BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Bottle Feeding => Topic started by: b_weezy22 on September 19, 2010, 16:54:16 pm
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I've wanted to wean my son for quite some time, and have tried several times, with no luck. 2 days ago, I went cold turkey and only offered formula in a bottle, and he was having none of it. He'd taken a bottle before, about twice a week for the last 2 weeks (more when he was littler), but flat out refused the formula this time. He has to be on alimentum due to his dairy/soy intolerance. It tastes pretty nasty. After day 1 (about 12 hours with nothing but a serving of bananas), I caved and gave him the breast when my hubby came home from work. I know he doesn't handle a crying baby well, and I was exhausted. He nursed through the night (maybe even more than normal), and woke about 7:30 in the morning. I nursed him for the last time, and then started day 2.
No luck. He completely refused the bottle, but didn't cry very much. He just wanted to be cuddled, so that's what I did. He looked a little jealous of the breast pump when I used it because I was engorged. I cleaned just to maintain my sanity, and by 2pm, the house could've been on a Mr. Clean commercial! At about 3:30, my hubby came home and convinced me to give him some solids (peaches), just so he'd have something in him. He said it seemed cruel, starving him. I agreed, but at this point, I was just making it up as I went! I soon stumbled upon this forum, and got some encouragement from an old 2008 post about weaning cold turkey. :D When I weaned my older son (4 years ago), he was so attatched to the breast that he went on a 4-day hunger strike (no food or drink) and finally caved. That was with no distractions, and nothing to do but wait it out with him. He was a year old, and only wanted the boob. That was torture!!
I saw that most moms gave breastmilk first when transitioning, so that's what I did. I pumped out fresh breastmilk and gave it. He was napping, and didn't seem to notice. He took that first bottle at 5:15pm with his eyes closed!! Since then, he's taken a total of 5 bottles, expressed milk only, and doesn't put up that much of a fight (only refused the milk at the 4am feeding, but caved after 25 minutes). My question is when to start the formula, and how much to add to the bottles? I don't have much of a stash of pumped milk, and I'm only pumping when engorged. Tips? Anything will help! I know I made it over the hump, with the bottles, but I'm pretty tired and my hubby is not helping!
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Hi there and welcome to the boards!
How old is your LO?
There is a lot of info here http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=173309.0 which should help you and this one in particular http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=173308 has great advice about how to transition to the formula.
Have a look and come back if you have any more questions - I personally don't have experience of this but I know a few ladies who can help more ;)
Laura
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Thanks for responding, he's 10 months old now. That link did help, though I'm not sure I have enough breastmilk to do it that slowly, but i'm going to try to modify it so the process is faster. He's napping now, so wish me luck once he wakes!
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Good luck!
How is he with solids in general? I think I would be giving him his solids and water to drink as normal so that he doesn't get dehydrated. At 10 months although he obviously still needs his milk he is closer to the age when milk is becoming less important and solids will take over.
Let us know how you get on!
Laura
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He's pretty good with solids, he's on stage 2 (that's what wic covers), and i offer it 3 times a day (veg/fruit/rice), and sometimes he'll eat it all, sometimes he'll pick at it. i thought i'd just be ambitious and try a bottle with 4 oz ebm and 1 oz formula, and he drank it!! :D i'll do that all day tomorrow, and then if he's doing good, i may up it or wait another day.
today he took a 4 oz ebm at 9am, graham cracker and bananas (most of it) at 10, 1:45 (4 oz ebm), 2:30 peas&rice cereal (most of it), 6:30 (6.5 oz ebm), 8:00 peaches (not much), and 9:45 (4oz ebm/1oz fm). I'm hoping the night goes well. I'll work on timing more as we get the hang of it. i'm recording it so i'll know when and how much so i can adjust it later.. thanks for the help!!!
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At about 9:15 this morning, baby had his morning bottle. At some point after that, he realized that his last 4 bottles contained formula and he was ed. He decided he's not doing it anymore. He hasn't drank but 2 ounces since then!! One oz at 1:15, one oz at 4. :( I don't know what to do but hold out and pray he takes it. If I go back to the boob, it'll be all the worse, and my milk is actually starting to dry up!! Any hints?
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How are you getting on?
I have been through this with my DS at 8 mths. It is really hard.
Where are you up too before I give the wrong advice??