Running out of time...

6 replies

AntiDistinctlyMinty · 15/04/2014 14:09

DS2 is a few days short of eight months old, and has never taken a bottle. We tried every type of bottle, teat, cup combination we could find, along with expressed milk and various formulas. It's just never worked. We didn't think it would be an issue for my return to work because at 8.5 months we thought he'd be well established on his weaning.

Then he got croup and was really poorly for over a month.

We had to stop his weaning (on the consultant's advice) because his throat was so sore swallowing was a real issue, and go back to just the breast. He's making progress with his purees etc now, but because of the setback he's still needing a milk feed mid-morning and afternoon. It's only a fortnight until I start back at work and he'll be at the childminder or at home with DH and I'm beginning to worry about him screaming the place down because he's hungry.

The HV's advice was 'let him scream, he'll take a bottle if he's hungry'. We've tried that and it didn't work. Any suggestions? Do you think I should just try and push him to have snacks instead and hope he gets the hang of water from a cup?

Sorry it's a bit long and rambly...

OP posts:

makeminea6x · 15/04/2014 14:13

It's very stressful, isn't it. My DD was the same. It doesn't really relieve the stress to think if them screaming for you!

My DD did end up taking very small amounts when she had to.

Others try sippy cups, or just give food and water in the day and the child makes up for it when you're at home by feeding more.

I think most children do settle down to it and are OK.

SpawningSalmon · 15/04/2014 14:15

I had this problem with my DD. We never had any success getting her onto a bottle. If I were you I would just try and get him onto a cup now. I found the covered free-flowing Tommee Tippee ones the best for this as they can just pour the liquid into their mouth. My DD didn't really get the hang of the ones that you need to suck through until she was older, I suspect because she had never sucked through a bottle (not for lack of trying!) and didn't get what she was supposed to do.

Original poster

AntiDistinctlyMinty · 15/04/2014 14:35

Thank you for the replies- it really is stressful!

We're trying with cups of water, though without much success at the moment. He likes playing with the water cup though so I'm hoping it won't be too long until he gets it. I've been using a sucky one as that's what we always used for DS1, but I'll see if I can find a free flow.

OP posts:

makeminea6x · 16/04/2014 06:21

The cheap Tommy tippee ones are great, the ones with 2 handles that are from 4 months.

Original poster

AntiDistinctlyMinty · 16/04/2014 09:15

Ooh, thanks make - I'll keep an eye out for those. I'm off into town later to have a mooch about in Boots

OP posts:

eagle2010 · 16/04/2014 10:27

I have a friend who was in your position and went back to work when her bottle refusing DD was 6mo. Sometimes her little girl would drink a small cup of EBM, sometimes she'd drink water and juice.

The CM would mix liquids into her food too and sneak them in that way.

Her DD made up for it by BFing more in the evenings - sometimes mammoth 40 min sessions!

It's really stressful to think about but babies are remarkable and will work things out to suit themselves. Best of luck with it all :)

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