What Is The Best Way To Supplement Breastfeeding With Formula?
October 13, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Breast Feeding Supplies
my son is 4 months old and I have been breastfeeding, I need to start supplementing and start weening him, only he fights me with the formula. He hates it and an screams the whole time I am trying to get him to take the bottle. He takes the bottle fine with breast milk in it. Got any ideas?
I’ve been supplementing my son with formula (as needed) by mixing formula with my breast milk. I suggest that you begin with a small proportion of formula mixed with your milk (25% formula, 75% breastmilk). If you were using formula that you had to add water to, he may also be disliking your water. I recommend, at first anyway, using a liquid formula that DOES NOT require you to add water. Enfamil A+ is what I use. If he takes it, gradually increase the proportion of formula and decrease your breastmilk until he is on 100% formula. This formula is one of the most expensive on the market, but once you have weened him off breastmilk and onto formula, you can try switching formulas. There is a process to switching formulas. It’s a gradual transition. The formula packaging usually explains how to transition. Good luck.
I suggest mixing 1/4 of the bottle with formula. Always mix the formula first. Then add the other 3/4 of the bottle with pumped breast milk. If he takes that for about a week, then go to 1/2 with formula and 1/2 with breast milk, and so on.
I’m not really sure why you want to wean him so early, but I understand why he doesn’t want formula. It tastes completely different from breastmilk. Breastmilk is very sweet and formula just smells nasty. You may also want to try a different type of formula. Enfimil makes one that is supposed to be closer to breastmilk. I know my cousin’s wife had pretty good luck with that one after breastfeeding.
Why do you need to quit breastfeeding him at 4 months? Why not pump or express your milk? Formula is nasty especially when compared to sweet tasting creamy breast milk. My fist son would never ever take a bottle. I just continued to breast feed. I didn’t have much time to myself but I did have a happy baby. My second son on the other hand preferred the bottle. We took a long trip where my husband didn’t want to make frequent stops so I formula fed him and he never wanted the breast again. I really don’t know what to tell you to do other than pump.
My suggestion is to keep breastfeeding him; if you’re going back to work, pump. There’s no logicial or financial reason to replace breastmilk with formula.
If you insist on forcing your child to eat formula (even though he clearly doesn’t want it), try making a small introduction. Mix a little formula in with breastmilk, and gradually add more and more formula as he will take it.
(By the way, I don’t blame him at all….formula smells disgusting. I can only imagine it tastes just as bad.)
Why do you want to supplement with formula? Can’t you continue to breastfeed or give breastmilk in the bottle. I’m sorry but if he doesn’t like the formula, you can’t force him to take it.
You really do have to wean him and don’t just think you have to? It’s a definite thing?
You could try adding a few drops of vanilla extract to the formula to make it taste a bit more like breast milk.