Any tips on getting DS to take formula milk ??

[mumtosp]

Hi all,

I really need 9mo DS to take formula milk during the day as I'm due back at work in less than 3 weeks !! I am starting to panic now :(
We are trying HiPP Organic first milk but DS just turns his face away. TBH I don't blame him... it smells disgusting!

Should I try any other brand? Does Aptamil really taste like breast milk or is that just a marketing ploy?!?

I've tried Madela bottle, Tommy Tippee free flow cups and even a normal water glass. At first DS drank a bit from the glass as it was something new. But he soon realised that it's the same horrid stuff and now rejects the glass too....

Thanks in advance :)

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

I used aptimil from 5.5 months ish, but can't compare to anything else. Worked for us. You could always get a single carton to try it.

Will he use a cup with expressed milk? Then add increasing amounts of formula. I used a tommee tippee sippy cup, but it does take persistence. When I was worried before going back to work nursery suggested giving formula on a teaspoon (normal spoon not baby spoon, don't know why!) to get him used to it. May be worth a try?

Will he have water from a cup? If he will then its just a matter of persistence on your part. Try offering before and after each feed. Let him play with the cup with water in it too. Good luck!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I'd get this,over to the breast & bottle section, you should get some more replies.

I'd also talk to a BFC, depending on how long you are leaving Lo for, there may be no need for formula or a bottle at all. My dd was a bottle refuser, I went back at 9months and she just fed first thing, on pick up and before bed. She fed more on the days I was home. A little cows milk on a cup is acceptable at this age too if you aren't there but bfs hen you are. Have you read childcare and bfing?

If you haven't got the helpline numbers just google National Breastfeeding Helpline

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Oh and don't believe the hype with aptimil, they just aggressively market the stuff. If you do choose to ff just pick the one from the shop nearest to you

[Phineyj]

Get small readymades of all the types - I suspect they do taste quite different. Try mixing with a cereal or puree he does like? (not in the bottle, obviously).

[woopsidaisy]

Afaik it would be fine to give Cows milk at 10 mo-which is what DS will be then?
As already said, bf when you're around. And give cows milk in sippy cup when you're not. It is the low iron levels in cows milk that mean switching entirely to it before a year can cause problems. You just give them vitamin drops that have iron in them also.
My doctor friend and HV both told me it was ok. Doctor friend had the same problem and that was when she heard it was ok to give cows milk with drops.
HTH.

[Doodledumdums]

I had this problem with my 6mo, and I managed to bottle train him in less than 2 weeks initially using expressed breast milk to get him used to the bottle, and then replacing it with SMA hungry baby. I use avent bottles with size 1 teats, and make the milk very warm/bordering on hot! The temp for us was key, he will not take it unless it is warm enough. Even if I expressed and offered him the freshly squeezed milk, he still wanted it warmed up! It did tale a lot of persuasion, and initially I only put 50-100mls of milk in the bottle as I knew he'd refuse it, but we got there in the end and now he's taking 240ml feeds at a time!

Good luck!

[mumtosp]

Thanks for all the responses :)

Will have to try all of these suggestions...
JJJ... he doesn't drink a lot during the day - mostly to nap. But I just wanted him to get used to formula just in case he needed more milk... :)

He definitely drinks more when DH feeds him... so I guess he'll be fine as long as he doesn't have access to the boob ...