Mum's health and weaning from breast to bottle/cup

Bettyboop

Really hope you can help here. My lovely son is now 1 already! I only wanted to breastfeed him until 1 and have tried for a few months to get him to take formula from a bottle or cup none of which he is having . The stubborn little monkey doesn't want to know despite me trying 4 different brands of formula. It doesn't matter who or where or what time he is tried with it he will not take it. I have been diagnosed with Moderate Anxiety and the doctor cannot treat it as long as I am feeding my son. All medication to treat this is strictly not to be taken while breast feeding. I am lucky to have fed my son until now but ultimately I think he is getting older now and is a big boy so formula would be much better for him? I haven't slept through since I was pregnant and him having formula may help . I know lots of mums continue breast feeding until 2 or 3 but for me getting this for is more than enough.

Have any experienced mum's on here any tactics I could try :rolleyes:? I have been told he won't starve and may eventually take a bottle/cup of milk but it breaks my heart hearing him scream:o. I went for a walk once and when I got back he was sobbing that I couldn't bare it.....

So if there are any nice ways to do this I would love to hear them please.....

Thanks all.

feelinggood_2

While not an answer to your question, have you asked your GP to consider refering you for some sort of 'talking therapy'? Cognitive Behaviour Therapy works very well for Anxiety Disorders. It might be worth looking into, while medication is helpful in some cases, it isn't a wonder cure, and sometimes talking therapies are more suitable.

lwcus78

My 4 month old is breast fed. I was trying to get him onto a bottle of expressed breast milk just to give myself a break the odd evening. I also tried several makes of teats and the one I had the most success with was the MAM brand. I have also heard good reports on a doidy cup.
Good luck xx

cazscoob

i had this problem with DS1 and after weeks of trying to stop and me giving in and feeding him i decided enough was enough. we booked a weekend away and my sister took him, he soon realised that he took milk from a cup or went without. i know that it is terribly hard but you just have to stick with your decision and he wont starve, have you tried him on cows milk?

bestpud

I stopped feeding dd2 at about that age and she didn't have a bottle and went straight onto cows milk from a cup.

She has never really liked drinking milk though so mostly got her quota in cereals and other foods instead.

Do you feed him to sleep as that may mean it is as much about comfort than need iyswim?

In that case, it may be easier to find alternate ways of comforting him before you tackle the milk?

I don't know if that is the case of course - I'm just throwing ideas in the air.

SarahFx

cazscoob wrote: »

i had this problem with DS1 and after weeks of trying to stop and me giving in and feeding him i decided enough was enough. we booked a weekend away and my sister took him, he soon realised that he took milk from a cup or went without. i know that it is terribly hard but you just have to stick with your decision and he wont starve, have you tried him on cows milk?

I agree, he doesn't need expensive formula at this age. Try him with cows milk. My son was breastfed to 11 months and would never take formula but loves cows milk now.

Gingham_Ribbon

I agree as would any breastfeeding counsellor I expect. He doesn't need formula, though the formula manufacturers would like us to believe otherwise.

nadnad

i'm still breast feeding my son at 9 months - and i had wholly intended to stop at 6 months. but like your LO he wont take formula he takes water from a cup no bother at all and at times will take a little formula but not enough to keep him going. I'm just waiting until he's 1 and then putting him straight on cows milk, and am hoping he'll like that.

Do you feed your LO to sleep? because i know that'll be the hardest feed for us to give up as its part of his bed time routine.

Have you tried one of the cups with a straw in it? my LO took to that straight away at 6 months, and from that has been able to take any cup.

Does he take water from a cup or does he refuse the cup completely no matter whats in it?

oh and i forgot to say i completely sympathise its incredibly draining being the only one who can completely look after your child, and like you i havent had a night's sleep either and i'm so tired. i hope he cooperates soon!

Bettyboop

What a stressful night! I tried cows milk - some in a cup and some in a bottle both of which he spat out. I tried him with it before his bath and after...... I personally agree with giving formula as a main milk drink as opposed to formula however if he takes to cows milk than I will definitely give him that. I realised tonight how tired I really am. I have just put my son to bed and I was falling asleep while feeding him. I'm emotionally and physically drained and I hope that seeing the Health Visitor next week she may be able to tell me what else to try. Thanks everyone.

Edited to say he does drink a little water from his cups....

Bettyboop

feelinggood wrote: »

While not an answer to your question, have you asked your GP to consider refering you for some sort of 'talking therapy'? Cognitive Behaviour Therapy works very well for Anxiety Disorders. It might be worth looking into, while medication is helpful in some cases, it isn't a wonder cure, and sometimes talking therapies are more suitable.

To answer your question, we did discuss this option but the waiting list for counselling is pathetic....

jacksons_mum

i had exactly the same problem and tried everything, what finally worked was the haberman feeder by medela, i got mine on ebay, it was like a miracle, he took it straight away after weeks of trying every type of bottle / teat out there!