Help Weaning from Breastfeeding. Will Not Take a Bottle or Sippy

Have you tried a regular cup? My daughter (now 3) would never take a bottle of anything so I sympathize. Hang in there!

If she is eating well, why not just let her have water from a cup, and then just offer her more snacks like cheese and yogurt, instead of drinking milk? At your 12 month check up, I would bring in a couple day log of foods that she eats and see if she is getting a balanced diet and enough calories at her solid food feedings, and if so- maybe you could start weaning her off nursing then?

In my opinion, she isn't ready yet (even though you are!). She is still very young..... You could nurse a while longer and then try again or offer both breastfeeding and cups (at meals and snacks). Go easy whatver you do ----- it's better for both of you not to be stressed! Take care!

Hi L.,
I would try giving the sippy cup without the little insert in the cap. That way the milk will just flow out. It will make a little bit of a mess, but after a day or two they usually get the idea of the sippy cup and you will be able to put it back in. I wouldn't even bother with the bottle since they reccomend you take the bottle away at a year. This way you won't have to deal with the transition from bottle to sippy.

At 11 months old she can have regular whole milk in a sippy. Try warming it and then try serving it cold. use the same cup she likes to drink water from. also make sure she's hungry. don't offer to nurse first thing in the morning. save that sepcial time for nap and bedtime only. then you can slowly cut those two times out when shes comfortable drinking from a cup.

My third was also my longest nurser, we finally weaned at 12 1/2 months. He just was not ready to let it go. Even though I was. The past suggestions are good ones, try using a cup without a lid. My son did that with little problem. Now that he is 14 months old he does great with bottle, sippy, even to my amazement a straw! So just give it a few weeks and as you know...things will change again! Pretty soon you too will have your body back!

Good luck, H. (SAHM 5, 3, and 14 months old boys)

Hi L.,
I hear your pain- my dd would never take a bottle, either. But there is no reason to push it at her age. She will be able to transition to cow's milk in a month, and I would just put it in a cup without a lid. Help her to use it at first, and she'll catch on quickly (babies at birth can drink from a cup with help). And don't fret about weaning at a given age- if you are ok with continuing nursing, let her continue a bit longer. The World Health Organization recommends nursing at least 2 years.

will she drink from a straw try a straw sippy cup or a cup and bendy straw.... good luck mother of 4 13 11 8 and 16mths K. d

I read all the responses that discouraged you from weaning. Whatever your reason it is a personal decision and you should not feel pressure to continue breastfeeding. You know when the time is right for your family.

Many babies have trouble with the transision. My pediatrician used to say that if your child is hungry she will take the sippy with the milk. I would stand firm and not offer her the chance to breast feed. She obviously can use the sippy because she takes water. Once she realizes she has no choice she will take the milk. Your baby will not let herself starve! It is just a war of the minds and being stubborn. It also might help if you only have her dad feed her in the beginning. If dad is handing her the milk she might not fight it as much. Good luck!

Hi L.-
My son didn't want to take milk at first either. He would refuse it every time. I wouldn't try to get your daughter to take a bottle... since that will be another hard habit to break later. :) The thing that worked for me was taking a break. After the first week or so of failure... we went on a trip and I just nursed. When we got back, he took the sippy like a champ. One thing I do that seems to help is giving him the milk when he wakes up from his nap. But don't worry! It'll work out! My son is 16 months old and weaned by 14 months. Good luck! :)

I 2nd Jill O. she said it best!!!!!Good Luck w/whatever YOU deside.

Have you tried letting someone else feed her with you out of the room?

Good luck.

M.

why are you weaning? She may just not be ready. My oldest weaned herself at 11 1/2 months, my youngest I just had to stop cold turkey when she was 15 months. Don't feel like like you have to wean just because the 1 year mark is coming. Try to go with the natural progress of it and it may be a little easier and less aggravating. Good luck!

It sounds as if she isn't quite ready? Is there a reason you need to wean her now? My 13-month-old still can't figure out a cup, but he can do a bottle.

When my daughter was 9 months old she self weaned from breast feeding and never took a bottle or sippy and I too paniced!! WE went to see the PEd who not only encouraged me to use a regular open top cup, but also straws and straw cups, advised giving water filled foods like water melon, adding extra liquid to foods when possible...etc... but at 11 months old most of your child's nutrients should come from the solid foods she eats anyway, as she'll be on whole cows milk once she's a year. So focus on a well balanced diet, and as long as she's crying tears and having wet diapers no worries!! Good luck!

The sweet little thing needs you still! I nursed until my son was 2 and a half and it was one of the best things I ever did. See if you can go a little while longer; it will pay off in her better health and psychological security! Hope this helps.