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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

How do I get DS to drink???

11 replies

MamehaSan · 03/02/2015 14:51

I'm looking for some advice on how to get DS (8.5 months) to drink from any receptacle other than my boob. I've been pondering whether to post about this for a little while, but unfortunately events have unfolded such that I might need to speed up the process.

I'm returning to work when DS turns 1, so will need him to last the day between BFs, and have been trying to get him to take water with his meals since we started weaning at 6 months. After a month of trying with a Tommy Tippee free flow sippy cup, the extent of our sucess was that he would sometimes allow us to put the cup to his lips... The HV advised us to try with an open cup instead, which we have been doing for the last month and a half. Depending on what mood he's in, we can sometimes get a dribble of water into his mouth, but whether he's worked out he's supposed to swallow it is another matter. Bottles are no-go as well; DH has periodically tried giving him a bottles of EBM but he screams and writhes around with his mouth firmly shut. I've ordered a doidy cup from Amazon, so as soon as it arrives we'll have a go with that.

So... I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to how we could persuade him to drink? I had pretty much given up on the prospect of getting him to take a bottle, and was focussing on him taking fluids with his meals instead. However, my Dad's just been taken into hospital and depending on what happens there I will probably need to leave DS with DH while I go to Dad. This means me missing the evening feeds, which DH will somehow need to deal with.

Any ideas, either on getting him to drink water at mealtimes or milk at feed times?

I have cups, bottles, a stash of EBM in the freezer and a willing DH, but I'm out of ideas and am getting a little desperate, as I really don't want to have to take DS to the hospital with me

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 03/02/2015 14:54

a cup with a straw?

tiktok · 03/02/2015 15:19

OK, here's some ideas that have worked with babies I have known in this situation:

an egg cup
a glass (obviously a tough one, which won't crack if he snaps his jaws/teeth on to it)
the Doidy you are already going to try
water/liquid on a spoon (slow...)

Good luck.

Original poster

MamehaSan · 03/02/2015 15:41

Thank you both for your suggestions. I'd forgotten that we'd tried a straw - it was a few weeks ago and he just chewed it or blew bubbles but we can give it another go.

I'm guessing that there's no magic solution, and it will be a case of persevering.

A follow-up question: would you suggest sticking with one method for a little while (to give him chance to get used to it), or keep trying lots of different approaches?

OP posts:

McBaby · 03/02/2015 16:01

My dad was v ill when dd1 was a similar age she refused all bottles etc but on the odd day here and there DH had to have her all day. She didn't drink any milk but she got by with lots of food, sips of water, high water content fruit and yogurt! If he is thirsty he will have something as long as DH is patient and keeps offering. She also went to bed with a few sips of milk and a cuddle. Despite me feeding to sleep usually.

dementedpixie · 03/02/2015 16:22

we used a carton of juice to help train with the straw (depends how you feel about juice!) as you could then squeeze the carton slightly to get the liquid up the straw and that encouraged them to suck more.

daluze · 03/02/2015 22:58

There is still a lot of time until he is one. I introduced a free flow cup with water with meals at 6 months, but my DS really only started drinking properly at 11 months. If you still breastfeed, he may not be thirsty do not really interested. Keep offering it, but don't push.
As for evening feeds, DH may offer some yoghurt instead (my DS loved natural yoghurt with mashed blueberries), so he is not hungry. Then he will make up for that feed other times of the day.

Original poster

MamehaSan · 04/02/2015 08:53

daluze, you've given me hope, thank you! We've been trying not to push him, as I dont want him to get annoyed by the cup and never take it, but it's so damn frustrating when some days he won't let it get anywhere near him! DH had a minor success at teatime yesterday, he thinks some water dribbled into DS's mouth and that it may have been swallowed!

Thanks everyone for the advice, we'll keep on trying.

OP posts:

JADS · 04/02/2015 09:27

Have you tried milk in a sippy cup? Ds wouldn't entertain water from a TT but loved milk from it. He was drinking solely from one by 10 months but always milk. He doesn't drink water now and he's 4.

Original poster

MamehaSan · 04/02/2015 12:47

Hm, we haven't tried that JADS, it's a thought.

I'm off to the hospital this afternoon, so we'll see how DH and DS get on without mummy milk on tap...

OP posts:

mrsmugoo · 04/02/2015 15:54

My EBF DS wouldn't drink from anything other than boob until a week before he started nursery when he was 7.5 months.

It was formula in an Avent soft spout sippy cup that he finally mastered with literally not a minute to spare. He would only take 2 or 3oz at a time to start with but now he chugs 7 or 8oz straight down and looks for more!

tenwrigglywigglycaterpillars · 04/02/2015 16:00

I'd advocate the sippy cup route myself. Ds was 9 months when I began swapping out breast feeds for sippy cup feeds. It sounds harsh but it was a case of - here's the sippy of milk, drink it or wait til next bf. By that age his feeds were regular so he knew when to expect something. The something just changed from me to cup. I swapped out one feed every three/four days so it took about a month for him to be boob free. I expected a battle but there wasn't one at all. Good luck.

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