Tips For Transferring From Breastfeeding To Formula

These tips mainly apply to those moms who are working with exclusively breastfed babies, who completely refuse bottles no matter what is in them in the beginning. And the babies age would around 4 months plus. And our tips aim to help those moms to get your babies onto bottles and formula, hence they could take a break!

Tip no. 1 Weaning with formula

Breastfed babies quite often don't like bottles or pacifiers, so trying to get them to have a taste of formula through a bottle seems even harder. But there's another way. If they don't like bottles in the beginning, let it be. Make some formula milk ready, put in a cup, and use a baby spoon to, basically wean your baby with formula. So they could have a taste of the formula. Maybe even have quite some because a lot of babies more than 4 months old are pretty keen of trying new tastes. Weaning them with formula is for sure not the most convenient thing to do, and it can take up to 3 times of time consumption than regular bottle feeding. But it helps your baby to accept formula quicker. It will be totally worth it in the end!
P.S If your baby is not accepting the formula, maybe change a brand and try again.

Tip no. 2 Consistency

After you tried tip no. 1, if your baby is ok with formula, then try to put the formula in the bottle and give a go again next day. better do it in the same time as your weaning time yesterday. If your baby took it, great! If not, don't force it, don't get frustrated. Make it cheerful. Make it fun. Even they don't accept it. But try it again at the same time next day..and keep trying everyday at the same time. One day they will happily get the idea and take bottles.

Tip no.3 Closeness

Breastfeeding is so much more than just food. It's a time for a very strong bond between you and your baby to develop. Also your baby could very much enjoy the closeness. She can smell you, feel your warmth, get your fully attention and feel ever so secure in mommy's arms. Sounds like there's no better deal in the world better than this for her. So when you try bottles, try to keep the closeness as much as you can. Maybe put her in a position  close to breastfeeding position, hold her securely and tight. And give her all of your attention. You can also smile at her time to time to reassure that everything is ok.

Tip no.4 Listen to your baby

Your baby is probably not talking yet, but they tell you everything they need through all other stuff, crying, body language, facial expressions...Keep an eye on your baby's reaction when you try to give them bottles. Don't ever force a baby. See if they are comfortable enough. If not, change a position. And if they do take bottles smoothly, make sure to stop when they are full. And when  your baby stop or become reluctant in the middle of feeding, check if the temperature of the drink becomes less satisfying. Some babies can be quite sensitive with it.

Tip no 5 Frequency

If now your baby is becoming happy every time she see a bottle, congratulations! Ain't no journey is easy. Because your goal is to stop breastfeeding gradually, you can start bottle feeding gradually then. Starting once a day is not a bad idea, then maybe twice a day for a week, then gradually increase the frequency of bottle feeding and accordingly drop breastfeeding. However, before you completely stop breastfeeding, you can replace the daytime feeding with formula, keep the night time waking up dream feeding, because nighttime feeding is still a special intimate time for you with your baby, and so much easier than getting up to the kitchen to boil some water and make some milk.

Tip no. 6 Engorgement

Cutting out breastfeeding frequency will of course, give you the problem of engorgement. Because you cut out gradually, the engorgement may not be that bad. But everybody's different. If it was very bad and painful, try to pump a little to release the fullness. Or you can take a hot shower, or give it a massage, to let it leak a little bit. Try to make yourself comfortable. Do not neglect the pain and try to suffer through it. Gradually with less feeding, your milk supply will decrease, and the engorgement situation will improve.


Disclaimer

I'm not any kinds of professional. All the tips come from my personal experience and other people's reference. These are just advice and experience sharing.