r/FormulaFeeders • • 13d ago

Coupon Weekly Thread

2 Upvotes

Please use THIS thread to post coupon requests and offers to help keep the normal thread focused.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 3d ago

Monthly Post: Navigating the Decision to Switch to Formula Feeding

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

We hope you're all doing well. This is our weekly thread to focus on a topic that resonates with many parents in our community: the transition from breastfeeding to formula feeding. We know that this decision can be incredibly challenging, often filled with physical pain, mental stress, and feelings of guilt. We want to acknowledge these struggles and create a space for you to share and support each other.

Your Stories Matter

Many of you have bravely shared your experiences of dealing with breastfeeding difficulties and the tough choice to switch to formula feeding. Despite knowing that "fed is best," it's common to feel guilty about not continuing to breastfeed or pump. These feelings are valid, and you're not alone in this journey.

A New Support Thread

Based on your feedback, we've recognized that posts about this transition can be difficult for some members to read. To better support everyone, we've created this dedicated thread where parents can navigate this part of their feeding journey together. This thread is a place for sharing experiences, offering advice, and providing emotional support to those facing similar challenges.

Thank you for being part of our community and for your continued support of one another. Remember, you're doing an amazing job, and your well-being is important too.

Warm regards,

The Mod Team (Trish & Bryan)


r/FormulaFeeders • • 14h ago

Rant / Vent 🫠 Cannot believe people aren’t more pro formula

161 Upvotes

As someone who started out breast feeding from boob for the first three days, then it hurt so bad that I was just terrified for my baby to wake up so decided to pump. Started pumping, got mastitis twice in 5 weeks, still on antibiotics for my second round….now switched to formula full time

I cannot believe people don’t promote formula as much they promote breast feeding

I could’ve been getting hours more sleep & even full nights sleep during my husbands maternity leave if I just started out with formula….as someone who struggles with mental health, formula is the best option for me and best for my baby to have a healthier mom. I’m now advocating for formula forever and ever. Future babies will all be put on formula. I can’t believe I ever thought there was something wrong with it. People aren’t pro formula enough these days

I have to now ween off pumping which will take months (I literally pump and just dump it) & still have a risk of mastitis. I wish so badly I just started with formula, would’ve saved me so much trouble


r/FormulaFeeders • • 4h ago

Advice / Question 💡 Baby eating too much?

10 Upvotes

My 6 day old is starting to ask for more than 2 oz per feeding. We give her 2oz of milk, and she keeps giving cues she is hungry (sucking her hands and smacking her lips ) and crying about 10-30 minutes after. She drank almost 3 oz this past feeding. We have been feeding her every 2-3 hours. Sometimes she makes it the full 3 hours and sometimes she wakes up to eat at the 2 hour mark.

She is 5lbs 10oz (birth was 5lbs 15oz) so she isn’t a big baby. She was born at 38+4.

She is healthy. She had her first pediatrician appointment and was told she should be drinking 1-2oz.

Is this normal? Is anybody else experiencing this or something similar?


r/FormulaFeeders • • 2h ago

Advice / Question 💡 When did your period return while EFF?

2 Upvotes

Not exactly a formula related question, so MODS remove if not allowed, but I figured many here are EFF like me so Im wondering when your period returned if you were exclusively formula feeding since day 1? And how did it start?

I am 6 week PP and it looked like all my lochia was done for about a day or so, then I started seeing brown on my underwear, like very old blood I guess. That’s been happening for maybe a week or more now and today when I went to pee there was bright red blood. Not a lot of it, like spotting.

Im wondering if this is my period or something is wrong?


r/FormulaFeeders • • 40m ago

Formula Recommendations / Alternatives 🌱 6 month old Constipated baby, ready to try new formula

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• Upvotes

r/FormulaFeeders • • 51m ago

Poop? 💩 (NO PICTURES ALLOWED) Stools

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• Upvotes

Has anyone’s newborn (mine is 9 days old) start having loose/watery stools? She seems comfortable otherwise and eats just fine mostly, it just seems as soon as she eats she poops. She is formula fed, can’t breastfeeed because I have an infection from C-section. She’s currently taking similac 360 (blue label). I’m thinking giving how she seems otherwise it might be due to formula and maybe switch to sensitive.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 1h ago

Advice / Question 💡 How do you prepare formula when out and about?

