Weaning Son

I assume you HAVE to wean him for some reason. If you don't have to, then self-directed is always easiest. Waiting until they know how to use a cup and can drink cow's milk. All mine did it between 11-15 months. It was easy and not tramatic for either of us. But if you have to, then you need to get him used to the bottle using expressed breast milk first. HE won't like the taste of formula, that's pretty normal. It tastes nothing like breastmilk, which is sweet. It is not sweet, has a distinct odor and taste and can be a little grainy if not completely dissolved. So, it is an adjustment for a baby used to breastmilk. So start with pumped breastmilk in the bottle. It also helps having someone else be the one to give it to him. And you can't be around. If you are he will want you. If you can get him drinking that from a bottle or cup, whatever, then start mixing breastmilk with formula, making the percentage of formula just a bit more each time. That way he slowly adjusts to the different taste. He should eventually get used to it. He will take it eventually if he has to though. He'll simply get hungry enough that he won't care anymore....

My advice is to let your husband/boyfriend or someone else start giving him the bottles.... if it is you.. he is going to want what he knows is there!!! He most likely should take a bottle from someone else!

I feel for you! My second child NEVER took a bottle. She nursed all the way through until she weaned (after she turned 2). Has anyone else tried to offer a bottle instead of you?

We had the same problem and have quite a collection of bottles. The solution was a sippy cup. It worked for my now 7-month-old. We like the transitional sippy cup from Munchkin. It has a soft spout that's kind to his brand new bottom teeth. Now, I just pump milk on workdays and store it in the fridge/freezer. Make sure someone feeds him from the sippy at least once a day. Have that person wear your T-shirt or drape a recieving blanket that has your scent over their arm. It took just a few days for my LO to accept the sippy, which allowed me to go back to work. Hooray!

You might consider trying goat milk. It is more like human milk than cow milk. Since nutrition is a concern just make sure he is taking a comprehensive multi. If you don't already have him on one...Shaklee just came out with a new formula of multi for kids and it has lactoferrin, a protein that helps busy bodies' immune systems stay supercharged. I know nutrition is a huge issue for us with our little ones and we worry! Best wishes to you in this time of transition!

Sincerly,

K. B

www.shaklee.net/takecontrol

Hi K., has someone tried to feed your son using the Adiri bottle? It mimics the breast and so some breastfed babies will accept it. I know your pain, I had one daughter that took a long time to accept the bottle. I had to come home from work for several months to nurse her and her twin. She finally took some from the Adiri, but it was not until she was over a year that she really started drinking milk "full force". Also, I would wait until 12 months to convert to whole milk. Another suggestion would be to pump and give your son pumped milk from a bottle, or do a mixture of breastmilk and formula from a bottle. Make sure you are not in the house and someone else he knows well tries to give it to him. Hang in there- I know how stressful it can be! F.