Switching 6.5 MO from breast to bottle

[Jary]

Hi! My daughter is 6.5 months old and has been exclusively BF until I started weaning her about a month ago.

I will be returning to work in January and it isn't going to be practical for me to pump as I work on a very busy cancer care ward and also won't be allowed near radioactive patients if I'm still BFing.

So, I wondered when is the best time during the day to introduce a bottle? I want to do it gradually so LO gets used to it and also so I can be kind to my boobs!

I have tried her with formula (doctors orders to see if she had a milk allergy as she'd reacted violently to baby rice which had cows milk in it) and she eventually got used to the taste!

And also, more selfishly, I'm looking forward to having my boobs back!

 

[optimistic1]

I started introducing the bottle at lunch time..thats when shes most alert. In the morning shes super tired and lazy and same goes for the evening when shes gearing up for bedtime. It only took me a little over a week to get my daughter to accept the bottle with the gradual method..letting her play with it then occasionally offering it to her instead of boob. (im also switching to formula slowly so I can start working.....and I also selfishly want my boobs back!)

 

[bananas2]

Hello ladies. My LO is 5 half months old and just today started solids. We're gonna take it really slow at first lunch only for a week then a week of dinner also the when she is 6 months 3 meals a day. But when we've been doing this for a few weeks I then want my boobies back!! What I'm wondering is LO needs 20 oz a day but if ur doing both how do u know ur not giving say 15 oz bottle and 15 oz boob?? Atm my lo feeds every 3 hours in the day but 2 hours at night! Do they just start to drop night feeds???? Any pointers and tips will be hugely appreciated!!!

 

[Jary]

Hello! Once your LO is on more solids she will eventually drop feeds however she will still feed from you for 'drinks'. I went with the feeding guide when I first started the formula and at first my LO didn't drink the amount suggested. Eventually she got used to it and now drinks the full amount.

I didn't worry about the amount. I just gradually changed over her feeds from breast to bottle. Just go with your baby and you'll find what works for you both