Weaning Baby from Breast

Hi H.,

I am with Jessica E.--try a sippy cup!

Also, contact your local La Leche League group and maybe go to a meeting (every so often a group will usually have a meeting devoted to the topic of weaning--but all questions about any aspect of breastfeeding are always welcome). Or the Leader can give you info over the phone. Their toll free number is 1-800-LA LECHE. If you call they will put you in touch with a Leader near you. Or try searching for them online, I'm sure they have a website, just don't know what it is.

It's great that you are breastfeeding him--I know you say you want to wean, but I hope you will at least consider continuing nursing, especially if you will be working more soon. You may be bringing home more germs from work, nursing will help him fend those off. Also, a healthy baby means fewer sick days you have to take, in order to take care of him (be aware that some day cares don't want sick kids there).

Congrats on your little guy, and good luck! Enjoy him, he'll be grown sooner than you think!

K. Z.

Why wean him? I nursed my older son until he was 18 months and my younger son until he was 3 years old. As they got older they took most fluids from a cup, but the breast milk continued to be a source of nourishment and emotional support. One's a lawyer now and the other almost a doctor.

First check around to see if you can find a nipple from at the store that is simular to the breast NUK or something like that also get him a sippy cup, try putting water combined with brown sugar in the bottle, give it to him once a day, if he acts like he doesn't want to take it squirt it into his mouth so that he can taste what you are giving. THey like that flavor, if that works then keep feeding the water once a day, and add a if you give him try to give him a small amount of milk with the bottle add more after a few days, always hold him in the exact same position that you do when breast feeding, close when he is close to you that isn't playtime that is supper time farther away is play time. suppliment his diet with cereal & fruit, I used to buy the cheap bottles and cut an X in the top and put milk, cereal, & bannana's in a small amount and gave it to them at bed time & morning or they have a feeder out can't remember the name. feed him with a spoon & sippy cup if the above doesn't work. My middle child & baby were both breast feed, with my middle one I learned a hard lesson, I kept her in the hospital room with me and fed and only breast fed her. she was 2 yrs old before I totally got her off the breast, nap time & bedtime she wanted it but I fought from 10 months on even had her potty trained by a year old. with the baby I made them feed him 2 x's a day at the hospital, he didn't sleep in my room. they fed him in middle of the night and early morning. I brought him home and gave him a water bottle once a day, he was weined by a year old. eating table food using a sippy cup and nursed him at bed time. He stopped completely at 18 months, I kept bed time because that was our time. I had 2 older children

Best recommendation is "Don't offer to nurse him, but if he asks, don't refuse".
However, he is pretty young.
As for giving him a bottle, it would be better if your husband could do this, as he recognizes you only for the breast.
That is why you are having such difficulty at this age.

Since he is 9 months old, he is big enough to drink from a cup. It may take a bit more time and practice at first, but in the long run, it definitely worth it! Why give him a bottle that you will have to wean him from again in a few months? Babies don't have to drink from bottles - it is just what we are used to seeing - cups are perfectly fine once they are over 6 months old. Good luck - your breastmilk and nursing is giving him what he needs to reach his full potential - good job!!

I guess I'm wondering why you are tricking your son into taking a bottle at all? He knows what's best and it's hard to get them to take anything else at his age.