Moving from breastfeeding to bottle feeding
Louisa Sherlock
Contributing EditorThinking of combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding? Or maybe you want to wean your baby off the breast entirely but you’re not sure how to introduce a bottle. Whatever your situation, our expert midwife Leah Hazard is on hand to help.
This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
Whether you've breastfed exclusively for six months or longer, or want to try mixed feeding, it's your decision.
But although not always, it CAN be a tricky switch to make, especially if your baby is used to your boob.
Although some take to a bottle straight away, others can refuse it for several feeds, which can be quite distressing for both of you.
FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES
But panic not. Switching to bottle feeding is something that many mums have managed to do. All it takes is a little expert know-how and guidance – and patience – in case you do encounter any obstacles along the way.
We caught up with Netmums' official midwife, Leah Hazard who shares her top tips and expertise for switching your baby from breast to bottle.
Good luck!
Includes:- When should I introduce a bottle?
- What's the best way to introduce a bottle to my baby?
- What if my baby refuses to take a bottle?
- How do I introduce formula to my breastfed baby?
- How long will it take to move from breast to bottle?
- How to do combination feeding
- What are the benefits of combination feeding?
When should I introduce a bottle?
How you feed your baby is entirely your choice.
For instance if you're getting on fine with breastfeeding, introducing a bottle may not even cross your mind.
But if you want to give someone else the chance to feed your baby for you, for instance your partner, a night nurse or other family member offering to help with night feeds, then getting your baby to take a bottle can be worthwhile.
If you're breastfeeding but also want to give your baby a bottle with expressed breast milk or formula, the NHS recommends waiting a few weeks for breastfeeding to be established.
However if you want to stop breastfeeding completely and just give your baby formula, you can of course introduce a bottle earlier, says Leah.
Need advice?
Our health visitors and nursery nurses are on line Monday to Friday evenings to answer your queries on feeding, sleep and child health.
What's the best way to introduce a bottle to my baby?
If you want to give your baby expressed breastmilk or formula, there are a few simple things you can do to help your baby when giving him a bottle for the first time ...
- Wait until your baby is nice and relaxed but not overly hungry or tired or he could get frustrated.
- Give your baby time: he will need a different sucking action when he’s on the bottle compared to breastfeeding so it might take him a while to get used to it.
Check out Leah’s bottle feeding basics with more advice on how to introduce a bottle to your baby, including the best position to hold him while feeding.
What if my baby refuses to take a bottle?
Don’t be alarmed if your baby refuses a bottle to start with. This is perfectly normal, says Leah:
'If you’ve been breastfeeding for some time, your baby may smell the breastmilk on you and refuse the bottle.
'If that happens, try getting a partner or other trusted person to give the first few bottles, if you can, until your baby is happier to accept them.'
If your baby really won't take a bottle from you, be patient. It can be distressing when they cry their way through a feed, resisting what's on offer.
Persevere for as long as you can though. Your baby just needs time to get used to something that feels and tastes different.
How do I introduce formula to my breastfed baby?
The NHS recommends introducing formula gradually, starting with one formula feed a day, to give your baby time to adjust.
We’ve got advice on how to pick the right formula milk for your baby.
By slowly dropping the number of breastfeeds you'll also reduce the chances of getting engorged breasts or mastitis. Leah says:
'If your breasts are just sore but there’s no mastitis, you can use paracetamol and ibuprofen to ease the pain. You can also try hot and cold compresses, or gel pads.'
How long will it take to move from breast to bottle?
Every baby is different says Leah, so while some babies will transition from breast to bottle straight away, others may take longer.
The NHS recommends giving your baby a few weeks to adjust to the move from breastmilk to formula milk.
How to do combination feeding
When you've got your baby used to a bottle and to formula milk, there are lots of different feeding patterns you can try. These include:
- Offering a bottle before, during or after a breastfeed.
- Offering a bottle instead of a breastfeed.
- Offering a 'top up' bottle feed rather than dropping a breastfeed completely.
Talk to your health visitor if you're unsure which mixed feeding pattern is right for you and your baby.
What are the benefits of combination feeding?
There are lots of reasons you might want to do a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding.
Leah says:
‘Often it’s so that others can help with feeds at night or when the mother wants or needs to go out for a while without organising a store or expressed milk.
‘Some women top up breastfeeding with formula because they’re worried that their breastmilk supply isn’t adequate.
‘With the right guidance and support, this is very rarely the case, but if a baby isn’t gaining weight at a safe rate, midwives may recommend a limited period of mixed feeding until a better breast milk supply is established.’
Did you struggle to get your baby to take a bottle? Share your experience and swap tips in our chat thread below ...
Related stories
CHAT: Breast to bottle: desperate for help
