Breastfed 4MO refusing formula

18 years ago

Our DD has consistently refused formula over the past few days. As soon as she can taste it, she gets all scrunchy-faced and sometimes hollers (especially tonight). She's been breastfed all along, and we introduced bottles of expressed milk as early as we could. She's even had formula before, but that's been several weeks. We tried Similac Advance tonight, but I'm not sure whether we just did different containers (smaller bottles/cans) or Enfamil also over the weekend.

Any wisdom on getting past this? We tried a 1/2-1/2 mix tonight, but that didn't work either. We've gotten a bit behind on our supply of breast milk for daycare/whatever, so we're worried about catching back up.

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

Adella Bedella
18 years ago
When does your doctor recommend you start feeding the baby solid foods like cereal, etc.? There is a range of opinions on timing. Some people have really strong opinions on it.

I got around your problem by introducing cereal. My doctor suggested we start with the cereal around 4 months. My child loved it. I would nurse my child before work. He would have his cereal snack and then I would came in to breastfeed him at lunchtime. DS figured out that if he nursed and ate his cereal, he wouldsn't have to drink out of a bottle so I started ending up with bottles of unused milk/formula. After that, I quit pumping.

I'm not sure if the cereal solution would work for you. My other advise would just be to keep trying. I think this problem is common in older babies who switch from formula to cow's milk after they turn one.
thull
Original Author
18 years ago
That's a good question. We need to check w/ the pediatrician and see what she recommends. Last night was kind of nerve-wracking, and DW is worried that this is going to completely chain her to DD, which she can't do b/c of work, etc. Thanks.
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My mother and I were just discussing this today. As a parent, you do what you have to do sometimes even if it sounds crazy. I breastfed all three of my kids. The first two were in daycare and I didn't always get enough milk pumped so we sometimes ended up supplementing with formula. One child took the formula just fine. The other decided he would wait for mama to show up. I pumped until it was time to start solids. We ended up sending what milk we could and then letting ds#2 have his cereals and other solids at daycare. The daycare was close to work so I was showed up at lunchtime anyway to feed him. At nine months, I'm not sure I would start the bottle if you can get your baby to drink from a sippy. (It's a habit you get to break later.) I'd send the milk in the sippy and let her eat her solids for the day at daycare and you can still nurse her at home. Send some formula to mix up as necessary. We used tricks like mixing formula into cereal or other foods to get the baby used to the taste. It took a few days before we had full acceptance with DS#1. I quit my job to become a SAHM when ds#2 was six months old so he didn't have to drink the formula. Babies learn that they can depend on mama for what they want. With you are not around all the time, your dd will learn that she isn't going to get the milk. She'll either drink the formula or find a substitute. Another caregiver may have an easier time introducing formula since your dd isn't used to getting her milk from there. Good luck! Your dd will be fine and so will you when see how it all fits into place.
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You did not say how old your baby is, but ideally you want to introduce a bottle around 3 weeks of age, no longer than 4 weeks of age - or you may encounter lots of resistance. Sounds like maybe you have been trying to give baby a bottle? Have someone else, such as Daddy, try and offer the bottle. Some bf babies will refuse a bottle from Mommy, because they know she has the real thing! Also, don't wait to offer the bottle until baby is very hungry or baby will get frustrated much easier. Try it about an hour after a feeding, so baby is a bit hungry but not starving. Also, you are probably doing this, but if the bmilk has been refrigerated, make sure you warm it so it is not cold. Once you get baby to take a bottle, offer baby a bottle once a day so baby does not "forget" how to take a bottle. We used Avent bottles with the newborn nipples. Whatever brand bottle you use, make sure you use the nipple with the slowest flow, to more closely match the flow from your breast. Otherwise, baby may develop a preference for the bottle if the flow is faster from the bottle. Hope this helps!! I hope I did not leave anything out.
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Just my opinion, but if you want to "breastfed as long as possible", take it easy on the solids this early. Every solid meal takes the place of part of a BF session. Your milk supply is all about supply and demand. If he's eating solids, he's not telling your body to make milk. Not telling you what to do, but to answer your question "at what rate would I..?" My answer to this is that I would wait until six months to try to introduce solids and then would start with two SMALL meals, twice a day. My second child is 7 1/2 months old and has only started solids about a month ago. He gets them twice a day if he's interested. Each new food should be introduced one at a time over a period of 3-4 days to see if he/she has a reaction to it. I would start with fruits like pears, applesauce and bananas (easy on the latter two, they can be constipating), and veggies like squash, sweet potatoes, green beans and peas. I alternate 'colors'..green in the am, orange in the pm. If I don't do this, he gets constipated and unhappy. Obviously a small amount of baby cereal, mixed with breastmilk or formula at each session. After each feeding session, I clean him up, and wait about 30 minutes, then I offer the breast to 'top him off'. Breastmilk has more fat and protein than any pureed jarred baby food. Once two meals have been established and accepted, I would add a third. I would also offer the breast frequently in between. Btw, I'm on my second BF child. First one BF'd for about two weeks shy of three years, second one is 7 1/2 months old.
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trekaren
18 years ago
My DD could not drink formula made from powder - somehow it gave her gas. I had to feed her the canned kind. Hope this helps...
emmhip
18 years ago
You could try feeding a small amount of formula, and if she eats it, give her a little breast milk afterwards. I started my DD on ceral around this age as well. You could (some people disagree with this method, but I think it's okay) put a small amount of ceral mixed with formula in the bottle and see if she is interested in that. Then start formula bottles only, and ceral hand fed. Are you trying to give up breast feeding totally, or just cut down?
thull
Original Author
18 years ago
We're not really working on weaning. We just want the flexibility that having formula as an option gives us. DD's intake is matching DW's production pretty closely. Being able to give her formula occasionally will give us the ability to build a refrigerated/frozen reserve back up for daycare/dates/etc. DW has an out-of-town conference in 6 wks that she's pretty concerned about.

So far, DD tastes then spits out anything from 1/3 formula:breastmilk and up. I'm almost wondering if we ought to start w/ a dropper and build up to get her used to it.
lindac
18 years ago
Don't tell your pede this....but if you add a bit of sweetener to the formula....even a lot of sweetener at first, she will take it more readily.
And yeah.....while it's nerve wracking, when momma isn't there the baby will protest less....and as long as you are offering her nourishment, she won't starve herself. She sees or smells Mom and wants the real thing.
Linda C

Breastfed 4MO refusing formula

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Adella Bedella

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Breastfed 4MO refusing formula

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Adella Bedella

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