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Parenting

When to wean off breast

7 replies

Rehcallag14 · 12/01/2015 14:20

My dd is 15 weeks. She's not an overly hungry baby and fusses a lot when feeding (breastfeeding). Refuses bottle and has done since first tried at 4 weeks.
Wondering when I can try her with a sippy cup? Think I need to bypass bottles altogether. Will be back at work in just over 3 months. Would you wean onto solids early as she fusses so much when feeding?

Also any advice on getting a baby to take a dummy? Have been trying this daily since 4 weeks but will not take it. Wants to suck something as she will suck my finger or suckle on the breast. She hasn't found her thumb yet.

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Equimum · 14/01/2015 13:30

Early weaning is generally not recommended, and it wouldn't really resolve your problem either, as babies need regular milk until they are about 12 months. In fact, milk forms the majority of their diet until they are a year.

DS always refused a bottle, but, at about six months (I think) you can introduce a sippy cup, so we gave him milk in that once we started weaning. Unfortunately, I can't help you on the dummy as DS was a refuser too.

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Riceball · 14/01/2015 13:59

Your baby will change immeasurably in the next 3 months. I would just enjoy breastfeeding and tackle going back to work nearer the time.

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notoneforselfies · 14/01/2015 14:05

Sippy cups are generally introduced at 6 months when they start on solids. It's taken my DS until 12 months to get any good at reliably drinking from it. Weaning onto solids earlier than 6 months is not recommended as it can really interfere with the gut, which is too immature and can lead to allergies and other problems. Until 12 months milk forms the main basis of a babies diet. "Food before one is just for fun"
I'd persist with a bottle if you need to get LO off breast.

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loudarts · 14/01/2015 14:15

You can get sippy cups suitable from 4 months

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seaweed123 · 14/01/2015 20:16

My baby was also a bottle refuser. On advice from the health visitor, I started him with a sippy cup at about 4 months. He didn't drink much til nearer 6, but good to get them used to it as soon as possible, imo.

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TripleRocks · 14/01/2015 20:20

You can certainly try a cup, no need to wait until 6m. Tiny feeding cups are available, or Doidy cups. Bloody fiddly business though. As well as the expressing etc. Pita unless you really need to

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TripleRocks · 14/01/2015 20:22

Other than fussing at the breast, is she generally gaining weight well, producing wet nappies and meeting her milestones? If so, I wouldn't worry too much - 3 months is a very long time

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