Feeding 10 Month Old

That's interesting, when my littlest one was about 10 months, I was ready to be done with nursing and my Pediatrician told me to slowly introduce it and I used Horizons Organic whole milk and within a month, and a few messy diapers she was fine and totally weaned. She never experienced discomfort and only had a few nasty diapers out of the thing. If you totally trust your pediatrician, go with it, but maybe if you asked a few other pediatricians, they might assure you that it's fine. Oh and my daughter has never been over 15% in weight, she's a petite little girl. Good luck whatever you decide! Kudos to you being a good mommy!

Hi--
A friend of ours left and her son wouldn't take the bottle or sippy either. Her mother spoon fed him the breast milk. Mix the breast milk with everything he eats. Try it from a bottle. Express a ton. Can you take him with you for the two days? Do you have to go at all? Just some thoughts.
Good luck!
J.

Our son was difficult to get enough liquids into, and also underweight to a whole host of health issues. Our feeding therapist recommended Carnation Instant Breakfast made with 10 oz. whole milk since our son wouldn't do formula. It was a hit. It has all the same nutrients and sugar (some slightly different forms) as formula, as well as 10 additional calories per ounce. It is a common formula replacement for older babies. I understand how difficult a baby who only nurses can be. I had two. :) My kids were also nursing about as much as yours, and were very healthy, happy kids, with the exception of the one son. I really don't think 2 days is going to make much of a difference if you're going to go back to nursing when you get back. However, that may be long enough that he weans on his own during that time. If that happens, then you can check into other options. GL!

I would try giving your baby Pediasure (try different flavors) in a sippy or straw cup (the straw cup may take a few tries, even up to a week or so). Also, you can do whole milk. Both of my daugthers are below 3% in weight. My older daughter has been on Whole Milk since 12 months and also does Pediasure (she's 3 now). My pediatrician said whole milk is fine for my 11 month old, too. I've been using formula for maybe 8-12 oz./day and milk for 12-20 oz. And I disagree wiht S.H., you don't need to nurse more than 3-4 times a day at 11 months. My daughter takes a bottle 2x, sometimes 3x/day. Here's one more option, but it takes forever, but my friend did it. Put breast milk in a cup, put a straw in it, hold the end of the straw and "straw feed" your baby. Or use a medicine dropper.

Your description is my son- to a T! He is 10 months now, but at 8 months, I had to be gone for 3 days. He drank a lot of water from his sippy and once he figured out that the boob was not an option because mommy wasn't there, he started taking breast milk from a bottle. I would just make sure you have a couple of options for bottles so whoever is watching him can try different ones with him. My son liked the Nuby that looks like a sippy but has a more nipple like spout.

Good luck!

Is there a reason he only nurses 3-4 times a day????

For the 1st year of life, per our Pediatrician, a baby should be fed on-demand 24/7 for the 1st year.... it is a baby's primary source of nutrition.. .NOT solids and NOT other liquids.

If nursing, nurse BEFORE solids. Otherwise baby will be too full to nurse, and then it will cause a baby to "wean" from breast.

Next, how is your milk production? The more you nurse, the more your body will produce milk....it is the body's way to KEEP UP WITH the needs of the baby and their growth-spurts. So that they get adequate intake, daily.

I would not give him a lot of water. His liquids should be from breastmilk. Direct nursing is best.

At that age, my kids as babies were still nursing about every 3 hours. More if having growth-spurts. Sure, they were on solids by then, but it was not their "main" intake. Breastfeeding was.

I would offer him a bottle, for breastmilk, since he is not taking a sippy cup for it. Babies OFTEN do this... it has a "nipple"... they associate a bottle with the breast. Many babies will NOT drink "milk" or breastmilk from a sippy. For now.
You can always teach him about the sippy later. Not now... because you have a time deadline.
You said he refuses the bottle... because he does not like the Similac... can't you try another Formula brand??? I would do so now, before it is too late. It will be trial and error.

Also, pump a ton of breastmilk for him before you leave. Freeze it.

I would have him nurse more often. Only 3-4 times a day is NOT much.

all the best,
Susan

I don't know if this would work or not but what about making a fruit smoothie using expressed breast milk/formula? Has he only refused the bottle from you or will he take it if you aren't around and someone else gives it to him?