DS2 is 5 months and I’m not pumping enough for him at daycare and I’m blowing through my freezer stash, so we’re going to start supplementing with formula. I’m not sure how to start...can I just give him a bottle of straight formula, or do I need to mix with breastmilk at first? I’m still going to pump, so he’ll probably get 75% breastmilk and 25% formula at daycare.
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Admittedly E is pretty easy going about food in general as long as she is getting it, and had been getting formula since day of 3 of life, so we just gave her a bottle of formula after breastmilk either from the boobs or bottle. She wasn't picky about taste or temperature. Thankfully I could just send a tub of formula to daycare and they would mix as needed.
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When I started supplementing I added formula to the bottle with the breastmilk since I mostly need it to top it off. But the % of formula increased as my production fell. DS never had an issue taking it.
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@Bluemasonjar: so did you ever give straight formula? Or always used it to top off breastmilk bottles?
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@Kitkat: He had straight formula a few times but it was after it had been introduced mixed with breastmilk.
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@Kitkat: I had this same scenario with DS. I gave him the supplemental formula from the bottle and he took it. Try and see what works... you can mix and gradually decrease if he denies the formula...
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I fed my kids breast milk separately from formula. I’d make as many bottles of bm that I could and then would supplement with bottles of formula.
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I supplemented with my son and we had to mix - he would not go straight to formula. We started at 75/25 breastmilk to formula and went from there. It had to be insanely hot - like way hotter than seemed reasonable. He eventually went to all formula (even while nursing AM/PM).
My bottle refusing daughter drank formula by itself with no problem but she was older (~9 months).
I do think the type of formula matters - we had Holle with my daughter and it smelled less gross. My son did Gerber Soothe.
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Thank you all! I gave him 2oz of straight formula this morning and once I got it warm enough for him he gobbled it down, so hopefully this will be an easy transition.
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Aww hugs mama. My first was 6 months when I started supplementing too b/c I just didn't pump enough and stash was depleting. I just straight up did separate formula and breastmilk bottles and she didn't care at all!
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When I had low supply issues with my first, I would give formula right after breastmilk to help top her off. For daycare, I'd send in separate bottles of bm and formula, and number them so that they gave the bm bottles first. With lo2, she was fine nursing at home but daycare worried that she was still hungry after nursing, so I bought some of those premade 2-oz formula bottles (I think they're branded as supplementers by similac or something...) and kept them there so that they could offer them if she was still fussy after her bottle.
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Just something to consider: if you mix, and baby doesn't finish the bottle, you have to throw it away (well, it's recommended that you do). If you do breastmilk first, and baby doesn't finish all the formula then you're just throwing away formula and not precious breastmilk.
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@SteelerGirl: yes...that’s why I was hoping to just give straight breastmilk...don’t want to waste any of the good stuff if I don’t have to
luckily, it looks like he’s fine with it so far!@nana87: oh I’ll look for those! Didn’t know they even existed and sounds like they’d be perfect for what we need.
@snowjewelz: thanks! Honestly, I’m looking forward to the freedom formula will give me...I have so much less mom guilt the second time around! Lol
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@Kitkat: I have done it both ways so its all up to you there is no one right way. If your baby doesnt mind the taste of formula you could offer some bottles of 100% formula. Or you could add have bottles that arw a combo of formula and breastmilk. Just be sure to mix the formula with water first
luckily, it looks like he’s fine with it so far!Reply
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