Breast Feeding discussion

SaveTheCheerleader

Thanks chasingbutterflies, I'll be honest if Josh would take a bottle i'd give it to him with formula, cows milk or anything (not really got the hang of expressing more than a drop!!) but he's adamant that a teat won't go in his mouth. ho hum.

I'm starting to get tense every time I feed him, just waiting for that bite - like you say perhaps the thought of it is worse than the bite (or is that just wishful thinking!!!).

This really is new territory for me, i tried and failed to bf 1st son so he was on bottles and then weaned at 4 months and it was really easy. This time although i'm really pleased that i've bf for this long (and i actually enjoy it) i'm finding the bottle/weaning a LOT harder.

tamarto

SaveTheCheerleader wrote: »

he's adamant that a teat won't go in his mouth. ho hum.

My two youngest were the same both breastfed it seems to be a downside, my dd the youngest decided herself at around 8 months that she no longer wanted to feed, she just refused one day but she wouldn't take a bottle, so it was straight to a cup. I had to try loads before i found one she liked well.

bigburd

I bf my first two children until they were over a year. The health visitor's advice then was if they bit immediately tap them on the chin with your finger. I was only bitten once by each of them so it worked for me. I realise that these days the health visitors are more likely to advise sitting baby down for a long discussion about it! I weaned my four on milky baby rice which you thicken up once they're used to the spoon and texture. It's not really got much flavour other than milk. Once they are familiar with that then try different flavours of food. We made our own and froze into ice cube trays so we could mix and match the purees for different meals. Good luck!

SaveTheCheerleader

I agree mrcow it's a little demoralising cooking and pureeing food just to chuck it in the bin. Not to mention the look of absolute disgust on his face - you'd think i'd tried to feed him something scraped of the floor - not my lovely purees!!

ChasingButterflies

Hey again,

DD2 was the same hated the teat on bottles - it was as though she was like "this is not right - nope I am not interested!!" Have you tried one of the 1st cups? although I think we went through every style before we found one she would take from!

I would definately say that anticipating being bitten is worse than actually being bitten... try to relax - it will be harder to feed if you are stressed and lo will pick up on it too.

DD2 was around 9 months when she got her 1st tooth through - then loads came through at once - I didn't think anything of it - until she actually bit me! I think it is more a fear of the unknown? remember before you had a baby and you spent months planning bumps arrival - but there was this "labour" business that had to be dealt with 1st? I was petrified - did not know what to expect - once it had happened I realised it was not half as bad as I had expected. <<<< I hope that makes sense - I guess I mean that sometimes we can all think about something too much - if/when it happens you deal with it

btw my gp recommended that I give dd2 cows milk as she was almost 12 months.

ah see I take so long to type tamarto has already mentioned the 1st part of my post!

sarahlouise210

I bf my eldest until she was 2 and 1/2 as she was unable to eat solid food - with a full mouth of teeth I did get bitten quite a bit !!! I agree with the firm loud NO! Also never feed unless you know they are really hungry as they will start to play with you and their new found teeth.

SaveTheCheerleader

I'm glad to hear that some don't get bitten at all - hopefully i'll be one of the lucky ones!

SaveTheCheerleader

I will use the loud firm NO and turn head away approach. Maybe I am getting myself a bit worked up about something that hasn't actually happened yet.

I've got a cup thing with a squidgey style spout as I thought he might take to that more and he does chew on it but not really suck. I'm really loathe to go out and buy lots of different bottles or cups though.

sarymclary

Hi,
I can reiterate what has been said earlier about a firm 'No', and I took mine right off the breast. They learnt very quickly, and I made sure they stayed on only for feeding, not playing. I bf all 4 of my boys past a year, in fact the 1st and 3rd had to be stopped because I was pregnant again and I wanted at least a few months break, but were both past 1 or 2yrs. I really miss it now they're all so grown up. Make the most of it while you still can. All of mine went straight onto cups, as I'd been told they don't tend to remain so dependent upon them like they do a bottle. In fact mine didn't know what to do with a bottle teat, and choked on them.

Weaning takes perseverence. All babies are different, some of mine took to it immediately, others refused to properly eat for months on end. I found that once a couple or so teeth appeared the baby less happy with 'slop' preferred finger foods like marmite toast, rusks and pieces of fruit. All I'd recommend is that you try not to tempt them with very sweet foods, because it doesn't encourage them to eat their savoury foods as well. My goddaughter refuses her main meal, but wolfs down 2 fromage frais - her mum hasn't considered not offering the fromage frais, or is worried not to in case she starves. She hasn't realised that my lovely goddaughter is very bright and knows the fromage frais is coming anyway.
Sweet potato, carrots and blended veg can be winners. I did the ice cube trays of puree, which were so easy to reheat in the microwave, and made taking food out easy too as they just go in a lidded plastic pot. As your little one gets used to textures, try to puree a bit of what the rest of the family are eating. Funnily enough, I suggested this at Xmas to my friend when she stayed with us, who gave my goddaughter a puree'd xmas dinner, and she ate the lot. It was the biggest savoury meal she'd ever eaten! The next day she was back on the fromage frais :rolleyes:

heather38

i must admit i stopped bf when DD got teeth at 7 months and she took to bottles fine, so long as there was milk she didn't care.
have you considered baby led weaning? google it and see what you think, it might be the answer to the weaning problem.