Author Topic: When to Wean Last Bottle?  (Read 3200 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
When to Wean Last Bottle?
« on: September 12, 2006, 23:09:13 pm »
Would love your advice on when to drop DD's last bottle. We switched her over to whole milk about 10 days ago. She's doing OK with it - still has to be at least room temp - but doesn't seem to love the taste. For at least 2 months now she's been on straw cups throughout the day and only one bottle at night. She used to get to 10-14 ounces formula from cup/food and then 5-6 ounce bottle. But now I'm lucky to get 7-8 ounces in her before bottle and then she grabs for that bottle. She's also teething BADLY (eye teeth and molars) so it's hard to tell how much is from that and how much from taste - but she will happily drink juice and/or water from her straw cup.

Should we keep up with that last bottle for now to get enough milk in her? Or is it only making the situation worse and will she adjust faster if we bite the bullet?

TIA.
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline *Natasha*

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 223
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7838
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2006, 23:44:04 pm »
Karen does she take milk with her meals? Before we weined or should i say DD weined the bedtime bottle she was having milk in her cup with breakfast and dinner. The week before her 1st birthday she started fussing with her bedtime bottle we struggled to 4ozs into her so the day after her birthday we stopped giving it to her and she never missed it. We justed added the extra to her milk with dinner and anything she doesn't finish then we offer her after her bath while we are eating. HTH

Natasha proud Mum to:

My big princess Catherine 7/8/05
My little princess Mirelle 17/10/07

Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2006, 23:54:00 pm »
She used to drink 2-3 ounces formula from her cup with every meal. Now i'm lucky to get 1-1.5 milk. I'm really not sure if it's the taste of the milk, the extreme teething or both...
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline Lana

  • Dragon Lady
  • Administrator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 1103
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 36346
  • Red Ninjini
  • Location: Canada
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2006, 16:10:22 pm »
When we first switched E over to milk from formula it did take him a while to get his consumption up so we made sure he had other dairy as well.  I am sure that the teething doesn't help your situation at all.

For me I would probably just drop the bottles all together and only offer the milk in a cup.


Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2006, 16:18:09 pm »
Thanks Lana - so you think starting tonight ditch that last bottle (the only one left) and offer in her straw cup and don't worry if she only has a couple ounces (or none)? How long did it take E to get his consumption up? She did have some yogurt this morning (but only about 1.5 ounces) and about half a stick of cheese just now. She's only had about 5 ounces milk so far today other than that and we just finished lunch.
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline Lana

  • Dragon Lady
  • Administrator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 1103
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 36346
  • Red Ninjini
  • Location: Canada
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2006, 16:21:02 pm »
I don't remember how long it took :-[ and it really wasn' that long ago hey :-[.  Also at that age E was still having cereal with formula already in so that helped the transition too. 

I know we had a few days that he only had 4 or 5 ounces and I was really worried so what I did was put out an insulated cup with milk in it so it was always available to him and stopped worrying.

Once I stopped stressing about it then he just sort of did it on his own.

Right I meant to say as well that you could gradually make the bedtime bottle smaller the same way that you cut out a DF or just cut it out cold turkey that is up to you.


Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2006, 16:26:59 pm »
Thanks again... It's so tough to decide - I feel like if I keep offering her 5-6 ounces in her bedtime bottle she'll never up her intake earlier in the day - but when she's teething and all I feel badly... Argh...
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline *Natasha*

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 223
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7838
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2006, 22:12:40 pm »
I agree with Lana to just drop the bottle now and keep offering milk in her sippy. She will get the hang of it and start drinking more and more everyday. Catherine loves drinking milk herself from her cup and will get upset with us if we try and help ::)
BTW you changed your user name ???

Natasha proud Mum to:

My big princess Catherine 7/8/05
My little princess Mirelle 17/10/07

Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2006, 22:15:09 pm »
I think you guys are right - maybe we'll start tonight and hope for the best. Yes, I changed it today - people kept calling me Marisa instead of Karen and I thought this made it clearer!
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2006, 23:46:39 pm »
Well we tried tonight. DD had had 8.5 ounces of milk from cup and/or food and 1.5 ounces yogurt during the day, as well as half a stick of cheese, although she only had half an ounce with dinner - all the rest earlier in the day. So we put 5 ounces of milk in her favorite straw cup that she uses during the day. Her night bottle has always been in front of Sesame Street - so we tried the same. She opened mouth at first thinking it was her bottle and then just kept refusing and not drinking. She didn't cry though. So we let her watch a little and then brought her into her room to read her Goodnight Moon and try again there. In there she finally drank 2.5 ounces (she likes to have a drink in there before her naps as well). So we'll see what happens - curious to see whether she wakes hungry overnight or early in the morning - although it will be hard to tell since she's also teething... If she does wake I assume I should just try to get her back to sleep and/or offer some water? She never did cry about it - just seemed confused and kept reaching for me...
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline *Natasha*

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 223
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7838
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2006, 00:20:40 am »
That is a great start she soon will realise that their is no more bottle and will drink more from her sippy. ;)

Natasha proud Mum to:

