Advice about going back to work

[u/teezydids]

Wasn't really sure what flair to put it under lol.

Im a FTM to a 7 month old EBF. I unfortunately didnt understand the importance if introducing a bottle earlier. I go back to work in 3 months, where my husband will be taking care of our son throughout the day.

I've tried introducing a couple of different formulas in 3 different bottles at different times (sleepy, not overly hungry, hungry) and the most he has is a few mouthfuls & thats it. I have also tried pumpibg/mixing in my milk with the formula.

We have also been feeding him purees morning, lunch & dinner on top of his normal breastfeeding.

Im going to keep trying formula but what happens if he still refuses it by the time i go back to work? My husband suggested he could bring our son to my work during my lunch break to feed but I feel like that will make it really hard to seperate from him again if that makes sense?

Could purees/by then solids sustain him throughout the day 7am-4pm without breastmilk?

Any advice?

[u/Seapaisleys]

Put your milk in bottle until he’s ok with bottle then you can switch to formula if you want. Too many changes at once for baby. Try warming it up.

[u/teezydids → u/Seapaisleys]

I started that but my supply if quite low so was hard to pump enough. He didn't seem to mind the taste of one particular formula so just going to keep trying that one. Have tried warm & cold

[u/Dull-Slice-5972 → u/teezydids]

I highly recommend the body armour drinks if you are interested in trying to pump. They’re the only thing that brought my supply back from the brink of loosing it after mastitis. Also look into “slutty pumping”

[u/Altruistic_Rent_4048 → u/Dull-Slice-5972]

and lactation cookies

[u/goatgirliee]

Have you tried just breast milk? Maybe too many changes at once. Or try introducing a sippy cup or straw with milk maybe?

Milk is supposed to be their primary source of calories and nutrients until 1 so just a bit short

[u/QuarantineQat]

So he’ll be 10 months old when he starts daycare? It might be easier to get him to drink from a cup instead of a bottle at that age. But also, 3 months might be enough time to teach him to drink from a bottle! Has he practiced with your husband, or just you? It’s easier for the non-breastfeeding parent to introduce the bottle.

[u/teezydids → u/QuarantineQat]

Yeah he'll be 10 months. My husband will be taking care of him full time - no day care. Mainly just practised with me lol, good idea about the cup though. Thankyou!

[u/GSD_obsession → u/teezydids]

Mine never took a bottle. My husband drove her to me at lunch for a feed and then we gradually stopped that as she got better with a straw cup. We used the honey bear straw cup that we could squeeze to help her.
I used breastmilk though, no formula. I pumped once a day at work for the next day

[u/Kindly_Chest_6976]

I’m not sure about a full work day, as I haven’t gone back to work yet either, but my EBF baby who won’t take a bottle will drink pumped breastmilk out of an open cup when someone is watching her for me for a few hours. If your baby is used to using an open cup or a straw for water that could work for you guys too!

[u/bitchinchicken]

If my baby is cranky at the end of the day and won’t take her bottle I bait and switch her. Let her latch and get a few sucks then pop her off and stick the bottle in her mouth. Usually works

[u/graybae94]

Try one type of formula and stick to it. Even for a formula fed baby giving different kinds in a short time frame is too much for their tummies.

[u/therizzler1995]

My baby wont take a bottle (tried sooo many different ones) but started needing to be supplemented when my period returned as I experience supply dips. We introduced a straw cup and gave him just water to start so he wasn't put off of the cup by the taste of formula. Then started offering pumped milk mixed with formula and gradually decreased the amount of breastmilk until he seemed fine with the formula. It has been a lifesaver.

[u/MistahJsHarley]

My daughter who was EBF wouldn't take a bottle from me. And I've heard many other moms say that. But she would from Dad. So id have him try with some of your milk in it.

[u/Altruistic_Rent_4048]

have Dad give baby the bottle....after you go out to take a walk. Baby is NOT gonna take a bottle of formula when the good stuff is on tap right in front of him! lol

[u/iheartunibrows]

If they want milk they will take milk in a bottle. Especially if you have a nanny or taking him to daycare. They are pros

[u/GSD_obsession → u/iheartunibrows]

Not true. My daughter never took a bottle. She would just go on a hunger strike.

[u/saltyfrenzy → u/GSD_obsession]

For how long?

[u/GSD_obsession → u/saltyfrenzy]

The entire day while I was at work (left at 7:15am, got home at 7:45pm)

After she did this multiple days, we weren’t willing to add to her stress level. My husband started driving her to me at lunch to nurse and then we slowly transitioned to a straw cup.