Introducing formula to a BF 7 month old

[summerbaby]

Due to my dwindling BM supply, DD's ped recommended supplementation with formula. We never really gave a bottle to DD and she's just starting to figure out a sippy cup. She takes a few sips of water a day after her solids. I'm not sure what would be the best way to give her a few oz. of formula a day. Bottles made for BF babies? [Which ones?] Sippy cups? Straw sippers? [Ped said to try] Does anyone have any suggestions? I never thought that we'd give her formula, which is the reason why we didn't introduce a bottle when she was younger. Thanks for your help!

[Marisa]

At her age there really isn't a need for her to take a bottle; she's probably sitting up well and can take a few oz. from a sippy (probably with your help until she gets it down).

Although straw cups seem to be labelled for older infants and toddlers, my son never liked the regular sippys and only would drink from a straw cup. Of course, the milk comes out much faster, so again, you'd have to sit right there and watch her with it until she gets used to the flow.

[summerbaby]

Thanks Marisa! Seems like I keep "bumping" into you with all my posts. :) How old was your son when he started using a straw? You're right, I rather not introduce a bottle at this age. I'll keep trying the sippy cup with her. By the way, thanks for your suggestion on trying a later bed time from my last post regarding crying 30 minutes into sleep. It has worked beautifully. You saved my life!:)

[Marisa]

I'm glad it worked! :) It's only trial-and-error, you know -- we went through the same things. If my experience can save someone from having to make the same mistakes, then I'm very happy to share! :)

My son was somewhere in the 7-8 month range when I started trying different types of sippy cups. Although I started offering solids at 6, 6.5 months, he didn't really take to them too much. However, when he was sitting up in his highchair well, he'd eat a few Gerber puffs or cheerios. It was around that time that I'd put a cup with some water there on the tray too. (More likely than not, without some help, he'd just shake it on himself!)

The cups that worked the best for us, aside from the straw cup, was also the Nuby cup that they sell at Walmart -- they're very inexpensive and have a soft silicone spout -- sort of a hybrid between a cup and a bottle. They're so cheap that it'd wouldn't be a huge investment if your baby doesn't happen to like them.