I am going back to work Monday the 27th. Starting last week I've been trying to get my 9 month old son used to childcare. He's being cared for in another woman's home. This woman came highly recommended and I like her. He's getting used to being there and is happy enough, but he's not drinking from a cup or bottle. He's been breastfed his entire life and is a healthy big boy. He's refused when my husband has earlier tried cup and bottle. We did try to get him used to a bottle /cup before taking him to daycare. He will eat cereal made with breastmilk or formula and some prepared babyfood and cheerios. But he's not drinking. This week he had two long days (8-3) then back at home of course he's making up for this, nursing a lot in the evening and every two hours all night.
Any suggestions for getting my baby to drink while I'm away? I looked briefly at the Kellymom website, but didn't see much about older babies. Baby's nurse practioner suggested we may try a syringe. I'm afraid if he keeps refusing we're going to be really exhausted really quickly staying up all night nursing. The nurse said, yes, he may just end up eating mostly in the evening and at night. This seems like a really bad situation to me.
This was my story many years ago with my first! Also nine months old and tried several different nipples/ bottles/cups. With 1 day left at home and out of desperation/frustration, I placed her on the floor and handed her a bottle and told her I didn't know what more to do! She took to the bottle right away, she wanted to do it on her own! Lol. Good luck.
What are you sending with him to the daycare? It isn't quite the same situation, but when we were trying to get my son (who was about 6 months at the time) to switch to bottles, he was having none of it. I left the house and let husband try, etc. Nothing doing. But, when we went to visit my mom, husband and I went to see a movie and left son with my mom and a bottle of formula, trusting that she would make it work.
She did. He was fussy about it for maybe a couple of minutes, but when we came home from our "date" he was happily drinking away from a bottle (formula). And I was able to feed him with the bottle as well, (we were worried he would reject it if I were to be the one giving it to him). Never had a problem after that.
Have you sent bottles of formula to the daycare for him? She may be able to get him to drink it, when you can't at home.
I'm sorry if this isn't helpful, but I'm not clear on exactly what you have tried with him. I know you tried, unsuccessfully, the cup/bottle at home, but not sure what the daycare has been doing when he is THERE.
Hi J.,
We had this same issue, as well. Daughter was exclusively breastfed. We initiated pumped breast milk via bottle a few weeks after birth. Utterly rejected. We tried various bottles/nipples, to no avail. At 4 months I went back to work and supplied my MIL with bottles of breastmilk and hoped for the best. On some days my MIL was able to get her to take 1-4 ounces of breastmilk. Some days none. Since she was only 4 months old, she wasn't on any form of solids so I was totally panicking. Then I read in Dr. Sears Baby Book that bottle strikes are not uncommon and many times parents will have to realize that baby will wait for you and you will both embark on marathon nursing sessions in the evening. Sure enough, I became a human milk machine from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning. I'm not going to say it was easy, because it wasn't. Our daughter stayed in our room at night and at some point we carefully initiated a family bed situation so that nursing could easily continued and I wouldn't have to get out of bed. It wasn't ideal, but we got through it. I wish I had other advice. I can only commiserate!! Good luck!
You can also try taking the spout out of the sippy and putting just a small amount of your warmed milk in it. Yes, he'll make a mess but it will also help him to understand what the cup is for. I started my youngest playing with the sippy this way when she was 6 months old and also exclusively breastfed. Didn't take her long to get the hang of it and I could replace the spout.
I have a big, healthy 9mo girl in my child care who is exactly the same. She took a bottle from me fine before she left for the summer (both parents are teachers). Now, nothing.
After much consultation with parents, child care food program, drs, etc, we have decided to keep trying a cup/sippy daily, but forget the bottle. We would try to wean her from that in just a couple of months anyway... She gets breastmilk mixed with her cereal and some fruits/veggies/proteins. I keep track of amts for Mom. Lately I have been able to get her to take
1/2-2 oz from a cup/straw. Everyday is improving slightly. She still nurses in the am and evenings. Mom is not nursing her at night...even when she fusses. She does not need it at night...and your guy probably doesn't either.
Breastfed babies will get what they need from mom. They will get it whenever you give it to them....if you are willing to nurse around the clock, he'll take it! Doesn't mean he needs it. If you nurse in the morning and evening, your milk will change to give him what he needs. He will be fine through the night. Might not be thrilled at first, but will not starve!
As long as he is happy during the day, having wet/poopy diapers, and drs are satisfied with growth, there should be no worries!
My daughter was the same way. Try switching bottles as another mom recommended. My daughter would only take bottles that resembled the shape of the breast. We were using playtex drop-in's at the time, not sure it they're still around but there are many similar ones out there on the market.
I would try different bottles he may not like what you have offered. My breast fed 10 month old will drink out of Dr Browns. You may have to try a few before you find one he likes. Good luck.
Give him something sweet in the cup or bottle to get the ball rolling, once he has successfully drank from the bottle or cup he will begin to get used to it and start drinking plain formula. (Juice, a little ovaltine in his formula, pediasure) I know we dont want to start that with a nine month old but just once to let him know he Can drink out of a cup. This is how I persuaded my reluctant little one to try a sippy cup, to try a cup without a lid, to try feeding himself with a spoon. I only needed to give him the sweet treat ONCE and then the spoon or cup was an Old friend.