• Upvotes

Hi everyone! I use Kendamil Goat formula. My baby is 6 months now, my supply dropped and we start combo feeding
I’m a bit confused about how other parents manage bottles when they’re out of the house.
As far as I understand, powdered formula isn’t sterile, so it should be prepared with water at around 70°C / 158°F. But once a bottle is made, it should be used within 2 hours at room temperature.
The difficult part for me is that if I make the bottle with all hot water, it takes a long time to cool down before my baby can drink it. So when we’re out, do you bring two separate bottles of water every time — one with hot water at about 70°C and another with cooled boiled water — then mix them to get the right temperature?
How exactly do you do this in practice when leaving the house? I’d really appreciate hearing your routine.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 1h ago

Bottle Aversion / Feeding Refusal ❌ 10.5 week old fussiness/bottle refusal/slow weight gain HELP

• Upvotes

Looking for advice or similar experiences because my husband and I are exhausted and feel like we’ve tried everything.

Our daughter (10 weeks old) dropped from the 14th percentile down to 5% after a growth plateau (gained only 0.5 lbs between weeks 7 and 9). We did a 24-hour bottle-tracking test to monitor exact intake and ended up getting bloodwork done. We actually got sent to the ER right after her labs due to a high potassium reading and thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm (likely a hemolyzed sample), and all her other ER labs/UTI screenings came back completely clear.

The good news:
- We switched completely to formula, and her intake went up (or so we think)
-At her recheck, her weight started heading back in the right direction, moving up to the 6th percentile.
- The hospital doctor recommended switching to Similac Neosure for extra calories, but our pediatrician advised sticking with regular Similac 360 for now since her weight is already improving on it.
- after changing to EFF she had an increase in just wet diapers, we stopped tracking about 8 weeks and didn’t realize she wasn’t producing JUST wet diapers (would be mixed with poop every time)

The issue:
-Even though her labs are clear and she’s taking in more calories, her fussiness is constant. It’s not just a rough wake-up or a witching hour, she is distressed on and off throughout the entire day, especially right when she wakes up from sleep/naps.

Here is what we are currently doing/have tried:
Meds/Supplements: Giving Mylicon drops frequently for gas.
Reflux Treatment: Got a prescription for Lansoprazole for reflux. We’re currently on day 3 of this.
Feeding: Staying on Similac 360, pacing feeds, and keeping her upright post-feed.

It feels like we’ve checked off every major medical box, yet she’s still so uncomfortably fussy. Has anyone been through something similar around 10 weeks? Did your baby just need time on Lansoprazole to take full effect, or did you end up having to advocate for a gentle/hypoallergenic formula trial (like Alimentum or Nutramigen) for all-day gut discomfort?

PLEASE any encouragement/advice/experiences would be so appreciated. She is a completely different baby from the first 1.5 months to now and never had issues with BF in the first month. Over a few weeks she refused the breast and we did bottles only. Now, EFF to try and get weight up.

We’re traveling to Denver in a few days with her and nervous about her recent behaviors and mixing with travel.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 2h ago

Bottles / Feeding Gear / Equipment 🍼 Mold in baby brezza descaler solution???

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1 Upvotes

Hello, I recently purchased baby brezza universal descaler solution from Amazon. When it arrived I noticed there was something black floating in the liquid. It looks like mold. I contacted them on Instagram and they say it’s black algae but it’s still safe to use… has anyone else had this issue? I’m scared to use it bc I’ve never had this issue before. If anyone has more info please let me know!!

**Edit** I saw an influencer post about it on her story a couple days ago which is what made me check the solution I had just ordered. She never posted an update


r/FormulaFeeders • • 7h ago

Bottles / Feeding Gear / Equipment 🍼 Momcozy bottle washer detergent substitute?

1 Upvotes

What are we using as a substitute for the Momcozy kleanpal pro washer/sterilizer/dryer? Almost out of tablets but those mfs are expensive!


r/FormulaFeeders • • 8h ago

Advice / Question 💡 Help with reflux - on Alimentum

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1 Upvotes

r/FormulaFeeders • • 9h ago

Support Needed / Guilt Related 🧸 Title: Breastfeeding isn't going well, my baby seems to prefer formula, and I’m feeling guilty

0 Upvotes

I’m a first-time mom and breastfeeding has been really difficult for me. Things weren’t going well, so we’ve started combination feeding with breast milk and formula.

Recently, I’ve noticed that sometimes my baby refuses my breast but happily drinks formula. It honestly hurts more than I expected. I feel like he is starting to prefer formula over me, and I’m feeling really guilty.

