Due to circumstances beyond my control, Baby J will no longer be an exclusively breastfed baby for a little while.  I need to supplement her with formula at least by half.

I think I have most of the details squared away- I have a hospital grade pump to keep my supply up, we’ve introduced an artificial nipple and she’ll eat (she still refuses any paci, though), and I’ve confirmed with my doctor and the pediatrician that some breastfeeding is okay for now so our co-sleeping will stay the same.  I bought a bottle brush and a single can of milk based formula to hold us over until I can do more research.

BUT -it’s been a long time since I bought formula or went for a ride on the wash-fill-heat-feed merry go round that is bottle feeding.  I totally nurse because I’m lazy.  I nursed Baby A until she was 14 months old and I was 3 months pregnant and couldn’t stand it anymore.  X nursed until he was 15 months old.  My (now) 5 year old was my last formula baby!

I need your help.  Mamas, if you would answer for me in the comments I’d be much obliged!  Baby J is a 7 week old piglet, a good size healthy baby with no health problems.

(I know, these are loaded questions.  Let’s just all be friends and share what works for us, mkay?  No attacking other people.  Play nice!  Breast is best, but not everyone can breastfeed.)

What’s the best formula I won’t do soy, but I sure would like to find an organic brand without sugar (I’m looking at you, Similac Organic!  Just because it’s organic sugar doesn’t mean it belongs in the first three ingredients!) or corn syrup solids.  Althouh at least organic corn syrup solids aren’t GMO.

Which bottles do you like? I have an old Playtex nurser I used a couple of times, because it’s so convenient to use the Gerber breast milk storage bags with them.  Baby J will eat from those.  I have a BPA free Gerber Orhtodontic Nuk bottle with a wide nipple right now that Baby J seems to like too.  But I’m going to have to buy more than one bottle.  I prefer reusable ones to the Playtex nurser, because I don’t want to have to keep buying inserts.

What’s the most efficient way to heat up a bottle? I’ve never used filtered water for bottles before, when I bottle fed in the past I always used warm tap water.  But now that I know how many VOCs, pharmaceuticals, hormone residue, and worse is in tap water, we’re definitely using Berkey water for our baby.Right now, I’m using my electric kettle to heat water, pour it in a pan, and heat the bottle.

A bottle warmer seems like a pricey unnecessary at this point, although if I needed it upstairs at night I’m sure I’d change my mind.

Do you know anyone who has made their own formula, using the Weston A. Price method or some other recipe?  Do they have blogs/websites?  I must admit I’m fascinated yet frightened at the prospect.  I know my husband won’t do it, and I might not be able to, so that’s not really an option for us right now.  I’m just curious!

Any tips and tricks are appreciated.