how do you break a baby from breastfeeding if they will not take a bottle and they dont understand a sippy?

Question

He is 8mo old, he will not take anything out of a bottle so I would prefer to not try a bottle. I have been trying numerous things in a sippy and different types of sippies but I dont know if it will be confusing to keep trying different ones. he just chews on everything because he is always teething.

Answer 1

*updated*

unless you are going back to work you may want to continue nursing some. Perhaps just cut back the frequency. Nutrition wise, Th AAP reccomends you nurse for a LEAST one year, and some orginizations like La Leche Leauge international and the world health organiztion reccomend for at least 2.

At 8 months old they should be eating normal food so the key here would be to offer the baby food first, before nursing. Feed them all they will eat and nurse second when they are more full and won't nurse as much.
You should not quit your child cold-turkey at this time because they jsut do not have the ability to eat a wide enough carriety of differeent foods to get all the nutrition they need. Adults eat a varriety of foods per meal and many through out the day. Babies are limited more to fruits, veggies, simple meats and grains, etc. and they usually only eat one at a time.

Weaning takes time but after a while your child will be getting more full of solid foods and eating a wider varriety. Foods with protein make you feel more full, faster (then say mashed carrots will) so be sure to include some food protein food in her meals (that wont cause allergies at 8 months)
Slowly children learn to eat food first, it is a procees that takes a while. Try replacing one nursing with solid food only (a minor meal like lunch or a snack, not breakfast and dinner.) swap another nursing for real food on new meal a week later (or every 2 weeks, as kids go at different rates.) Make sure breakfast and dinenr are the last meals/nursing you replace as these are typically the biggest.

Also it will take her some time but you should keep trying with the sippy cups. Buy really cheap kinds if she just chews them up at first, or try a straw, my son learned to drink through that before sippy cups. There is really no need to teach your child to drink from a bottle at 8 months old.

Answer 2

Try a bottle that is really close to the shape of a breast. They make breastfeeding bottles that mimic a breast. My daughter loved hers when I had to stop feeding her for medical reasons. We like the playtex drop in bottles. If teething you might want to go more toward a sippy cup, because they hold up better. You probably need the fast nipples. Your baby might not be getting enough milk out and might get frustrated.

Answer 3

I just hate to hear the term "break" applied to a baby at all... :(

If you're ready to wean, try to offer expressed breastmilk in a bottle rather than formula - the baby is more likely to take something familiar over something that tastes vastly different. Play around with different nipples, looking for one that's supposed to be shaped most similarly to the breast. (The ones we used when I had to have surgery and temporarily stop breastfeeding were Playtex Nursers, and she took right to them. She also gave them up just as easily, for which I was exceedingly greatful!) And most importantly, have someone else offer the bottle - baby will most likely not take it from you, as you have what s/he really wants and s/he won't be happy about settling for what's "second best" in her mind!

Most of all, just keep trying - it will very often take numerous tries before baby will willingly accept it. Be sure to offer the bottle at the beginning of a feed, when baby is most hungry and will be less picky about the feeding method. Depending on your baby's age, it might take a bit of time, but s/he will come around eventually.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

To turn your question around, how do you make the baby not want the breast? You don't say how old your baby is. I breast fed mine till about 8 or 9 months. To wean away from me I followed my sister in law's advice, to put lemon or lime juice on the nipple. the sour taste turns some babies off.

Answer 5

i worked at a day care, try a differant bottle maybe a differant nipple for the bottle. its about that... use the bottle when the child is tired. or getting ready to sleep. it will happen thats a tough one

Answer 6

I don't think it's time to quit breastfeeding yet. Your baby must be so relaxed and comfortable with you, and the bonding is something that will literally stay with her forever!

Answer 7

if you havent yet, try the playtex nurser bottles with the drop in liners. the nipple on those is big and soft, so it feels like a breast. my daughter loves them, and they help with gas. good luck!

Answer 8

How old is the baby? Why are you trying to ween your child? Need additional information to be able to provide an adequate answer. Thanks!

Answer 9

have you tried the "sippy" with the straw???