self weaning and won't take bottle or sippy cup...any advice?

[spirited]

Hi,

My son is 8.5 months old and appears to be self weaning. He often skips a feed, and takes less and less in during the day time feeds. My milk production has slowed dramatically and can no longer pump if needed (for baby sitters). I've tried to introduce formula in a bottle or sippy cup but he won't take either. He'll take a couple sips and then push them away. My concern is that he is not getting enough nutrition. He takes solids, some days he will eat well and somedays not much at all. Does anyone have any advice about how to get him to take from a bottle or cup? is he too old to introduce a bottle? or should I go straight to a cup? or should I keep trying to encourage bf? I will be sad to stop, but am more concerned that he is getting what he needs.

Thanks.

[Ayden's Mom]

Hi,

I don't have an answer to your question, because I have the same question, and I totally relate!  My 7 month son is starting to be quite disinterested in bf'ing, and I wonder if he's getting enough milk.  He often refuses, even after four or five hours, and then when he does feed, it's not what I would think is a very big feed.  He does, however, typically have a big dream feed.

I am also not overly feeding him solids.  I am afraid my milk is going down too, which is a big concern for me, as I want to bf for as long as possible rather than go to formula.  I haven't tried the bottle or cup yet though.

I look forward to hearing what ideas may be out there!

[Katet]

From my understanding it is very rare to self wean so young, more about them being very distractable & finding it hard to feed with there is so much more going on. I'd try feeding in a quiet darkish place to see if you can get better feeds happening.

[spirited]

I actually did try the quite dark room, no lights thing and I even cut back on solids when it first started happening around 7 months. This worked for a short period to get him to take a feed but didn't change the length of time he would feed and now its getting worse again. Someone also recommended trying to pump right after bf to try and increase my milk supply but could never get anything to come out.

[daisymelan]

Someone also recommended trying to pump right after bf to try and increase my milk supply but could never get anything to come out.

Even if you don't get anything, it still stimulates milk production.

Also, I would echo what the pp said about self weaning.  Many babies (my first included) was very distracted at that age.  The only benefit to offering a bottle, rather than breast, is that they can see around while drinking.  I would continue to nurse in the most boring of places and perhaps a little bit of downtime before a feed.

[Mags0721]

Hello Spirited,

I completely support trying to continue to BF your child. It could just be a phase and/or distraction like some other ladies suggested. 8.5 months is pretty close to 9, and they say that some kiddos go through a nursing strike at that point. Some snap out of it; others don't. In the meantime, it can be pretty scary for you - being concerned that your little one isn't getting the nutrition that he needs.

I have two suggestions that may help: You may need to change TYPES of sippy cups for it to work. My daughter wouldn't drink from the normal ones, but she'd drink from a Playtex straw cup. Most straw cups will read 2+ on the packaging, but I've found with my daughter and from several friends that breastfed babies find it easier to suck from a straw than tilt their head back with a normal sippy. Another tactic may be to try something other than formula/breastmilk in the straw cup to begin with. My friend had good luck with 1/2 pear juice and 1/2 water. She was able to slowly transition to other drinks. Perhaps you could pump (even the minuscule amounts that come out at first) and add that to whatever drink you choose for the straw cup. As your milk begins to come back more and more, you'll be able to add more and more to it.

That *might* get you past what might just be a phase.

Best of luck!

[spirited]

Thanks Mags,

I will try this. Thanks for the advice. Will let you know how it goes.

[GG]

From my understanding it is very rare to self wean so young, more about them being very distractable & finding it hard to feed with there is so much more going on. I'd try feeding in a quiet darkish place to see if you can get better feeds happening.

I have also heard that it could also be due to teething. Do you think he could be teething?

[soji]

Hi spirited. 

My dd is almost 8 mo and for the past month or so she has become increasingly difficult to bf.  But I kept at it and tried different positions.  I used to bf her in a our glider in a cradle position.  That didn't work - way too distracted.  But then I had her sitting up more and that seemed to help a bit.  But that too, also didn't last very long.  Then I tried side lying and that helped significantly.  She always ate better lying down w/ me.  It was to the point where I would be SO happy if she would suck for 5 minutes straight!!  As long as she was getting a good amount, I stopped worry (so much) about how long she was suckling (she used to go 10-15 minutes on each side!!) 
Also, if she wouldn't stay on, I would let her roam around a little bit (much easier on a bed) and keep saying to her "come on back, sweetie.  We need to finish eating.  We can play after we eat." in a real gentle voice.  I talked to my lactation consultant about her increased distrations and she told me to keep at it and be patient.  Also, keep the feedings really positive - which can be very difficult when mommy is getting so frustrated!!  Also, try clipping something interesting (but baby safe) onto your bra or blouse that your LO can look at while nursing.  This worked sometimes for me.  Sometimes DD would want to eat whatever I clipped onto my blouse!  (large barrette, button, beads hanging around my neck, etc...)

Finally, after months of "teething" she finally got her first tooth on Monday and the next one 2 days later.  So, long story but the bottom line is if you are patient w/ your lo he will come around.  Keep eating a fun experience, try not to show frustration and be patient.  Sometimes it would take her 15 minutes in total to get her to suck for about 5 minutes, but those 5 minutes were all it took for her to get some good nourishment and keep my production up. 

good luck!

[Harpersmom]

I had that problem and it even affected my let down.  I realized I needed to eat and drink more so that he would have enough.  Our diet really does affect theirs.  I increased my fenugreek and drank mothers milk tea.  I also just kept trying to offer it to him and tried to stress out about it less because that made it worse.  As far as pumping caffeine helped me relax so that I could pump.  That isn't normal but it worked for me.  Find something that relaxes you a warm bath or whatever and then pump.  I also decreased his solids to get him more interested in the breast.  Not sure if that was the right thing as it has been an interesting battle with solids ever since but I took them away completely so maybe just decreasing some would be ok.  Good luck.  I have now made it to a year and he is still feeding 4-5 times.  You can get through this.

[Harpersmom]

I almost forgot.  He is spirited and very sensitive so I can only breastfeed in a quiet room with no distractions.  He also holds his lovey which gives him something to fiddle with so he can nurse.