Any help please...

[Panda_Ally]

This seems like a taboo question really...

I'm going to start weaning holly off the boob and my plan was to do it slowly substitute one feed every 2 - 3 weeks so really slowly so its gentle for both her and me. but she just wont take the bottle she will scream for 40/50 mins before she either gives in and takes the bottle or falls asleep. I try to do an afternoon feed so she hopefully wont b too tired or hungry. I feel horrible doing it to her as i no she wouldnt b getting this upset if i just BF her, but on the other hand i dont want to give in cos then she will never take to bottle.

I have tryed all 3 major brands of formula and she seems to have no preferance, ive tryed warming the milk, cooling it and at room temp, and ive tryed regular bottle and TTCTN ones and she still wont take it!!

I dont no what to do, any suggestions much appeciated...

EDIT: I should also say that a cant express cos i dont get anything out an oz if im lucky!!

 

[Serene123]

I think I would try EBM at first, so it's the same but in a bottle, to get her used to the bottle flow etc, but I've never done it. Hopefully someone will have some experienced information for you x

 

[Always&4ever]

Maybe try a different bottle, we use Dr Brown's and they are expensive but Jasmine took to those soo well

 

[alice&bump]

what bottles are you using hun? we tried katie with loads and the only one she'd take was a mam one. it was a slow process, i started giving her formula from a sippy cup about 1/2 an hour before i knew she's get hungry, and just pouring it into her mouth and she kinda got used to the flavour. its all baby steps really, she started off taking less than an ounce and it gradually buitl up. hope you start gettin somewhere soon xx

 

[mommyof3co]

Have you tried letting someone else feed her and you being out of the room? She might be more willing if she doesn't smell your milk

 

[alice&bump]

ooo yea and apparently they can smell your mikl from 20feet away!! i used to shut all the doors in the house and get as far away from katie as i could!!

 

[Panda_Ally]

Thanks guys any advice helps, i posted this on another forum and all i got back was "world health organisation suggests feeding for a year so y r u stopping blah blah blah"

Thanks for not judging me for wanting to stop sooner

 

[Serene123]

I am curious as to why you're stopping but only because I'm nosey

 

[Always&4ever]

We would never judge hon

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think the girls have made all the suggestions I would have. Take it steady and maybe try expressing like Toria suggested so at least the milk is familiar. I know you said you cant express but everyone starts off not even getting an oz - like most things with BF it takes perseverence and regular practice

 

[Panda_Ally]

I'm stopping cos i got to go back to work in september and i thought i would start early as i want it to be a slow and gentle transition. Do u think im starting to early?? I'm gunna change 1 feed every 2 -3 weeks so shes on 6 feeds a day so it will take me a couple of months

 

[Mervs Mum]

I'm going back in september and we havent started yet.....

 

[Panda_Ally]

Do u think i should wait until i wean her then? i was just worried it might b too much change at once.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Personally I'd wait - you are going to find when she starts on solids she will drop feeds so that will cut the feeds down anyway.

 

[Panda_Ally]

But do u think a couple of weeks will b long enough to wean her off completly??

 

[Mervs Mum]

I cant say for sure because they are all different. I wouldnt worry about it but I'm not a worrier. I believe in making things happen so I'm confident that I'll have the right solution for me by the time I go to work. My LO is 7 months old so about the same age Holly will be in september? I have been to work all day friday and half of today without much preparation. She BFs when she wakes, she eats a breakie at 8.30am, a small solid lunch (only just replaced a BF with this in the last week) and EBM around 3pm, solid tea at 4.30pm and I BF her before bed. The only thing I've had to 'introduce' because of work is the EBM which is usually a BF.

Obviously you need to get her to take a bottle but I dont think you need 3/4 months to do that. Seems daft buying formula when she will drop BFs for solids when you wean.....

 

[Mervs Mum]

I hit post before I'd finished then... Added an edit

Also if she wont take a bottle (which the vast majority of babies will) then you can go with a sippy cup.....there are options. Seems a shame for her to missout on all that BM when thing are going so well.

 

[Panda_Ally]

Hmmm maybe i am being a little over cautious with the timing... i might try expressing again and give her some EBM feeds so shes gets used to the botle.

Thanks for all ur advise mervs mum!! U really r a BFing star!!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

I can see why you want to 'get it right'. Going back to work is a big deal and of course you dont any extra issues added in to it.

Here's what I'd do in your shoes - I'd start weaning just after 5 months (dont shoot me purists!) and in the meantime try a bit more expressing and try a bottle when ever you have enough for a feed. When I started expressing it took me 5 days to gather a feed together ie. the lenght of time it's safe to keep BM in the fridge. Gather your little bitsd of BM together and when you have a few oz try giving it to her but do if between feeds - so she's not too hungry that she gets upset but she's hungry enough to be tempted by it.

 

[alice&bump]

apparently doidy cups are really good and simple to use, especially if she wont take a hard spout. i know lilbump uses one and i think uv uses one too xx