Need help weaning when refusing bottle...

[MissTanya]

Was anyone here in a similar situation who can offer advice??.....

My boy is 6 months and I've kept up Breastfeeding on demand as we are travelling long haul next week and Breastfeeding is so much easier when travelling. However once we get back (in 3 weeks time) I would like to wean off Breastfeeding. (Ps don't judge me!!) I have a couple of marathons to run starting in April and I am so exhausted from feeding 2-4 times per night, it's making training difficult, plus I will need to be away from him during the marathons anyway, so he needs to be on a bottle by then at the latest.

We have tried everything for about 3 months now trying to get him to take a bottle, but nothing works. I've purchased too many different bottles to try, different sippy cups, tried normal cups too. He won't take from anyone, even if I am out of the house. He won't take expressed milk nor formula. So...

How the heck do I wean him off the boob starting in 3 weeks time??

The only thing I can think of (since cutting feeds slowly won't work, as he won't take a bottle for a single feed now) is to make him go cold turkey... And when he is hungry enough he will eventually eat from a bottle. But that seems so harsh and I'm not sure I could bare to watch him upset and hungry.

Was there anything that worked for you? Or did anyone achieve it by going cold turkey???

 

[mommy0629]

I don't have any experience, but I do have an "idea" lol - what if you started off bf'ing him for a few minutes and then took away your breast and slipped the bottle in there lol. Not that it would fool him or anything, but maybe it would help him get the idea? I'm assuming you've tried the bottles with the nipples that are "natural" shaped? and you warmed the milk up?

 

[MissTanya]

Thanks... Unfortunately have tried that too... Doesn't work.

 

[Mrs_T]

Hiya. I had the same problem only 2 weeks ago (minus the marathon bit lol!!!). I'd tried everything and was considering going cold turkey but someone on here gave me the best advise - she said pick one bottle and teat and stick with it, then choose 1 feed a day to replace with a bottle (try to do one when you know your baby is hungry and they aren't over tired). Offer the bottle and if they refuse, leave it and baby has to wait til the next bf or solid feed. With Lily, I had 2 horrendous afternoons where she refused the bottle, screamed and cried but then day 3 she got the message. After a few days I replaced another feed with a bottle and now, 2 weeks on, she is only bf before bed and twice in the night. It has made me realise she was feeding from me way more than she needed to.

The other thing we do is put a little bit of something tasty (jam, lemon curd etc) on the teat and a bit on your finger. Let them suck it off your finger to get the taste, then offer the teat - this would get lily going and once she started she'd drink quite happily.

The combination of these too things worked for us - hope they might for you too! It is hard watching them upset, knowing you can give them what they want but it was only for 2 days for us! Feel free to pm me anytime

 

[RoseArcana]

Hiya. I had the same problem only 2 weeks ago (minus the marathon bit lol!!!). I'd tried everything and was considering going cold turkey but someone on here gave me the best advise - she said pick one bottle and teat and stick with it, then choose 1 feed a day to replace with a bottle (try to do one when you know your baby is hungry and they aren't over tired). Offer the bottle and if they refuse, leave it and baby has to wait til the next bf or solid feed. With Lily, I had 2 horrendous afternoons where she refused the bottle, screamed and cried but then day 3 she got the message. After a few days I replaced another feed with a bottle and now, 2 weeks on, she is only bf before bed and twice in the night. It has made me realise she was feeding from me way more than she needed to.

The other thing we do is put a little bit of something tasty (jam, lemon curd etc) on the teat and a bit on your finger. Let them suck it off your finger to get the taste, then offer the teat - this would get lily going and once she started she'd drink quite happily.

The combination of these too things worked for us - hope they might for you too! It is hard watching them upset, knowing you can give them what they want but it was only for 2 days for us! Feel free to pm me anytime

Thank you so much for this! Have managed to turn refusal into drinking a couple of ounces! Am continuing tomorrow.