Please Help Me!!

Ok, so I have been breastfeeding and I am simply not producing enough milk (this also happened with my daughter) so I am going to be giving my son formula from now on. The only problem is I have no idea where to start. Here are my questions...

1. is there a type of bottle that I should get, or does it not matter as long as I stick with one type?
2. I know there are different nipples, do I just get one that says 0-3 months or whatever?
3. Do I choose a type of formula (similac advance or whatever) and stick with it, or can I get whatever is on sale at the time?
4. Can I buy the larger bottles even if he is only drinking 4 oz or do I need to get the smaller ones?
5. Anything else I should know??

I realize some of these are dumb questions, but I really want to make this as easy for myself as possible, especially since I already feel guilty about needing to give up breastfeeding. I REALLY appreciate any/all help.

p.s. I am sorry I didn't post this in the bottle/formula thread but it seems to take awhile to get a response in there and I am going to the store to stock up today.

1. is there a type of bottle that I should get, or does it not matter as long as I stick with one type?

I recommend the playtex drop ins. I love them. But, it might be a trial and error thing... she may not take to the bottle right away. If you can I would introduce it with expressed breastmilk since its what she is most familiar with - then start mixing some formula with the breastmilk so that its a transition - not just throwing a new bottle and liquid at her all at once. They are nice because you can buy just a couple bottles and a bunch of extra nipples - since the formula doesnt touch the bottle/nurser you dont have to wash them as much. And the drop ins are BPA free if you are into all that paranoia.


2. I know there are different nipples, do I just get one that says 0-3 months or whatever?

I would start with the slow flow. We use the brownish ones that came in our drop ins nurser and we are still on the slow flow at almost 9 months old.


3. Do I choose a type of formula (similac advance or whatever) and stick with it, or can I get whatever is on sale at the time?

You need to pick one and stick with it. Only change if baby is having problems with the formula and after consulting the doctor. You can try to start with a generic though which would save you money. You can also sign up to be on coupon and mailing lists with the formula company you choose. (I do Enfamil with Family Beginnings!)

4. Can I buy the larger bottles even if he is only drinking 4 oz or do I need to get the smaller ones?

You can start with the larger bottles, it doesnt matter.

5. Anything else I should know???

Not that I can think of right now!

1. You can get any bottle but sometimes breastfed babies don't do good with regular nipples because they arent used to it. You can buy nipples made for breasted babies is you want and I also recomember to buy diferrent nipple because you don't know which tpe he will like.

2. Get 0-3 months first, my son is almost 5 months and he still doesn't like 3-6 because the whole is too big and all the milk falls out.

3.Yes, you have to stick with one formula only.

4.You can buy any bottle you please, won't make a difference.

5. I can't think of anything now.

I used the playtex Vent-Airs for my son who is now 2. Those seemed to work well. I am due in a couple weeks and just bought the Dr. Browns ones... but have not used... have heard good things about them.
As far as the formula... I would call the Dr. and see what they suggest.
As far as size... I bought some of each, the bigger ones will last you longer, just make sure you get the smaller size nipples (hole-wise) so that way baby is not getting too much.
Well, hope that helps a little... good luck!!
~ Jen

i have the same problem.. her pedi told me to just breast feed her as much asi can then if shes still hungry formual feed her so i feed her similac and i was told if she has a bad reaction to it then to switch formulas... i use the soothie bottles they are big so it doesnt matter the size i dont think.. but those are the only nipples she will use...and yes u will get 0 to 3 months or size one nipples.... oh and if money is an issue with the formula try to get on wic if possble its a huge help..

First off you could just supplement... still breastfeed, but add formula feeding to it. But that's up to you... just thought I'd throw it out there. As far as the nipples, there's many different types, make sure its stage one, but I would try several and see which one your child likes best... everyone is different. I stuck with one formula, swapping may mess up their little tummies (not all formula is the same) and if you do swap her and they don't agree, you won't really know which one it was. Ask your doc to see which one they recommend. I used enfamil. But some babies may need more Iron or may be lactose intolerant or something... I don't really think the size of the bottle matters... just the amount of formula you're putting in there... I always used the bottles with the drop-ins and when she was only eating 4 oz, I used that size... anything bigger just seemed a waste and it was harder to get all the air out... seemed like I didn't have anything left when I got through... hope this helps =)

Oh... and if you do try to just supplement, I will warn you, it may hard for her to go back to the breast... bottlefeeding is wayyyy easier for them.... So you could pump, or like you said just go to strictly bottlefeeding.

Thank you for all your responses!! I really appreciate all the help, it makes me feel not quite so alone. I have one more question...I have been supplementing maybe 2-3 days with Similac but would like to get the Parent's Choice since it's so much cheaper...can I switch now since it's still so early in the game or should I stick with Similac? Also is Parent's Choice even an ok brand?

Ok, one more question   Do I have to boil the water that I put in the bottle for the baby or can I just use tap water? Oh the questions!

Quoting sammiisasleep:“ Ok, one more question   Do I have to boil the water that I put in the bottle for the baby or can I just use tap water? Oh the questions!”

u have to boil it.. and i think it would be okay to switch o parentschoice now since its still early ..

Quoting ♡jaycelynsmommyb:“ u have to boil it.. and i think it would be okay to switch o parentschoice now since its still early ..”

I have never boiled her water. we have a brita filtration system attached to our tap and I use the filtered water for her bottles. And if I am not at home I will use bottled water if possible and tap if its my last option.

If you are going to change I would do it now. You could mix 1/2 similac and 1/2 PC if you want to.

Quoting Kailyn's Mama:“ I have never boiled her water. we have a brita filtration system attached to our tap and I use the ... [snip!] ... if its my last option. If you are going to change I would do it now. You could mix 1/2 similac and 1/2 PC if you want to.”

either or.. point is it needs to be sterile...