Making the transition from breastmilk to formula is a big milestone for both mother and baby. It can be stressful and overwhelming, but with some preparation, it can be done smoothly and successfully.
In this article, we’ll discuss tips on how you can make the transition from breastfeeding to formula feeding as easy and stress-free as possible.
How Exactly Do You Transition Your Baby From Breastmilk To Formula?
When you begin to transition from breastmilk to baby formula, it’s important to take it slow and start gradually. Begin by introducing one bottle of formula a day and gradually increase the number of bottles until you are feeding solely on formula.
Putting Your Breast Milk In Bottles To Start
When transitioning your baby to a bottle-feeding routine, it is important, to begin with breast milk. By using expressed breast milk in the bottle first, babies are more likely to be comfortable drinking the unfamiliar liquid and adjust easier to the new form of feeding.
Not only will a bottle filled with familiar tastes and smells help ease your baby into this transition, but you can also slowly add formula while still keeping a base level of breast milk in each meal.
There are sites that also allow parents to sell excess formula that they don’t need anymore if they have extra tubs, you can visit Sell Formula to find out more!
This allows for an eventual transition from all breast milk feedings to sole formula if desired.
- For those that have time before making the switch, begin with expressing and freezing some of your breast milk for future use in bottles.
- You can start by replacing one breastfeeding session per day with a bottle of expressed breast milk.
- It is important that this transition is given adequate time to ensure your baby’s comfort when switching.
Aiming For Stability
Finding the optimum time for weaning can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to cause undue stress or strain for your family.
Taking some simple steps to create a time of stability can mean that everyone, including your baby, is better able to adjust during the transition.
- To begin with, try and plan for a time when there are no significant changes or disruptions in either routine or environment.
- This could include big holidays, upcoming moves, changes in childcare, or even teething.
- While these events may feel like they’re unavoidable on occasion, they can drastically affect how comfortable both you and your baby will feel during the weaning process.
- Once any large alterations have been navigated, then you can look towards slowly introducing small transitions into the daily routine, such as slowly decreasing feedings over a few weeks.
All of this should be undertaken while keeping an eye on how your baby is adapting at each step along the way, with a special focus on watching out for signs of distress due to anything too unfamiliar.
Finding The Right Bottle
Finding the right bottle for your baby can be a challenge. You may have already found one that works, but if not, sellformula.com recommends trying out different shapes and materials to find the perfect bottle.
Nipples also come in different stages depending on the age of your baby; slow-flow bottles are specifically designed for younger babies so that they don’t take in too much milk, leading to health complications.
When you narrow down your choices, experiment with temperature – some babies prefer colder or warmer milk than others. Researching other parents’ experiences may also help you decide which one to go for.
What Not To Do When Transitioning From Breastmilk To Formula
Going Cold Turkey
Switching cold turkey from breast milk to formula can cause some difficulty if your baby is used to only taking milk from the breast.
If your baby has had experience taking milk from a bottle, however, this transition could be smoother and easier on them.
In any case, it is important to be prepared for different reactions during the switch, such as refusal of the bottle due to differences in nipple and experience or digestive changes.
If you choose to make the switch to cold turkey rather than slowly transitioning into formula intake, then it’s a good idea to research and select the right bottle for your baby.
Final Thoughts
Transitioning from breastfeeding to formula can be a difficult process for both the baby and their parents. It’s important to ensure that you find the right bottle for your baby, as well as slowly transition them into their new routine rather than going cold turkey.