Weening a Reluctant Child?

Has she never had a bottle? If this is the case, she most likely will NOT take a bottle if you are the one offering it. You might have your husband try to offer it, with you out of the room. Seeing you in the room, offering something artificial when she can smell and see you is confusing for a baby. Don't bother offering a pacifier. That is just an annoying thing you will have to wean her from and from what I've heard from other parents, can be a long and tedious process. None of my 4 babies ever had a pacifier. Yes, mine were breastfed, except my third child who could not breastfeed but he never took a pacifier either. If you don't offer it, they will never know to miss it.

So sorry you are having to face this challenge. I hope it works out for you.
Don't go cold turkey. It will upset her more. Get your husband to help and eventually, in a day or two, she will take the bottle.

You need to try different bottles and nipples. See which one she will take. Have someone else, give her the bottle. This is how it will be, once you are at work.. someone else will have to, feed her.

Many Moms still nurse even if their baby gets a tooth or teeth. You tell her NO and detach her when she bites. They learn to stop biting.

Not all babies take a pacifier. My daughter NEVER would. My son did. A baby does not have to... take a pacifier. Also, if using a pacifier, it ALSO means that the parent has to learn to discern between the baby's cues. ie: does your baby just need pacifying... OR is the baby HUNGRY? You need to know those cues. Many times, a pacifier is used so much... and then the baby is not getting enough feedings. Because, the pacifier is used to replace... feedings. When in actuality a "fussy" baby is actually HUNGRY. So a pacifier at these times, is not the solution.

Just going cold turkey will not make a baby, take a bottle if they refuse a bottle.

My daughter, would NEVER NEVER take a bottle, even if I tried many different approaches and bottles. She just hated, bottles. Some babies will not take a bottle. And I just breastfed. But so you have to be very careful, that baby does not get, dehydrated.

A baby does not "drink" or nurse, because they are "thirsty." A baby... feeds because they are HUNGRY. Breastmilk or Formula, is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition for the 1st year of life. Even solids, is not as nutritionally dense, as breastmilk or Formula. And when hitting growth-spurts... a baby will get hungrier more often and need to feed, more and more often.

When I watched our twin grandsons at times they refused to take a bottle. It took months to get them to do that and so I would start now and give your milk in a bottle. You may need to try several nipples before you find one she'll take. Don't do cold turkey for one so young and if you're going to pump it will be okay for you but if you just stop and go to formula be prepared for very sore breasts. I nursed my last 2 until one year old with many teeth so you can work that part out.

No, please don't go cold turkey. It will be so hard for her, and you'll end up with clogged ducts and possibly mastitis. You'll need to go slowly, drop no more than 1 feeding per week. I'd start with the one you'll need to miss for work. If that's mid-afternoon, then start by offering her a bottle at the time when you would normally feed her in the afternoon. She may not like formula, so you may need to pump some milk and mix them together - 1/3 formula, 2/3 breast milk, then gradually cut back on the amount of breast milk, and increase the amount of formula over time. Usually the nursing sessions first thing in the morning and just before bed are the last to go.

By the way, a tooth/biting can be handled quickly and easily. When she bites, take her off of the breast with a firm 'NO BITING'. Not yelling, just firm. Wait a minute or two, then put her on the other side. She'll crying while she's off, but it will only take a few times until she gets the idea - she bites, she gets removed from food.

Updated: I just read your SWH. I did not know you were going to continue to pump. That changes things a lot. No need to wean her then. Nurse her whenever you are home. Have your childcare provider offer her bottles of breastmilk when you are gone, or even a sippy cup with the valve taken out so she can figure out what's in there.

Some babies are very strong willed, and will hold out for their moms. They make it work too. We don't panic when a baby goes 8 hours without eating at night. No need to panic if she does it during the day. She'll just want to eat a lot when you are together. Here are some links to explain what I mean:
http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/reverse-cycling/

Also, here's one on handling the biting:
http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/biting/

Do you need to wean her or do you just need her to take a bottle? If she is biting, tell her "no" and take a break for a bit. She will learn.

You can either supplement with formula during the day and continue to nurse when you are home or you can pump a bottle of milk for her. It doesn't need to be cold turkey or all or nothing. Friend of mine has a DD about that age that won't take a bottle, but they use sippy cups and she's fine.

Kellymom.com has tips on both.

If she is biting, a stern "No" and then break the suction. She will understand and stop. We have all gone through teething.

Can you pump while you are at work? I did. I pumped on every break for 6 months, so I breast fed for a total of 12 months.

When I weaned, she was already used to a bottle, however, did enjoy the comfort. I talked to her a few months along the way and told her when she had her first birthday she had to be a big girl and drink from a cup. The morning of her birthday, I told her she had to drink out of a cup today because mom wasn't going to feed her anymore. We really didn't have any problems.