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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Please help me wean my baby

18 replies

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 28/04/2022 19:56

Sorry to post in aibu, but I’m desperate for as many ideas as possible.

I have a 6 month old boy who will NOT take formula. We’ve tried every single formula, every single bottle. He will not have it. I can’t express note than an ounce, plus I don’t want to add expressing into my endless list of things to do. I’m desperate for a break, I need to go out for the day but atm I can’t leave him as he needs to be breastfed.

I have a very willing but slightly useless husband who is trying to give him bottle, cup, spoons etc of formula while I’m not there but that’s not helping either.

I really want to go back to work please help!

OP posts:

Original poster

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 28/04/2022 20:16

Please anyone?

OP posts:

Lazypuppy · 28/04/2022 20:18

What happens if you leave the house for 20mins while your husband tries to feed formula? My DD wouldn't take formula to starr with if i was in the house and she knew she could cry for me

Original poster

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 28/04/2022 20:19

I’ve been out for 6 hours before and he just didn’t feed 😞

OP posts:

Lazypuppy · 28/04/2022 20:23

And how about actual food now at 6 months? And water.

Have you tried mixing formula with breastmilk to start with, and slowly adding more formula? Are you heating the formula to the same temp as breastmilk? Don't forget breastmilk is very sweet and formula isn't basically so its quite a big change for them.

PurBal · 28/04/2022 20:23

I didn’t want to read and run. Firstly… Breathe…

How are you getting on with solids? Once DS got used to different foods / flavours / textures he started to accept formula from a cup. It took a while but he now shows more interest in solids than breast milk. He’s 9mo now, 3 meals plus a snack per day. Generally he’ll have 3 breastfeeds: first thing in the morning, in the afternoon around snack time, and before bed. This week he’s wanted me more due to a tummy bug. He’s starting nursery next week, I’m not planning on giving them formula or breast milk. He’ll have water whilst I’m not there and milk when he’s home morning and evening.

MissChanandlerBong80 · 28/04/2022 20:23

Is it formula he’s rejecting or is it the bottle? Will he take expressed milk from a bottle? (I know you don’t want to express, I’m just asking to work out whether it’s the bottle or the formula he doesn’t like.) My son was a bottle refuser but I managed to get him to take a bottle by lying him on his back and using a sterilised Calpol syringe to syringe some breastmilk into his mouth. Then I replaced the syringe with a bottle and he suddenly got it. He didn’t mind whether it was formula or breastmilk in the bottle though.

Padderbadger · 28/04/2022 20:23

I'm trying to get my baby to bottle feed at the moment as I go back to work soon. He's 5.5 months. He refuses to drink from a bottle but actually will drink from a little cup - he also has the cup to play with outside feeding times which seems to help. Maybe you could try this instead if a bottle?

HalloHello · 28/04/2022 20:24

My 8 month old is exactly the same! I don't have much advice but he won't starve while you're not there, he will just feed more when you get back. It's called reverse cycling I think. One you start weaning and he is eating a decent amount, it does get easier. Obviously food won't replace breast milk but it gives you some peace of mind that he hasn't got an empty tummy.

I have been trying to get my baby to take formula since 2 months and he's never drank more than 2oz! It's incredibly frustrating! I'm sorry I can't be more help but I totally do know what you're going through.

oblada · 28/04/2022 20:32

If it helps - i went back to work when my oldest was just under 6months. She never took a bottle so whilst I expressed initially for her it was pretty useless. She would just wait for me and feed once she was with me. It is reverse cycling. It went fine. She was weaning onto solid food anyway so she was happy overall. So maybe you don't need to stop breastfeeding and instead just take the time you need and baby will work around it. And if the formula is available he wil drink it if needed.

Fruitytoot · 28/04/2022 20:34

My daughter was exactly the same. I couldn't get her to take a bottle until 8 or 9 months. Try different formulas as they all taste different. In the end I tried giving a bottle at the end of a meal, whilst still in a high chair so she didn't associate it with 'feeding'. She got the hang of it this way. Good luck! It's tough when all you want is a break but they rely on you for so much!

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 28/04/2022 20:38

I agree with PPs that solids are you friends here! My 11MO DS is still very iffy with formula (he’ll at most drink 40mL at a time at nursery or with my DH), but is happy to fill up on water + nutritious foods like avocado, berries, eggs, chicken, etc.

I just went away for 2.5 days and he was completely fine, even though he only had a few glugs of formula. When I came home he breastfed a lot over a couple of hours, and in the two days since has settled back into our morning and evening routine.

MangyInseam · 28/04/2022 20:39

Have you tried a cup, and maybe water? If he doesn't like formula, and it's gross so why would he, maybe try some solids and water. A sippy cup works well at that age.

JenniferBarkley · 28/04/2022 20:47

How soon do you need/want to leave him? Mine never took a bottle either, but by the time I went back to work at 9 months they were getting on well enough with solids and water that it wasn't a problem.

My eldest then went on a nursing strike and never breastfed again - but still didn't take milk of any kind from a bottle or cup. She finally started drinking cows milk from a sippy cup just before her birthday. Not ideal but we managed.

Obviously, if you need or want to leave before solids are more fully established then it's a trickier proposition.

LifeIsBusy · 28/04/2022 20:49

Not entirely helpful but I went back when DS was 12 weeks. I expressed but he never took more than 5 ounces a day and just made sure he kept me up all night eating 😴.

PinkDaffodil2 · 28/04/2022 20:52

How is he with solids and water in a sippy cup? It’s a tricky age as you’re just introducing food but in the next month or so it gets loads easier to leave them with yogurt, water, food etc. Good luck!

Original poster

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 28/04/2022 20:59

He will take water absolutely fine from a cup, it’s definitely the formula he hates. Over really really tried expressing but I just can’t get anything out now, my boobs have settled.
wr started earning last week ( he was only 6 mo this yesterday) so he’s still only having maybe 2 ice cubes worth of purée. He absolutely doesn’t want to entertain finger food yet. My god hes so different from my first.

OP posts:

Original poster

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 28/04/2022 21:07

I mean he only takes small sips of water, but I’m worried about him being dehydrated. He breast feeds still quite frequently through the day.

OP posts:

Namaste6 · 28/04/2022 22:01

I just don't think he's ready yet. Try again in a few days weeks. Start with milky solids - a loose porridge etc and take it from there. Keep the water coming too.

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