Should I bother with bottle or try to go straight to cup?

[angfirsttimer]

So DS is 7 months and has had an on off relationship with the bottle, currently off! I really want to stop bf but cant see a way out at the moment.
He isn't all that interested in cups either, he just wants to bash them on the highchair (tried about 6 different types of cup). It doesnt seem to be the content of the cup/bottle as when he has taken a few sips from a cup he hasnt minded whether EBM formula or water.
I am BLW so no prospect of him dropping the milk feeds any time soon. I go back to work in less than 3 months and expressing whilst at work is simply not an option due to the nature of my job. I need to get him to drink from something other than me, and I am not sure whether given his age there is any point in perservering with the bottle or whether I should focus on getting him to drink from a cup.

I am desperate for a day off from him I havent been away from him for more than a couple of hours since he was born - help!!

Do you have a partner? Can you get him to do the bottle/cup feeds with you out of the way so DS can't rely on you?

My son went straight to cup, my daughter won't take any milk at all that isn't mine (20 months on). That doesn't bother me because it's just in the morning and at night and it's quick and easy. I do have nights off sometimes and it doesn't affect my milk supply - and she's fine. You could restrict breastfeeding to twice by 10 months I think and get the dairy into him with cheese, yoghurts etc.

Also, now he's on solids you should be able to go out for an afternoon. He won't starve. Try a biscuit as a snack to accompany a drink from a cup.

If you only want to stop breastfeeding because of the work/expressing issue, then there really is no need. I know of babies younger than 10 months who go to nursery/childminder all day and refuse milk, and catch up in the evenings when they're home.

If you want to stop anyway, then you're going to need to do it slowly to avoid mastitis.

Sorry, have no cu advice as mine took to one quickly. She loves her doidy (for water at mealtimes) so try one of those if you've not already.

Thanks for the reassurance that he will be able to survive during the day even without taking a bottle. Not sure I fancy the reverse cycling though!

Not sure why I am so worried about him starving he is almost on 91st centile, hardly going to waste away.

If anyone has any tips for getting him to take a cup/bottle, would be much appreciated. Tried a Doidy and DH giving him milk, neither was a success.

I tried a Doidy and DS just threw it over his shoulder. I gave up for a while but tried again with me holding on very firmly to the cup and DS 'steering' it and now he does just fine. We are also doing BLW and DS is 8 months. I would also go to a baby feeding clinic run by the NHS (may also be called a weaning clinic, breastfeeding clinic etc.) and talk to the baby feeding consultant midwife, who will be able to give you more tailored advice.