I need to wean my 8 mnth old by the end of the week but she won't take a bottle.have been trying for 3 weeks.

Question

My husband and I are going away in about a week for 8 days and are leaving my 8 month old with her grandma. She won't drink from a bottle, sippy cup or straw. I mix formula with her cereal twice a day but I am afraid this isn't enough milk for her in a day. I have been trying to wean her and during the day she is fine but at night she wants to nurse a lot. I'm getting very anxious about leaving her. Any help?

Answer 1

I had the same problem. My daughter was born in June, I went back to work in September. (4 hours a day) She wouldn't take anything for my husband. She would wait until I got home to nurse her. I tried using every bottle they made. It took her a long time to finally eat for my husband. We went on a cruise for 7 days in the first week of December and it was about Late November that she finally started taking a bottle.

Your right when you say the cereal mixed w/formula is not enough for her. When you offer her a bottle is it breastmilk or formula? Try and make sure it's breastmilk. Don't worry too much just keep trying and trust me when your gone and she's hungry she will eat. Have you tried different bottles/nipples with her?

I wish you the best of luck, and remember don't worry!
Don't let these other people discourage you from taking your trip. You need Mommy and Daddy time too. She will be okay!
My daughter gave me the hardest time w/ sleeping at night before we left. She would be up for about 2-3 hours in the middle of the night, which left me down and out about leaving her. However, the first night we were gone she slept through the night, and continued this even after we were back.

I'm sure Grandma will be okay too. :) Remember she's been there and done that!

Answer 2

Try having someone other than yourself give her bottle feedings... leave your baby with Daddy for a short time (while you go to the store or something) and have him attempt to feed her with the bottle. Usually infants refuse to eat from anyone other than the primary feeder because they associate that person with food. You need to get her to associate other people with food as well. I had to do this when I had a night class at the college I was attending. My husband had to take over the last two feedings of the day. The first time I left, she refused to eat from the bottle, but then, after the second time, she got the idea and was fine from then on eating with Daddy. Have grandma give it a try too. Believe me- even babies aren't dumb... once you are gone and Grandma is the only person feeding her, she will figure it out. At the very least, you will know that she is eating her cereal... she will not starve or be adversly affected if she chooses not to drink her formula for a week. I bet by the third day, she will be. Don't worry, as she gets older she will go through all kinds of eating/not eating stages. Nutritionists say that if you average out what a child eats/drinks during an entire month, you will see that they are getting a balanced diet... even if they go through these weird eating/not eating phases. You can't postpone your life simply for this issue... it's not practical. Your child has to learn that others can provide the nutrition that you do.

Answer 3

You need to have your husband or someone else feed her from a bottle to have her be able to switch. Babies recognize smells, so she knows the difference between breast and bottle. If you give her the bottle she smells your milk and your scent and won't be accepting. If dad gives her the bottle she will be more apt to taking it without as many problems. If you plan on drying up your milk, put cabbage leaves in the fridge and apply them when cold, and keep your hubby away from them too, because any kind of stimulation for awhile and you will be back in business :) Hope this helps. Good Luck, have fun on your trip, and don't worry about baby, she will not starve herself.

Answer 4

Have you tried expressing your milk? This would most likely be the best option to get your child to switch. Also what kind of nipples are you using in the bottle? She may not like the nipple of the bottle because it is different than you. Gerber makes some more realistic nipples, you may want to try this as an option. It may be a little costly to try all the different ones out there but that could be the best option if you already express.

Answer 5

Can you just take her with you?
I can't imagine leaving a child that young for 8 days.

Have you tried having Grandma offer the bottle, sippy or straw cup instead of you? Without you around? Have you tried expressed breastmilk?

Answer 6

TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ALMOST CRUCIFIED YOU FOR LEAVING YOUR BABY I WILL JUST SAY.....MOTHERS NEED SOME TIME OFF TOO IN ORDER TO NOT GET CRAZY....now for the important thing....have you tried the bottles PLAYTEX nurser system bottles the Naturalatch nipple is like your breast and is not the same but similar, try to pump your milk and go to Baby's r us or Target or somewhere and buy a few of those bottles, different brands to see which one she might like....and I know is not the same but might help.... Now if that doesn't help well now is your decision if you could enjoy your trip knowing your baby is not eating right and crying for her mommy, so think about it too.

Answer 7

I may be wrong but it would seem to me that you are giving in to your little one. I don't say that to be mean. I know how hard it is when you have such a close bond with your child it makes it very hard to stop breast feeding. But darlin' the simple fact is that you just have to do it. Your daughter will not starve herself, no baby will. Even the doctors will tell you that. I have had 6 children of my own and have breast feed each and every one of them. So I do understand your anxiety over this. Just keep your breasts in and when you or anyone else is bottle feeding her keep her close, in the same position as when you were breast feeding her. Even after being off the breast they still need to feel the comfort and warmth and closeness of the body. I really feel for you and I pray that this helps. Just keep in mind that you need to stick to your guns.At that age they know to some extent how to push our buttons so, keep the faith and stay strong. It's not going to be easy but you can do it !!! From one mom to another ;)

Answer 8

Have you tried having her grandma give a bottle? Or her daddy? My baby would NOT take a bottle from me, but if my husband or my mother did it was okay. Just be sure to not be within sight the first few times.

Answer 9

She is too young to leave her at that age if she has been used to being with you all the time. Take her with you.
My daughter refused the bottle until nine months...she was only nursing and I had to choose starving her and going back to work or staying with her. I of course chose to stay with her :)

Answer 10

Have you tried introducing diluted fruit juice or something similar in a bottle or sippy cup that might get her to want to try it that way? I weened my youngest at 10 months (I had surgery) and she really liked juices diluted with water from both sippy and regular cups...