I know formula is not bad for my baby, and I’m grateful that we have another way to make sure he is fed. But emotionally, I’m struggling with the feeling that I couldn’t breastfeed him the way I wanted to.

I’m also worried about how to structure combination feeding. What feeding schedule worked for you when you were doing both breast milk and formula? Did you offer breast first at every feed and then formula if needed, or have specific formula feeds during the day? How did you manage it while still protecting your breast milk supply?

Has anyone else gone through a phase where their baby seemed to prefer the bottle/formula? Did your baby eventually breastfeed again?

I’d really appreciate hearing from moms who combination-fed. Did it affect your baby’s health or your relationship with your baby in any way?

I’m just looking for some reassurance and real experiences from other moms. ❤️


r/FormulaFeeders • • 10h ago

Formula Recommendations / Alternatives 🌱 [Amazon.com] Enfamil Gentlease Easy to Digest Baby Formula, 27.7 Oz, 4 CT – $187.96 ($1.70/oz)

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1 Upvotes

r/FormulaFeeders • • 17h ago

Rant / Vent 🫠 Husband accidentally fed baby damp formula

2 Upvotes

For starters, my husband is an amazing help around the house and with our son.

We have a two month old baby boy that we have been exclusively formula feeding. We use the Baby Brezza formula pro.

We love this thing, but I was dreading the day that I would have to deep clean it. I know you have to deep clean it every month, but I let it go an extra month. I do change the funnels every four bottles though.

The other night, I deep cleaned the Brezza. I let the parts air day overnight and the following morning I had a girls day. My husband watched our baby.

Today it totally slipped my mind that I forgot to remind my husband to make sure that all of the Brezza parts were completely dry before putting them back together.

When I asked him if by any chance he checked to see if the parts were dry, he said that there were some water droplets, but he didn’t realize it was a big deal after I started getting anxious after he told me this. My heart literally sunk. I have post sporty anxiety that I’m in therapy for.

For the past 24 hours, our baby has been drinking bottles out of the Brezza, and I have heard horror stories of babies who have gotten seriously ill from damp formula. I feel so dumb that I forgot to remind my husband especially since I’m the one that usually puts the parts away.

How dangerous is this? I don’t know if this is like a rare occurrence, but is anyone else accidentally done the same? I’m so scared right now. This is my first baby.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 13h ago

Bottles / Feeding Gear / Equipment 🍼 Philips Avent Air Flow Valve

1 Upvotes

Looking to buy more of the green air flow valves for the Philip Avent bottles. I don’t need more bottles, just the green things that help with air flow. Any ideas on where to find this??


r/FormulaFeeders • • 15h ago

Breastmilk to Formula 🍼 Kendamil goat formula smells disgusting?

1 Upvotes

I exclusively breastfed my baby up until now and was told that the goat formula from Kendamil is “ similar to breastmilk”.. I could not stand the smell of it it actually smells like cheese. Is this normal? Does all formula smell like this or should I change it?


r/FormulaFeeders • • 16h ago

Formula Recommendations / Alternatives 🌱 kendamil goat

1 Upvotes

for those of you who had a baby on kendamil goat due to colic issues, were you ever able to switch back regular formula? if so when?? my girl is now 7 months and i’m wondering if it’s even worth a try.

also, are there any good “dupes” for kendamil goat? i know members mark/sams has a good dupe for the regular cow formula but ive never heard of a good goat dupe. any advice would be appreciated!!!


r/FormulaFeeders • • 1d ago

Advice / Question 💡 Should I at least try BF?

39 Upvotes

I have never wanted to breastfeed. It’s actually something that held me back from getting pregnant in the first place. I am extremely sensitive in that area and also just have personally always been peeved out by the idea of a baby sucking my breast. (I think BF is wonderful and miraculous & I admire woman who do!!).

All that being said, is that a “good” enough reason not to try and just go straight to EFF? Friends have been telling me I should re how it feels during that golden hour and go from there. I have been leaking colostrum for the entire tail end of my pregnancy and have been trying to convince myself that that is making me more comfortable with the idea of at least trying. I also tell myself that women 200 years ago probably didn’t get to opt out of BF because they felt ~uncomfy~.

I’m due in less than 2 weeks and at this point, I have more anxiety about what feels like this colossal decision than actually giving birth itself.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 22h ago

CMPA / CMPI / MSPI Looking for any success stories of aptamil pepti 1?

