Hints and tips for weaning (merged)

galvanizersbaby

Glen0000 wrote: »

How rude. Some women have to return to work you know. Some women also like to have a life too. My wife wanted to start going out, enjoying herself again. There is no harm in that. Women are people as well as mothers.

Agree Glen0000
Lucky that the poster had somebody to bring a 17 month old baby in to her workplace in order to give them a breastfeed - can't imagine that working very well at my office!:D

It's similar to theory of using controlled crying method to get baby to sleep so parents are able to get some sleep and baby get's in to a sleeping routine - parents need sleep eventually otherwise they will be unable to function and look after baby but some would say baby shouldn't be left to cry at all nevermind how controlled.

We are all different I suppose and all entitled to our opinions but I'm with you here.

OP - sounds like it is going to take a little patience and perservance - I never had this problem but the cup sounds like worth a try!

Krystaltips

Going against the grain, I agree with Jinky, it's wrong to treat it as a battle of wills and starve a baby for 24hrs.... Or leave them to scream for hours...

Babies are little people who can't do anything for themselves and rely on their parents completely, they don't always understand what's going on or why they need to take food a different way to what they're used to...

They are not accessories that need to be moulded to fit into our previously childless life...

Glen0000

Krystaltips wrote: »

Going against the grain, I agree with Jinky, it's wrong to treat it as a battle of wills and starve a baby for 24hrs.... Or leave them to scream for hours...

Babies are little people who can't do anything for themselves and rely on their parents completely, they don't always understand what's going on or why they need to take food a different way to what they're used to...

They are not accessories that need to be moulded to fit into our previously childless life...

We have to eat, put a roof over our heads. Usually that means both parents working. Kids are great, but we do not need to bow to their whims 24/7. Even if they are babies. I am sure in 20 years time a kid won't thank you for losing your home/living in poverty over a few hours crying.

starbump

Agree with part of both Colin2511 and jinky67's posts. Don't let it turn into a screaming battle because it just hurts you and baby. Offering the occasional bottle (of expressed milk) from early on is great because baby gets used to it easily. However, the OP already knows both of these things!

You say you "got out of the habit" of giving a bottle of expressed milk. Were there any habits your baby associated with bottle feeding? Did hubby always nurse her... in the dark, cradle-hold or sitting up, music on, in silence, when she's sleepy, when she's awake, etc. Can you try to recreate the previously successful situation? Do you/did you ever bottle feed her yourself? My baby actually feeds better with me, even if the milk is in a bottle, despite the theory that dad is best because baby can smell the milk on mom. I always held her in a "nursing" position and treated it the same as a breast-feed, if that makes any sense.

I second the cup suggestion. I'd try it with water first and let baby watch you drink. This always fascinated my baby and she was keen to try herself. It's slow and sometimes messy (in between "laps" she tries to put her fingers in the liquid and lick them) but it does work. We both hold the cup (me and baby) and I help her tilt it sufficiently for the liquid to reach her lips. If that's too messy, then at around 6 months you could try a training cup (bottle with handles). My baby loved the MAM Transition Trainer (still does). I guess it's easy to hold and she's in control - plus she likes carrying it round the house.

Finally, if all else fails (and I hope it doesn't) remember at 12 months you can put baby straight on to cow milk or fortified soya milk. I know it seems like an eternity just now... Hope something works for you.

Jo_R_2

Glen0000 wrote: »

How rude. Some women have to return to work you know. Some women also like to have a life too. My wife wanted to start going out, enjoying herself again. There is no harm in that. Women are people as well as mothers.

I like having a life as mum to two DDs, but there was no way I'd make my baby scream to get them to take a bottle/beaker so I could have a life. Babies are babies for not that long in the grand scheme of things, if someone can't wait to go out at the expense of their baby then I'd be asking why can't they wait that very small amount of time? What difference does a few months make - we as parents have the rest of our lives to arrange going out, not at the expense of a small child who has no choice in the matter.

galvanizersbaby

Jo_R wrote: »

I like having a life as mum to two DDs, but there was no way I'd make my baby scream to get them to take a bottle/beaker so I could have a life. Babies are babies for not that long in the grand scheme of things, if someone can't wait to go out at the expense of their baby then I'd be asking why can't they wait that very small amount of time? What difference does a few months make - we as parents have the rest of our lives to arrange going out, not at the expense of a small child who has no choice in the matter.

See your point but going out and returning to work are not the same thing in my opinion as some women haven't the choice to wait to go back to work.

I guess if you are lucky enough that your baby will take a bottle of expressed milk when you have to return to work then great but if you are still breastfeeding it could be very problematic - though I believe there is something in the law that enables mum's to breastfeed at work?! perhaps I'm wrong there - regardless it could make for a very stressful time for both mum and baby

jinky67

Glen0000 wrote: »

How rude. Some women have to return to work you know. Some women also like to have a life too. My wife wanted to start going out, enjoying herself again. There is no harm in that. Women are people as well as mothers.

yes I am aware of that
but would you like to starved all day just so someone can impose their will on you?
I think not....and I would be appalled if any HV said this was a good idea

foreversomeday

Hey, let's not turn this into a parenting battle. We are all adults and we can all make the choices we feel are best for our children.

I personally would not want to wean a child off the breast because I found it inconvenient, neither am I comfortable with the idea of starving a child for 24 hours, however, the OP wasn't asking whether she should wean her baby onto formula, she was asking for advice on how to make the transition easier. I am sure she will look at all the advice given and decide what is right for her and her baby.

Anyway if you're trying to change someone's mind you're not going to do it by being aggressive, it is actually more likely to make them ignore you.

jinky67

foreversomeday wrote: »

Hey, let's not turn this into a parenting battle. We are all adults and we can all make the choices we feel are best for our children.

I personally would not want to wean a child off the breast because I found it inconvenient, neither am I comfortable with the idea of starving a child for 24 hours, however, the OP wasn't asking whether she should wean her baby onto formula, she was asking for advice on how to make the transition easier. I am sure she will look at all the advice given and decide what is right for her and her baby.

Anyway if you're trying to change someone's mind you're not going to do it by being aggressive, it is actually more likely to make them ignore you.

I agree,I was merely stating my opinion,but I was not being aggressive:A

TotallyBroke

I exclusively breast fed for first 4months then had to return to work. I expressed and used the Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles. DS took the bottle fine from the child minder but if any family member gave the bottle he wouldn't take it. He milk intake did change once on solid meals. He dropped a day milk feed but then wanted a home time comfort suck feed. I continued to feed him his bed time milk from breast. The day after his 1st birthday I stopped (felt bad doing it on his birthday) he never batted an eyelid. Gave him warm cows milk in a beaker and that was that.
It can be done it's just trial and error. But do persevere, do not stop one day and then give in the next no matter how hard it seems that willl just confuse baby.
Good luck