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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to leave my bottle refusing 9 month old for 2 nights?

41 replies

Ilovemysleepthief · 27/04/2019 11:29

I have had a girls break arranged for well over a year, being away for 2 nights.

My 9 month old is breast fed, and despite many attempts refuses a bottle. We have tried loads of different ones. She drinks water from a beaker.

She still has 2 night feeds, I have recently managed to cut this down from about 6 per night.

I'm feeling so worried and conflicted Sad Should I cancel? I know my friend will be really disappointed.

I haven't slept since she was born, so obviously I was also looking forward to a break myself.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 27/04/2019 16:26

If they drink from a beaker just put the milk in one of those.

Aquamarine1029 · 27/04/2019 16:32

I don't know why you're wasting time trying to get her to use a bottle. Just give her milk in a sippy cup. None of my children ever used a bottle and used cups by 6 months.

Heymummee · 27/04/2019 16:38

You should definitely go. My baby was a bottle refuser too and I (reluctantly) went away for 3 nights, whilst I wasn’t there he happily had the bottle so I had absolutely nothing to worry about. I think if you have the option of coming home, go and see how it all pans out but I bet they’ll be fine Smile go and enjoy yourself

Original poster
Ilovemysleepthief · 27/04/2019 19:03

Thanks all , she will take small amounts of milk from the beaker, so I would Express lots for him to give her.

OP posts:
IsoscelesSandwich · 27/04/2019 19:16

I would go. I have a 9 month old bottle refuser, sent him to nursery when I went back to work and when he got hungry enough he took a bottle. She’ll be fine, what’s the worst that will happen? Get some sleep! I haven’t slept for 9 months and I would LOVE a night away!

MabelMoo23 · 27/04/2019 19:53

I have a bottle refuser, I returned to work at 10 months and at 13 months I had go away for 2 nights.

Happy accepted milk from Daddy in a cup and slept through (course she did)

I get home and it’s 24/7 boobie buffet again.

They just know!!!!!!! Go, and enjoy yourself

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 27/04/2019 20:02

My dd was a total bottle refuser. In the end the only way I could stop breastfeeding (she was 17 months at this stage and I was wrecked) was to let my mum take her overnight. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad idea for you to go, but I’d maybe only do it if you’re wanting to wean her off the breast altogether, as otherwise it might confuse her and / or your supply might dry up.

Ihatehashtags · 27/04/2019 20:06

Just go. She’ll be fine and will accept a bottle when she realises there is. I thing else. Ditch the beaker and use a bottle.

Thatsnotmyotter · 27/04/2019 20:14

I’d go. I’m going back to work in a couple of weeks and my largely bottle refusing boob monster (nearly 8 months) is just going to have to get on with it! He loves a cup or beaker with water in so I just plan to send him to his grandparents with lots of munchkin cups and expressed milk and hope that he’ll take them. They had him overnight for us a few weeks ago (no special occasion, I just needed a break!) and he was absolutely fine. I fed him at bedtime, he let my mum rock him back to sleep when he woke up and then didn’t wake up til 6ish (basically unheard of at home!). He had some milk from a bottle in the morning, and then his breakfast, and wasn’t even particularly interested in breastfeeding when I reappeared at lunchtime! She’ll adjust, it’s not like you’re leaving her with strangers.

Twickerhun · 27/04/2019 20:17

I have a similar 9 month old and I wouldn’t go. Not fair on the baby who is very reliant on you for comforts

Justkeeprollingalong · 27/04/2019 22:47

Go! She's not going to starve and she's with her Daddy. The break will do you the world of good. 💐

Cheby · 27/04/2019 22:55

I wouldn’t go. Not at 9 months. Milk is supposed to be their main source of nutrition under 12 months. Leaving for so long may also disrupt breastfeeding and personally I wouldn’t want that.

I might go for one night. Actually personally I wouldn’t but trying to be more objective I think one night is much more of a balance at that age.

Pinkprincess1978 · 27/04/2019 23:26

I went to a concert was ebf dd was about 8/9 weeks old. I expressed for weeks before hand and the little minx refused all bottles. DH tried to spoon the milk in to. She cried all the time I was gone but ultimately was fine (she enjoyed a good feed at about midnight when I got home).

At 9 months she can manage a couple of nights without milk. She will take it from her beaker if she really wants it.

I think it's easier to get them to take a bottle when mum isn't around.

Jackielaffertyiscold · 05/05/2019 10:24

Update!

I went and she slept through for both days Shock
She has never slept through before!

BarbarianMum · 05/05/2019 10:29

Yes well, no point waking up just for milk in a sippy cup and no mummy cuddles. This was basically how we sleep trained ds1 - you can have as much attention from daddy as you like bw 11pm and 6am but mummy is closed.

EL8888 · 05/05/2019 10:35

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross totally. She wasn’t lucky and no favour was being done!

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