeks pregnant and my milk is drying up. I've done my best to rest, drink tons of water, and eat an extremely clean diet, and it seems that nothing will keep my supply. :sad: </p> <p>LO is hungry allllll.the.time lately and I know it's because he's just not getting enough through nursing. We've introduced some solids lately (and thankfully he loves them and was ready for them!) but I know that is definitely not enough to replace all the milk he is no longer getting. He's now started screaming and crying after he drains the boobs -- it's heartbreaking! </p> <p>Last week, we bought some formula. This was hard enough for me to do because when he was first born, breastfeeding was really hard and I wanted to give up SO badly but we stuck with it and I grew to love it. Additionally, I'll just admit, it's hard to not feel a little mom guilt because I allowed myself to get pregnant so soon after his birth and now I feel like he won't be getting the best food option because of me. (And I realize that formula is a completely healthy and great option!! I'm so glad it exists for cases like ours or others where breastfeeding is just not possible or a reality -- it's just hard to know that we were doing so great and now we're slowly having to wean a little earlier than I'd hoped.) </p> <p>He won't touch the formula. He shrieks and cries when we try to give it to him. We've tried spoon feeding some of it into his mouth with solids to get him used to the taste -- he caught on to that trick quick and now eyes all solids suspiciously. We've tried having my husband feed him while I'm out of sight. </p> <p>I just don't know what to do! I had another mini-breakdown today while trying to give him a bottle of formula. He was sobbing, I was crying -- ugh. :( My DH, bless his heart, just doesn't get the mommy emotions tied up with all of this. He says we just have to keep trying and he'll get used to it...and I'm sure he will, but right now I feel like I'm starving my child!! </p> <p>Does anyone have any experiences of transitioning from ebf to formula? Did your LO have a hard time with it? What worked? Any and all advice welcome :) I just need some encouragement. </p>