Need weaning advice - HELP

[Tanker Chic]

Jacob is starting daycare in one month, so I want to have him well established on formula by the time it starts.  Yesterday was day one and it did not go well.  I tried to do every other feeding except for the night feedings would be all breast fed.  The first one didn't go too bad. I was only able to get him to take 2.25 oz before he got fussy.  I'm having trouble following his cues.  The second formula feeding went about the same but afterward he was trying to nurse through my shirt so of course I couldn't deny him.  The rest of the day/night I breast fed.  This morning I tried again to give him some formula and this morning he only took maybe a half an oz and started crying.  I breaks my heart to have him cry through a feeding.  It is usuallys such a nice time.  He was also REALLY fussy last night.  I don't know if that was related for not.  Maybe the formula isn't agreeing with his digestive system.  

I need advice. How do I do this better?  Should I try changing bottles?  I'm using playtex and I can't tell if the nipple is the problem. The bottle this morning was 3/4 pumped breast milk and 1/4 formula and he still wouldn't take it.  

HELP.... please. :(

[mommy2842]

Try feeding him breast milk in the bottle first.  But don't give it to him yourself.  Have someone else feed him the bottle. then when he begins to accept the bottle from someone else try mixing the formula with the breast milk one ounce of formula to 7 ounces of breast milk( or how much he eats at a time) at a time. You should only feed him when you are going to breast feed.  This will help with his confusion and ease the transition to the bottle.  I personally weaned my boys to a cup when they were 6 months old and used the same methods.

[Tanker Chic]

Since DH works long hours and weekends, I have to do the feeding myself.  I went and bought an avent nipple (used it on the playtex drop in bottle) and used straight breast milk like you suggested.  The first 2 oz went down pretty easy. After that he got fussy.  We took about a 45 minute break, and I got another 1.25 oz down him.  This evening we are going to sisters. I'm going to pump and keep feeding him bottles of breast milk.  The overnight feeding I will use breast.  

I think part of the problem is I've been feeding on demand. I have really been paying to much attention to how close together the feeding have been.  Maybe that is why he is only taking 2 oz at a time.  I know sometimes he is on the breast for 20+ minutes, and I know he has to be getting more than 2 oz because I can get 4 oz in 5 minutes of pumping.  But some of the feedings are pretty short. I've probably let him snack more than I should have.  

If there are any more suggestions or advice from people out there, I'd love to hear it.  Or just share your story with me.  The support in knowing we will get through it is also helpful. BTW, Jacob will be 8wks on Monday.  

[AndiJ78]

Babies are smart, they know what they want. First, do not beat yourself up for feeding on demand, that is what you need to do. There is no such thing as letting them snack too much, that is how many eat.

I don't have any advice for you, I never gave my boys a bottle. The Momma Milk Cafe was open 24/7 ;-)  But I wanted you to know you did nothing wrong here in how you nursed your baby.

[peekawho]

He's grown well, and you've done a good job.  Feeding on demand is never part of any problem.  

I don't have a lot of advice, either, I'm sorry.  He'll probably take a bottle at daycare, b/c he won't have a choice about it--plus you won't be the one giving it, so he'll likely take it better.

[Logan206]

You might also try a different stage nipple.  The stage 1 nipples are pretty hard to get stuff out, so might be more work than he is used to if you have a good 'let down'.  Try a stage 2, and he may get more, faster.  When I transitioned my kids, I did the same as mommy2842, and started by giving bottles of breastmilk, then went to like 1/2 & 1/2.  Good luck!

[deanne11]

I had to start my Jacob on breast milk only in a bottle.
He wouldn't take formula until about 2 weeks ago.  And he's almost 6mos. old.

I did really well though. Always had plenty of milk to pump and offer in a bottle for daycare.

I applaud you for thinking ahead, I didn't and the first 2 weeks of daycare were a nightmare.  I had to run milk to him on my breaks because I didn't have any 'stored' milk and he just did not want formula.

Try changing the bottle but to be honest...I think it's the milk.  I had a long 2 month battle with Jake to get him to take the formula.  And forget it - if I try to give him formula....he freaks out.  Even to this day.  He starts screaming at me and biting my shirt.....LOL
About a month ago, I started increasing his formula intake but the only way I could do that is to make those 'hybrid' bottles....4 oz breast milk - 2 oz formula....now, a month later he's sucking down formula no problem.

[mommy2842]

When I switched it was from breast to milk not formula (both of them were 6 months old and the docs frown on it) so the problem may just be the taste.  He doesn't like it so he only drinks until he's not thirsty then looks for something else to eat....your milk!  They can be very stubbon at this age.  He went from eating through his bellybutton to eating from the breast in only a few hours and switching to the bottle can be a bit stressful. I looked up some suff and another suggestion is to only offer the bottle once a day until he accepts it at that feeding and then gradually add another bottle until he is where he needs to be for day care.  You can take it to just night feedings as he gets used to it to help ease the stress that the both of you feel!

[Tanker Chic]

Thanks for the advice you guys.  I have ditched the formula for now and am just using breast milk.  The most he has take from a bottle is 2.5oz and sometimes not even that much.  Then he is hungry 1 to 2 hours later.  I know the daycare isn't going to feed him that often so I've been trying to get the time intervals extended out and hoping the longer I wait to feed him the more he will take from a bottle.  (BTW it is absolute torture not feeding your baby when he is hungry). I hadn't been tracking how often I bf him, so I figured the reason he was only taking up to 2.5 oz and wanting to eat so often was maybe becasue I had been doing that with the breast but now I'm not so sure.  Today he had a complete and total break down while I was feeding him.  usually he would stop feeding after approx 2 oz and if I kept pushing it he would eventually start crying, so I really thought he was full.  Well today after the 2oz he started crying and was panicked and hysterical with hunger still (that is how it appeared anyway) so I gave him the breast and he ate for another 10 minutes and I could tell he was getting a bunch.  i'm so confused now.  I think I should start following each bottle with some breast time.  At least for this week.  

My plan is to once I can get him to take the bottle with no problem is to start adding in the formula.  I really want to have this done by the time he starts daycare but worst case, I can just keep pumping.  

Thanks all..  Any thoughts??  

[ma2isiah]

As long as he can drink from the bottle it shouldn't be a problem at daycare. It is more difficult for you to feed him the bottle since the breast is right there. My wouldn't even suck on the bottle if I was even home, and struggled when I was gone. We tried every bottle and finally I think in time he just got used to it. My dd had to take a bottle from the begining (long story), so she was good at drinking from it. But still prefers breastfeeding and woyldn't take a bottle from me. It sounds like he is actually doing pretty good to me. I agree with getting him to take the bottle and doing formula later. Are you planning to pump once back at work?