Has anyone stopped breast feeding before your DC took a bottle?

[abigboydidit]

Just that really. DD (7 months old) happily took a bottle until yesterday and is now refusing. She's had at least one bottle of formula daily for 2 months so I honestly thought I was safe from bottle refusing . DS never took a bottle and I felt quite trapped by the end. I have a night away with DH booked for the end of September and it will be the first night away we've had since DS was born. Even if I cancelled that, I attend physio for a pelvic organ prolapse once a month and usually leave DD with DH. As terrible as this sounds, I would rather stop BF completely than be the only person able to feed DD for another 5 months. But now it seems I have missed my chance to stop. I feel so angry with myself and so guilty for feeling this way. Has anyone gone cold turkey, so to speak? Last night and this morning she just pushed the bottle away and wasn't upset or anything. She just waited for breakfast to appear!

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

Have you tried a cup?

[3birthdaybunnies]

Yes get a cup - none of mine would entertain a bottle but from about 4-6 months sterilised cups are fine. In fact you want to move away from bottles anyway - looks as if she is making that decision for you.

[abigboydidit]

Thanks. She's really rubbish with a cup but I will persevere. Just feel guilty about stopping feeding before she's accepting an alternative

[Ragwort]

Just use a cup - I really dislike bottles judgey I know for babies older than 3-4 months, I mix fed from 4 months and my DS always used a cup.

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

DD is 18 weeks. I started her with a cup at 3m. She'll now take 2-3oz well. You have to do it everyday. And in your case several times a day. Needs to be a free flow sippy cup.
Personally I'd push a cup in the day but still bf morning and night til she gets the hang of it. Prob only take a week with persistence at that age. You don't want her getting dehydrated. I wouldn't just stop bf she's too young.

[Alanna1]

What teat size are you using?

[CatL]

Yes - I went cold turkey when DD was 4 months as she completely refused bottles (only took them a couple of times when a few weeks old, after that wouldn't go near them) and I was going back to work at 5 months, so I was desperate. Also, what you said about feeling trapped being the only one who could feed her - felt bad for that so was glad of the work excuse, but honestly, the feeling trapped thing was probably a bigger reason in reality. It was a horrible first week or so, with her her getting upset at feeding times and me gradually cutting out by expressing a bit (so some feeds breast milk and some formula), but we got there in the end and I was a happier person afterwards. Used a bottle (I don't think it occured to me to try a cup that young, but in hindsight I could have, and your DD is older).

I still feel a bit guilty for it, as it upset her at the time and I didn't get to the magic 6 months BF, but 3 years on it doesn't seem hugely important in the grand scheme of things.

Do what feels right to you - don't listen to anyone telling you she is too young to stop BF - lots of women don't get to 7 days, never mind 7 months! And at least she will be on solids too, so you won't be starving her into taking formula like I did :(

On the other hand, if she only stopped taking bottle yesterday, perhaps she'll be happily back on it tomorrow!

[abigboydidit]

Thanks everyone. Glad am not the only one CatL. With DS I sort of accepted the year and reminded myself that they're only little for such a short time but this time round I find it harder as it means I am not able to spend time with DS, just the two of us and I miss that. DD taking the odd bottle was ideal as it meant I could take DS swimming and let DD have time alone with DH. Will see what tomorrow brings..

[abigboydidit]

Oh and we're using a vari flow teat

[theduchesse]

I had a bottle refuser and went back to work when he was 7 months. I just stopped breastfeeding him in daytime hours (about 7am - 6pm) even if I was home and he had to deal with it. He never did accept a bottle but was eating solids and slowly got better at drinking from a spout cup. If I had my time again I would try to get him used to drinking from a cup sooner to ease him into rather than persisting in trying every different bottle/teat combination going.

[LoganMummy]

Could someone post a link or name what cup they use please? DD refusing a bottle (she's four months).

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

I use the basic tommee tippee sippy cup. I had them for DS too and he used them til 3 yrs old, so great value. Easy to wash (in dishwasher!) and can be sterilised.

I would happily pay more if there was a better cup out there but IMHO it can't be beaten.

As above, it's taken dd about a month to really get it and they don't manage a cup until the tongue push out reflex has gone, sometime between 4-6m.

[teacher123]

DS was a total bottle refuser from about 3mo. Once he was on three meals a day (around 7mo) I went onto a cup and stopped bf in the day. Carried on first and last thing until 10mo. I would recommend the tommee tippee cup as above and also distraction. Give it to her in her pushchair and take her for a walk worked for DS. Good luck!