My DD is currently teething and biting me several times per feed! So I've come to the decision that it's time to switch to the bottle because the pain is getting just a bit too much! I'm having problems getting her to take the formula - I don't think she likes the taste. I'm just wondering what other peoples experiences have been with this?
Hey Natty,
Are you sure that it's not just a passing phase? Have you tried to firmly say 'no' to her? I'm assuming you probably have done all of the rest & I'm not trying to persuade your decision.
I had a hard time getting Jessica onto formula to begin with, she was 8 weeks old when I put her onto formula & I just had to keep on perservering with it. In the end, my mum came for the day & she'd just try & try over & over to get her to take the bottle. Jessica had a fascination with fans, so in the end I would gently push the blades of the fan so they were going around & interesting Jessica & my mum shoved the bottle in her mouth & she took in 30mL without even realising it & it became easier from there.
HTH!
Love Jayne
I'd say perservere if you can because it does pass, Seth was a biter and it was very painful! With regards to formula its also about perservering, with Paris it took her about 24-36 hours before she took a bottle without screaming or gagging, and then probably about 2 or 3 days before she was happy to have formula.
Tallon chomped down a lot when he was teething his top teeth. I did the firm no and sat him up denying him his boobie for a bit, so he learnt biting meant no boob! hehe. It did pass once the teeth were through.
I did learn to pre-empt the chomping tho, I could feel/see the change in his mouth before he bit down, so I could avoid the bites most times.
I would encourage you to persevere with the breastfeeding too.. but of course you do what you want!
Well I just managed to express 150ml so I will give that to her at the next feed! Usually I have really issues with expressing but it just seemed to work this time!
I thought it would be a matter of perseverance with the formula! Thankyou everyone for your thoughts and help!
Biting is almost always a very tempory thing, and your baby is quite young yet. Babies are designed to feed far beyond the time they have teeth, and not to bite. As other people have said, a firm but kind no, and detach her and take her off for a moment of two is usually enough to teach them that biting can't happen. later, when they are a bit older, you see them get an evil glint in their eye, they look up, nip you and weight for the squeal, but I would say your little one is a bit young for that. I'd say there are just some funny feelings in her gums, and it feels good to chomp down. May mothers give their baby a cold teething ring before feeds to ease the pain a bit. This usually works well. Others find that, when they bite, pushing them gently into the breast helps - they can't breathe, and they release the nipple. Formula doesn't taste very good compared to breastmilk, so it will take some perseverance to get her to take formula. And formula feeding (as many on these boards can attest) comes with it's own set of problems
Yes I have said a firm 'no' and taken her off when she bites down - but then when I put her back on she clamps down with her gums so I don't take it away from her again.
She bites constantly when I feed her and my nipples are so sore it hurts with every suck - even with a shield on. I know that breast is best but I don't think that I can put up with that pain.
I am trying to express the milk for her but I do have problems expressing - but I am trying.
I was hoping to get some advise on switching to bottle but instead I feel like I'm being kicked when I'm down because I might not be able to continue the breastfeeding.
natty23 please don't take it that way. Everyone here is trying to be helpful and supportive. I don't think anyone was trying to kick you when you are down, more like if there was something else that could help iykwim? Of course you need to do whats right for you and if that means formula then thats ok too! As *Nessa* has said you have done a great job! Please know that these posts were out of support not criticism.
Nat, if Taia is not used to a bottle then trying to introduce the bottle as well as the formula at the same time might be making things more difficult for you. I have spoken to my MCHN about giving formula topup feeds before bed and she said that sometimes giving EBM and getting them used to the bottle can be a good stepping stone toward getting them to take formula... Hope you find something that works for you soon!
This is just an idea - could you perhaps mix half the ebm with some formula so the formula taste isn't so strong and go from there making it stronger each time so the transition to full formula is gradual. (Other BB members correct me if this isn't the best way to go). Another sneaky idea might be when she is on the boob sucking to ease the bottle teat into her mouth and she may keep drinking without realise what is happening and get used to the taste....
Natty.. i think good on you for making a choice! BFing isnt for everyone and you did well i think to get that far. I only made it 9 days with Jesse and decided that was enough. My nipples were cracked, bleeding and sore.. i did my best i felt. He is not any less better off in my eyes... considering his nickname is "smiley"!
Which formula have you tried her on? There are some that are quite stinky and some babies dont like them. Maybe also the type of teat you are using? I use the avent ones as they are larger.. maybe that might be an idea too, trying to get something that resembles your boob mostly.. i know Tommee Tippee do a version too.
Only thing i can also think of, dont know if it will work, it maybe after youve given her a quick drink from your breast, while she's hungry and gulping, then switch over to the bottle of formula? If you can express a little, that might work too, give her that from the bottle, then give her the formula, so she firstly learns to use the bottle and will take the formula next.
You'll get there.. and just remember you are doing the right thing as its what suits you and your DD.. thats all that matters.
Natty, i think people are just trying to offer suggestions for what is an overcome-able problem! and i'll share my experience for you:
I've been feeding with a severe breast injury from something similar for almost 3 months now, i'm currently feeding with a medical tape around my nipple - sort of like a fancy bandaid! the pain was agony, where i would sob while feeding but it is now bearable. That being said i am still looking to cut down feeds to reduce the trauma because otherwise this will never heal. So the medical tape is an option - its called Fixamul.
However, if you have already made the firm deciscion to switch to formula, i can help you with that too
I tried to wean my ds at one point and he too turned up his nose at formula, he just did not like the smell or taste. I found the only way he would tolerate was the heinz nurture (i think thats what it is called), and to me it smelt the least bad. Also my dh had to give it to him, because so long as i was there he would reach for the boob, smell the milk etc. So you could try that.
Another idea is to express in the mean time and to give him a bottle of half formula half expressed milk, then slowly reduce how much breastmilk is in it say over a week or two until it is just formula, i know people who have had total success with this. Good luck hunny
Well success at last! She had the full 150ml that I express yesterday avo and that went down really well! I failed to express much over 50ml the next time around (very common for me) so I went with the formula (S26...although everyone seems to use Heinz and tells me that is pretty good!). I just put it in her mouth and started to sing to her and she just stared at me and drank! She downed the full 180ml in no time! I then topped her up an hour later with around 60ml and she went down at 8.30pm and I had to wake her at 5.30am to have breast because i was in so much pain! WOW! I've found in the night when she's still half asleep I have no problems B/F (although the nipple is still sore) - so at least she is still getting a bit from me.
Thanks to everyone for their help (I'm feeling better today).
Snacks - Thankyou for your idea of expressing and using that in the bottle to get her used to it!
Jayne - Thankyou for the idea of distracting her from the task at hand!
I know what you're going through, my DS is doing the same for two weeks now and has drawn blood several times (he has two bottom teeth). Basically I have no more advice, since he's a bit older I've been pulling him off and telling him no, and praising him up big-time when he feeds without biting. He is getting the message - he's looking up at me now with the evil eye before he bites which tells me at least he now knows I don't like it - but it's still slow going. I'm not sure how well these techniques would work on a three month old though.
Re the formula I think mixing it with BM would be the easiest way to get her to take it, and gradually increase the formula until she's used to the taste.
Hang in there...
From Boob to Bottle...
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