My big princess Catherine 7/8/05
My little princess Mirelle 17/10/07

Offline Gage and Sophie's Mom

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 17
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 644
  • How lucky am I?
  • Location: Kelso, Washington
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2006, 04:01:11 am »
Hi Natasha! I havent had a chance to read all of the replies, but I thought I would share what we have been doing. Gage doesnt have anymore bottles. The bedtime bottle was the last to go. I bought some tippy cups from walmart that have a soft spout like a bottle nipple. I fill it up all of the way and give it to him before the bedtime routine and he usually drinks 3/4 of it. I give him the remainder like a bottle (tip it up while I rock him) right before bed. My hope is that he will drink most of it prior and not want anymore at bedtime (like tonight). Plan b would be to get him to drink it DURING bedtime routine, like during story. Plan C would be to gradually wean him with less milk and/or put water in it. I am not sure where we will end up, but at least the bottle is GONE! ;D ;D ;D
HTH
Alice


Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2006, 10:42:58 am »
Interesting night. Not a peep from Marisa after she went to bed at 7:40 until 4:25 this morning - at that time she let out a sharp whimper but it only lasted 5 seconds and then nothing until same thing 10 minutes later. Then silence until 5:30 and she cried for 10 seconds and then she was quiet (I guess sleeping) until 6:30 and she's up now... Hopefully she drinks more today/tonight and I'll be sure to give her a more filling dinner if she'll allow...
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline Gage and Sophie's Mom

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 17
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 644
  • How lucky am I?
  • Location: Kelso, Washington
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2006, 16:02:19 pm »
Marisa's mom, Gage has been doing something very similar. I was thinking maybe the shouts were related to being overtired ??? ??? Boy these kids are hard to figure out!


Offline JennŠ

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 513
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 15129
  • Whispering since 2005. :)
  • Location: land of infinite wind...
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #14 on: September 14, 2006, 17:03:20 pm »
Just a thought that you can ignore: have you tried flavouring the milk at all?   Charlotte will drink plain milk, but will inhale it if I add a bit of chocolate or strawberry flavour.  Or, would she like a touch of vanilla?  Of course, with Marisa's tummy, not sure what she would think.  So what did you have to do to change your name?   
 When you're soaring through the air, I'll be your solid ground.  Take every chance you dare.  I'll still be there when you come back down.

Offline Lana

  • Dragon Lady
  • Administrator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 1103
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 36346
  • Red Ninjini
  • Location: Canada
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #15 on: September 14, 2006, 19:53:42 pm »
Another thing we did when we got rid of bottles was to have some cereal (like baby cereal) for a snack before bedtime and we never had night wakings.

Sounds like she is doing really well.


Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2006, 20:07:05 pm »
Thanks guys. As of yesterday, she stopped letting me spoon feed her (and can't/won't do it herself) so baby cereal is out of the question - but maybe will try a different snack and eventually a later dinner. She woke very cranky and seemed hungry this morning but would only drink 2 ounces and would not let me feed her - so she fed herself a quarter of a toasted, buttered English muffin and a few cheerios and few apple bites. She had another 3 ounces before her morning nap and again seemed starving for an early lunch - but only had half an ounce and half a turkey meatball and a few Just Peas. Then she had another 3 ounces before second nap (so at 8.5 so far, not bad). BUT she's not acting herself at all and has a slight fever (99.8) and keeps grabbing her ears. I think it's teething/molars but we are bringing her to the doctor this evening to be sure since she's acting so odd... Hopefully she'll eat some dinner first - but we'll see...
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #17 on: September 14, 2006, 20:13:43 pm »
Oh she's definitely teething - but I'm not sure if she's also sick... But I do think she was hungry when crying out/whimpering early this morning. Jenn - will PM you tonight re changing user name - I think I went to my account profile and did something there.
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01

Offline Lana

  • Dragon Lady
  • Administrator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 1103
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 36346
  • Red Ninjini
  • Location: Canada
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #18 on: September 14, 2006, 23:58:11 pm »
Sounds like you are doing great.  Really once you take the bottle away (which you have) you don't want to give it back cause it will be much harder the next time (at least that is what I have heard).  I would just keep encouraging the meals and snacks and once her teeth are in she may let you spoon feed again.


Offline Mom to M&M

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 128
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 7655
  • Cool dude!
  • Location: NJ
Re: When to Wean Last Bottle?
« Reply #19 on: September 15, 2006, 00:32:24 am »
Thanks Lana, I've heard that as well about the bottle. She did let me spoon feed her half a jar of veggies tonight and a bit of fruit too and she ate almost two Perdue chicken nuggets and a bit of toast. And then a hard pretzel in her stroller as a snack. And then she had 3.5 ounces from her straw cup during her normal Sesame before bed - so that was better! She ended up at 12.5 ounces - although no yogurt or cheese today. We decided to hold off with the doctor for now - she seemed a little better after her afternoon nap - I really think it's mostly teeth - and she won't let me in there to brush them or check at all! Thanks again for all your help!
Karen: Proud Mama to Marisa (8-11-05) and Matthew (6-5-09) and happily married to my best friend and love of my life since 10-13-01