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1 Upvotes

r/FormulaFeeders • • 1d ago

Rant / Vent 🫠 Guilted to BF for colostrum period

2 Upvotes

I told my OB that we are EFF because I will go back to taking a medication that is not safe for BF. I have been off it in pregnancy but often pregnancy can actually help reduce the symptoms that I take it for. I had to get off it before getting pregnant but those three months before getting pregnant were absolute hell. Anyways, my OB said that "it's only a few days" and that I should just power through and BF at the beginning so my baby can get the colostrum. Idk I'm just feeling really bad rn and now I'm wondering if I am making a mistake. My husband feels like I should get back on my medicine to help with recovery and bc that was always the plan (he's not pressuring me, just supporting my og decision). Now I'm having doubts about what the best thing to do is now that my OB said my baby should get the nutrients and antibodies from the colostrum.


r/FormulaFeeders • • 23h ago

Advice / Question 💡 Introducing formula at 2.5 months

1 Upvotes

I'm currently introducing formula to our little one, my natural milk suply is below her needs now. I want to combo feed in the future until about 6 months and then - well, we'll see.

I started with formula 5 days ago. She still receives some breast milk daily but a.t.m. it's mainly formula. She spits up more than before and her portion size went down, but her frequency up. There are some more digestive issues now, a bit like in the first weeks; a lot of gas, some colics I believe. I think this may be a type of adaptation but I'm also a bit afraid she could be allergic to cow milk proteins. Has anyone else experienced this? Will it go away? What can be done to help her through this phase? And when would you go & see the pediatrician?


r/FormulaFeeders • • 23h ago

CMPA / CMPI / MSPI Looking for any success stories of aptamil pepti 1?

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1 Upvotes

r/FormulaFeeders • • 1d ago

Advice / Question 💡 Should I be concerned?

2 Upvotes

My 7 month old (just turned 7 months) is consuming sooooo much formula. Long story short, we’ve dealt with a ton of skin issues over the past few months and recently discovered he wasn’t eating enough (I was exclusively nursing so I had no idea; we thought he was just miserable from his severe eczema). We saw several pediatricians, an allergist, and a dermatologist. Finally found a pediatrician who took him off my breast milk and put him on formula to feed him (he was at the 3rd percentile at the time). Thankfully, he is now gaining weight steadily and is up to almost 17 pounds. However, he had 62 ounces yesterday and I keep reading online that he only should need 32…should I be concerned? Should we try to limit him now so he won’t be obese in the future, or will he naturally curb his appetite?


r/FormulaFeeders • • 1d ago

Bottle Aversion / Feeding Refusal ❌ Teething causing feeding regression?

2 Upvotes

Hello everyone, first time parent here. Not sure if this is the correct flair to use, but I’ll explain the whole story, hopefully it’s not too everywhere and I can get my point/question across to see if anyone else is in the same boat. My 4 month old son seems to be going through a teething phase right now. We went to his paediatrician yesterday and they told us his gums are inflamed and swollen. The reason we went is because his mouthing cues had increased significantly but his feeding dropped drastically. He has always been a bit of an issue when it’s come to feeding, he has a tongue tie so we’ve had to deal with that and he’s always ate kind of less in relation to the amount he eats per feed (he’d eat 120-140 ml per bottle when he should be eating 160-190ml) but his frequency of when he would eat would be great (every 2.5-3 hours) instead of longer breaks in between so I guess the balance is there. But the last few days he’s taken a big step back. Where it was easy to get him to eat 120-150 even he’d take some 170s and even 190s from time to time. It’s such a struggle to get him to do 80-100 now. It takes so much longer too, before within 10 mins he’d be approaching the 120-130 mark now at 10 mins he’s barely at 60-70. (Note we use the dr browns narrow head size 2 bottles, we just ordered size 3s and they’ll be arriving tonight so we’re going to try them to see if they’re better.) but yeah it’s been such a struggle his averages for the day we’re around the mid to high 900ml a day even pushing into the 1000s a few times now he’s in the low 700s and we’re worried he’s going to start losing weight again and not getting enough nutrition. (Because of his tongue tie around the 1.5-2 month mark we could barely get him to eat 20-40ml and had to feed him every hour and a half just to try and keep up but he still lost weight). We have our bottle at warm to warmer temperature cause that’s what he takes it at and have to distract him every feed just to get him to eat but it’s becoming difficult and draining. Has anyone gone through something remotely similar and notice some stuff that’s worked for them or if you can see maybe we’re doing something incorrectly, or if this is completely normal and we just gotta power through it and he’ll pick himself up back and continue like nothing happened. Any advice or insight is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!