Question
Weaning baby that doesn't like formula
My baby is almost 6 months old. I am ready to wean him from breastmilk. He can't stand the bottle nipple or the formula. What can I do?!!!
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7 Answers
My baby hated the bottle when we started daycare. It turned out she had thrush, I felt really bad about trying to force the bottle on her for so long. She finally took the bottle after 4 months trying to cure the thrush. We tried many nipples (on peoples advice) and also got her used to the sippy cup early. Check that your baby is healthy then start trying other nipples and bottles and the sippy cup. Mix breast milk with formula untill he is used to the tast. And be open to the idea that he may just need to nurse a little longer. Maybe let him night time nurse but no daytime nursing for awhile.good luck.
While personal opinions seems to vary widely on the subject, most pediatricians nowadays recommend that you nurse your baby for a full year. Many babies' digestive systems are really not ready for solids despite lots of grandmas insisting on that rice cereal asap so he'll "sleep through the night". For the same reason, they often really can't do formula. They are cow milk proteins or soy milk proteins (VERY allergenic) that just don't come anywhere near the same in content as your own milk that is created just for him. If you are really tired of nursing, you might try pumping and storing breastmilk instead and work on introducing him to a bottle of breastmilk instead of formula, which can upset babies' tender tummies. This way dad can help take over some of the feeding duties that might be tiring you out and your baby will continue to receive the benefit of great nutrition and antibodies (and smarts!) from your milk. If he refuses a bottle, try breastmilk in a sippy cup. Good luck! Hang in there...
missiv,
ITA with splashnw said to you and also, he/she should lead the weaning process from the breast then you. This also goes for starting solids in my eyes as well.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Jessica, Hippie Feminist, Trying to Go Organic, No Circ or Vaccinations, Learning (All these will be used now and in Future as well)
Jessica, Hippie Feminist, Trying to Go Organic, No Circ or Vaccinations, Learning (All these will be used now and in Future as well)
Although I also go with the bf as long as possible, I suggest through the cold and flu season at least. Pump if you don't bf even if it is only a little the anti-bodies will help keep baby healthier.
My neice wouldn't take a bottle so eventually they tried a sippy cup, and that finally worked. Also have dad try to give the bottle because the baby will associate you with the breast. The avent sippy inserts work well. Start by giving sippys of breast milk and slowly add formula increasing the ratio over time.
Good luck,
Great job breastfeeding for 6 months!!!!!!!!
Christine
While most of us will agree that breastfeeding is best, if you feel it's time to wean, don't let others make you feel badly for doing so.
I'd suggest changing to a soy based formula (because the milk based really is harder to digest) and remain consistant. Millions of babies never see the breast, and are fed solely on formula from day one... it'll be an adjustment because of the difference in taste and digestability, but if you're convinced it's time - all that's left is patience and staying strong!
{hug}
I would be very careful with using soy formulas. Research is showing that soy can be more allergenic than cow milk, and as difficuly to digest. Try milk-based formulas first, as the baby's refusal of the bottle os more likely a refusal of the bottle, not the milk inside.
My experience is similar to what Erin said. My baby would not take to the bottle (I tried 6 different teats) and she wouldn't accept formula AT ALL.
I tried absolutely everything everyone told me to, I was told: if she's hundry she'll take it. Not true, just made her and me really stressed!
On top of it all I was starting to wean her but she showed no interest in solids. All she wanted was to breastfeed.
Two things happened that changed it all:
1- I was in a friends house and I didn't manage to feed her until 20/30 minutes past her usual feeding time- she started showing interest in solids. After that the amounts of food just increased.
When that happened I managed to cut down the breastfeeds to only twice a day - morning and bedtime.
2- Turned out she had an allergy to cow based formula.
We started then mixing the soy based formula in her food, to get her used to the taste of it.
Sometimes we would put it into the sipper cup (she would take one or two sips and that was it).
And every so often (not at any regular times) we would offer her a bottle with the soy based formula, just to let her play with it, bite it, chew on it, do whatever.
Miraculously three days ago, in one of those playing with the bottle times she took it! (she's now 7 and a half months old).
I'm still breastfeeding in the mornings but managed substitute the night feed by the bottle.
Hope this can be of help to you!