Prefers Formula to Breastmilk??

[lil monkey]

Hi all.

Has anyone else found that when putting bubs onto formula gradually so that they still have some boob and EBM that their bub prefers formula? My bub is having 6-8 feeds a day where 2 feeds at night are on the boob and the rest are alternated between EBM and formula and the formula bottles seem to go a lot quicker than the EBM bottles and she doesn't fuss as much on the formula - should I just stop the breastmilk altogether?

Lu

[jamb]

My bub has just dropped to one feed on the boob and the rest formula, I did this gradually where there would be a mix of boob, EBM and formula. I wouldn't say I noticed him not prefering one over the other but he seems to drink different quantities for which ther is no pattern. Sometimes he'll polish off 180mls in a flash, then today he only wanted 60mls at one feed :confused: I try not to worry I figure he'd cry afterwards if he was still hungry.

[ThomasMum]

as I'm going back to work next month altho just 2 days/week, ive been doing both botle/formula feeds, and I have noticed that Thomas prefers formula than breastmilk because I think with the formula he doesn't need to work harder as breastfeed he needs to sucks harder...

And I agree with mummajack, if Thomas aint crying I figured that he's got full happy belly!

[Chickadee]

I think as long as she's still drinking the EBM and you're not sick of expressing yet, there's no reason to stop giving it just to suit bub's possible tastes. It's as good for her, if not better, than formula (I really don't want to start that argument!). As Mummajack said, it might be more a difference in hunger levels than a preference for taste.

Just to throw out an idea, do you tend to give EBM/formula at the same times of day - like her morning bottle is always formula then EBM later in the day? If so, what would happen if you mixed them up?

[lil monkey]

I am starting to think it is a time of day thing. Last night for her last feed at 720pm, she took over half an hour to drink EBM and was very fussy and playing etc so tonight we will try formula and see if it was just a case of her being over tired!!!

Starting to get sick of expressing 4 times a day as I feel like a cow!!! :D

[Chickadee]

Lu,
You're doing a great job to keep it up cause I know it isn't easy. & I can sympathise with the cow feeling! But they only get milked twice a day!! Moooooooo! :D

[Tannie]

I changed my bub over at 8 -10 weeks and she weaned herself too after a week or so.........she just preferred the formula and was happier on it, so I just let her go off the breast completely as she just lost her interest in it........I was going to keep doing both and express etc - but really - like you - felt like a milking cow and having mechanical devices attached to my nipples wasn't my idea of a good time ;) I guess i didn't like Breastfeeding anyway - so it wasn't hard to give it up...........a few months onwards now and all of us couldn't be happier :)
T