12 month old suddenly refusing bottle

[EJ85]

Hi All! My 12-month-old is breastfed but has always taken regular bottles. He drinks from a sippy cup but never the amount that he would from me / a bottle.

My issue is that we have a night away planned in a week and he has suddenly started refusing the bottle from me, his dad or grandparents. He still has a breastfeed feed before bed and the odd feed in the night so I’m really worried that he won’t get enough liquids whilst I’m away and will be inconsolable (and a nightmare for the grandparents).

Any advice?!

How long are you away for? If it's just one night I wouldn't worry - he's 12 months old and can go a whole night without drinking anything and it won't be dangerous for him.

He might be difficult for grandparents or might not. It's only one night and I'm sure they know what they're letting themselves in for as it sounds like they're quite involved if they're giving him bottles etc.

I really wouldn't worry. My last ds has been difficult with feeding since birth (silent reflux). He was formula fed but since weaning at 6 months old, started to refuse bottles.
He's now 10 months old and only has a bit of formula in his cereal in the morning. The rest of his liquid intake comes from water. He's absolutely fine, not dehydrated whatsoever.
At 12 months, I would think the breastfeed is more a routine/comfort thing than a nutrional need.

You know he can drink from both a bottle and a sippy cup, so try not to worry too much.

They can transition onto cows milk at 12 months I think? If you're worried about dehydration, lots of wet things like fruit, yoghurt, lollies. Squash or diluted juice. Or I make a milkshake with ice cubes, milk, fruit or a bit of hot choc powder done with a blender. Another trick is a 'fancy drink' stick a bit of lemon in water, mint and cucumber, use a straw etc.

Mine went onto a cup at 12 months.
I think that's when they recommend to start getting rid of bottles anyway which is why I swapped. I ditched the formula as well at the same point.
Neither drank as much milk after that, but they had milk, yoghurt and cheese in their diets and would drink water and a bit of milk from a sippy cup. Both mine were comfort suckers so had dummies and that probably accounts for them drinking more before iyswim.

Try not to worry, you know your DC will take fluids so they will be ok. The GPs could offer a bottle, and a cup if that fails, especially if it is just one night. Good luck OP. Try not to worry, and enjoy your night out. Easier said than done I know.

At 12 months can he not use a straw or open cup yet? I'd have thought 12 months too old for bottles anyway, my DD never took to them but used open/straw cups from 6 months. Sippy cups are bad for their teeth.

None of mine took a bottle beyond 12 months and I wasn't breast feeding so they got all their liquid from a cup or from food. Your DS will be fine stopping bottles now and continuing with a cup.

It's normal for them to drink less from a cup than a bottle / breast. Remember that breast milk and formula are mainly 'food' for babies rather than fluids. I stopped breastfeeding and bottles at this age and moved on to cups - my DC definitely drank less, but that was ok. He can get liquids in food too (eg milk on cereal).

Good luck OP!

@Kinsters Thanks, just away for one night. He’s with his grandparents 2 days a week and loves them - it’s just worrying about the lack of fluids but I’m sure I’m anxious unnecessarily!

@THNG5 Sorry to hear about your baby’s reflux - that must have been hard. Good to know about the liquids though!

@CompanyCrowdFight Very true! Thanks

He has cows milk with his breakfast but other than that, just has water and breast milk. Fancy drinks are a good idea, especially in this heat!

@DinosApple Thank you! Think I was having a middle of the night panic! Worry about him missing that comforting feed before bedtime but he will be ok!

@JustWonderingIfYou Yes, he uses an open cup and a 360 cup. Both dentist approved! It’s just that he’s refusing milk from anything other than me. Sure he’ll be fine though.

@ApolloandDaphne Thanks, good to know!

Thank you, that’s good to know! Worried about him hardly taking any liquids whilst I’m away but it’s only one night and if he’s thirsty, he’ll drink!

He will be fine. Maybe send him with some fruit/ yogurt or milky type ‘desert’ you know he eats so he has plenty of other liquids. Porridge for breakfast after will be a good amount of liquid also.

Mine is the same age. Bottle refuser. Breastfed. If dh puts him to bed and I am out he just tries to make sure he has yogurt with fruit purée after dinner, then some milk or water from cup before bed.

@Caspianberg Thanks, good to know yours is the same age abs breastfed. Mine has never gone to bed without either a breastfeed or bottle so I’m anxious about it - perhaps we should give it a dry recipe n this week!

@Caspianberg Dry run, even!