Help! Baby refuses formula...

Hi, my 5-month-old baby has been breast fed until now but I need her to start having a little formula because, as my work hours get longer, I can't pump enough to keep up. I thought giving her formula would be easy because she took to the bottle (of expressed breast milk) with no problems. But no! She is steadfastly refusing all formula--just screams her head off and refuses to swallow. I've tried three different brands and no luck. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

You probably know this already but you should first try a meal when she is alert, like breakfast.

Hi Wishing and hoping


I introduced formula to my baby when he was 4 mths old and he put up a BIG fight...this was despite the fact that he was happily accepting breast milk in the bottle from 3 mths - so I've pretty much been in the same boat as you


First the bad news.....She will resist. Most babies are stubborn. No formula is as tasty as breastmilk and as they grow bigger they are mre aware of their likes and dislikes


Now for the good news.....Its only a matter of time. My baby is happily having formula now...he's abt 6 m +


You could try the following


1. You could introduce formula slowly....3 parts breast milk to 1 part formula, thenafter couple of days move the ratio to breastmilk 2 parts and formula 2 parts and so on till baby gets used to having only formula (This didn't really work for me but has worked for a lot of people I know).


2. Try giving baby formula when she is hungriest....like after a nap or after a bath...she may give in and have it


3. make sure someone else and not you is offering the formula .... she will put up a bigger fight with you


4. Try introducing the formula when she is at a park or at a playground....babies love watching people, children, dogs....the distraction may cause her to have it...also outdoors tends to improve their appetites. Thanfully the weather is getting better now


5. Make sure that whoever is offering the formula is calm and firm while she's fussing or crying. Is important that the baby knows that the adult is in control and not she. Tell the adult to keep speaking to her in a soothing tone while offering the formula


All the best....i hope something clicks.....

You may want to try a small feed which mixes 50/50 breastmilk and formula milk in the same bottle. The down side is if baby does not finish the full feed it must be thrown away due to increased risk of bacterial contamination associated with formula. This can be a waste of your precious breastmilk. An unfinished feed of breastmilk however can be refrigerated and offered one more time.



You may consider starting solids near six months then baby can be offered other foods and drink while you are at work and breastfed when mom is available. You can also disguise formula milk when solids are commenced by adding fruit and making a pureed smoothie .



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Thank you, everyone. We're having some success with mixing formula/breast milk. Really appreciate all the advice!