Breast to beaker/cup or do I need to use a bottle?

[mumnosbest]

DD is 5.5 months and EBF. I've been expressing and tried a bottle several times but she's being stubborn. This is DC3 so I think I know all the tricks. DS and DD1 took a bottle with no problems. I'm not in a rush as I'm taking the full years leave but it would make life easier if DH could feed her too.

She's beginning to show signs for weaning (probably another month). I thought she might be happier to have a beaker/cup at that point. Could I go straight from breast to a beaker (and BF). At what age can I stop sterilising everything? The beaker isn't suitable for my microwave steriliser.

I went straight from breast to beaker, did bf for a year but as I was back at work from 8 months had to find a way of making sure she still got her milk, tried a variety of beakers before finding the right one but it worked for us.

If it helps we settled on the plain old tommee tippee two handled beakers without any fancy 'spill stop' or ''flow control' as all the ones like that seemed to require significant sucking power on DD's part and she just didn't get it! Plain beakers under supervision with plenty of bibs at the ready and she worked it out in no time. Still use the beakers now she is 2 so good value too.

I think sterilisation is advised for a year, can't be sure though I think we did around that but maybe not quite that long. Sure if I'm wrong someone will correct me :)

Thanks both. I was thinking plain tommee tippee beakers because of the 'sucking' issue. Can they be sterilised? cold water or microwave? I'm too lazy to go and get the baby equipment out to check

Straight to a cup with a lid for me and sterilised in the dishwasher.

we use a doiddy cup, no bottle, dd wont take.

Couldn't get on with a doidy cup with DCs 1 and 2 but thanks maybe worth trying again. They're all different.
I don't want to be over precious with DD and I'm sure she has more germs on her hands than a washed beaker but just not sure on how sterile beakers need to be at 5-6 months. Is the dishwasher enough?

Yes. Dishwasher gets really hot and works well for baby cups and lids.

I used microwave steriliser with the tommy tippee beakers, think a dishwasher is meant to be just as good though I just don't have one!

Wow why didnt anyone tell me i could use the dishwasher before?ive always washed baby stuff in the washer then sterilised it after :)