moms who breast feed, I need help.

[flamingeaux]

I've been out of work since April, and DS (8 months) has started refusing bottles, in favor of straight from the tap.  I'm hoping to start working again, very soon though.  We've tried sippy cups, and he will drink from them, but he won't hold them himself and the milk gets everywhere. Do I just hold my ground and not nurse, and pump and force him to get used to drinking from bottles again? 

Also how much baby food/solids does your baby eat in addition to breastmilk.  He seems to have a rice intolerance, so I can't give him rice cereal,rice puffs, or baby food with rice.  

I deleted the working part of the title, because it occurred to me that was kind of shitty.  And moms' who don't work could probably help me too.

[suzubell]

We gave it to them out of a medicine syringe when they refused a bottle at an older age. Took forever but worked to convince them the bottle was better than the syringe

[jewel]

Have you tried a straw sippy cup? Mine used to take a bottle really well, and has mostly refused since I quit my job in April (he's 10 months now). If I have to leave him, he will drink pumped milk out of a straw cup much better than any other option.

At 8 months, I think he was nursing around 6 times a day, and several times at night. He ate table food 3 times per day.

[Kristinmo]

You will probably have to go cold turkey but I would recommend having your husband do it.

[rupertpenny]

B did this when I went back to work at 6.5 months. I never got her to drink out of a bottle again I was able to go home and nurse at lunch, and that one session was enough for her at that age. Also, my H was staying home with her and I'm not really convinced he tried to get her to take a bottle as hard as he could have.

You say you hope to start work soon, but do you have an actual job and start date? Because at least this is a problem with an expiration date. In a few months your baby will be able to drink cows milk (which B at least never had an issue drinking out of a straw cup) and every day your baby will eat more and more food and need less nutrition from breast milk or formula.

[livinitup]

My DD always nursed when she was with me and took a bottle at child care. Right about your baby's age, she refused all bottles from me. Stinker. I could not even be in the HOUSE if DH wanted to give her a bottle of BM. But yeah, once I was out/away, she took the bottle from DH no problem.

You have a smart baby. But I wouldn't sweat it for when you go back to work.

[pierogigirl]

Mine were bottle refusers. With DS2, I had to start back to work when he was 10.5 mos. and he drank milk better out of a sippy cup at dc.

[cabbagecabbage]

Mine never took a bottle but many babies will respond differently once mom is gone for a few hours. But at that age, he's old enough for a straw cup or open cup if the caretaker is brave, some heavy snacks and water, so it will certainly be okay.

Eta, I would not force a bottle now. Have your husband or someone else try while you take short trips but I'd never deny at that age if you have a good breastfeeding relationship.

[PeonyParty]

Like PP's have said- he'll more than likely figure it out pretty quickly. Stand your ground and try not to be around when the bottle or sippy cup is attempted.

[lolo]

Try a straw cup instead of a sippy.

[sonrisa]

Another vote for a straw cup.

However, straw cups are much less efficient than bottles or regular sippy cups. I haven't found one that drains everything. If you are at all like me, milk was hard won and precious. there would be too much waste for what I could pump. Syringes do work well. (Either exclusively, or to finish off that last ounce left at the bottom).

[5hole]

Did you try increasing nipple size on the bottle. At that age they are more efficient getting it from the tap and usually want a faster flow nipple or they get frustrated

[kaybee85]

Have you had H or someone try to feed him? Ingrid is much fussier taking the bottle from me because she knows I'm holding out on her lol.

[rightawaynow]

My son wouldn't take a bottle from me, but he did fine taking it at daycare. What kind of nipples are you using?

[CrazyLucky]

Can you get someone else to watch him and only leave bottles? DD refused to take a bottle and we needed her to for daycare. My MIL came up (she is a saint) and stayed with DD while I took DS to the Aquarium. It took about five hours, but DD finally took the bottle, and then we were fine.

[hymen]

DS1 refused bottles until I went back to work when he was 4.5 months old. It was a rough week back, and he did not eat literally anything the first two days, but by the end of the week he started taking bottles a little bit and by the second week he was fine.

I would say since he is already 8 months old just have your DC provider give him sippy cups. He might refuse the first few days but he won't starve himself, and will eventually get it when he realizes you aren't there with him at DC.

[Zoly]

Jul 27, 2015 17:49:52 GMT -5 Kristinmo said:

You will probably have to go cold turkey but I would recommend having your husband do it.

This exactly. Right around 6-7 months, my son stopped taking bottles if I was around. He had no issues at daycare. One evening I just went upstairs and my husband worked on trying to give him a bottle. It was hard to listen to him cry but eventually he took it.

[Deleted]

You've gotten really great advice, but I did want to touch on the rice intolerance. My oldest had a milk-protein allergy and also could not eat rice cereal. We went straight to oatmeal and she did great with it. You might try oatmeal and adjust the thickness of it with BM.

[rightawaynow]

Jul 28, 2015 8:49:49 GMT -5 @absinthe said:

You've gotten really great advice, but I did want to touch on the rice intolerance. My oldest had a milk-protein allergy and also could not eat rice cereal. We went straight to oatmeal and she did great with it. You might try oatmeal and adjust the thickness of it with BM.

My son has the same issue. He still can't tolerate milk protein and he is two, did yours outgrow it? Mine is fine with rice now, but anything containing milk protein gives him issues.

[Deleted]

Jul 28, 2015 8:58:28 GMT -5 rightawaynow said:

Jul 28, 2015 8:49:49 GMT -5 @absinthe said:

You've gotten really great advice, but I did want to touch on the rice intolerance. My oldest had a milk-protein allergy and also could not eat rice cereal. We went straight to oatmeal and she did great with it. You might try oatmeal and adjust the thickness of it with BM.

My son has the same issue. He still can't tolerate milk protein and he is two, did yours outgrow it? Mine is fine with rice now, but anything containing milk protein gives him issues.

She outgrew it and did fine on cow's milk after she turned 1. She still has issues with constipation if she has too much dairy though.

[lg28]

Jul 27, 2015 17:49:52 GMT -5 Kristinmo said:

You will probably have to go cold turkey but I would recommend having your husband do it.

This is basically what I've had to do.
I will nurse before bed, and at morning wake up. Outside of that, I refuse. DH took over MOTN wakings so that she wouldn't scream for hours when I wouldn't nurse. During the day, I offer a bottle or soppy cup.

My daughter is 13 months and it has taken us a LONG time to get to this point. We deviated when she was sick and that set us back a lot.