Trying to stop final two feeds at 10 months but baby won’t drink milk from cup or bottle

[FinallyGotAnIPhone]

Hello
My baby Is ten months old and breastfed and I want to stop breastfeeding. The problem is that he seems to love breastfeeding and won’t take hardly any milk from a cup.

I’ve managed to cut it down to two feeds a day - when he wakes up (7 am) and before he goes to bed (7pm). In the day I’ve replaced his afternoon feed with a yoghurt and I stopped feeding in the night at about 7 months. He’s a good sleeper. He often wakes in the night for a quick cry but is easily settled. He’s a great baby overall. Good eater, very happy etc.

I’d like to give up breastfeeding as I’m returning to work soon and may have to stay away from home. I’m also done with feeding now. Very enjoyable while it lasted but keen to stop.

The problem is that while he can happily drink lots of water from a cup he just isn’t fussed about (formula) milk. I offer him formula at breakfast and in the afternoon and he will have the odd sip but no more. In the morning when he wakes he is fretful for his milk, and still has a long feed. In the evening after his bath and story he is also quite anxious for his feed. He definitely likes the comfort.

Any suggestions ?? I can’t even think of any solutions!

Do you have a partner? If so I'd tackle one feed at a time. Get them to do the 7 am feed and breakfast for a few days while you go out for a run or walk. Once he's got used to that, d the same with the bedtime feed.

What temperature are you serving the milk at? I know it is supposed to be 37 max but both of mine would only ever take a bottle at 40 to 42 degrees so we got a milk thermometer and served it like that.

Thanks both for replying.
@JiltedJohnsJulie I do have a partner yes. Maybe will try that tomorrow morning.
@knittedgoldfish I’ve been serving it at room temperature. I have also tried warming it in the past but didn’t seem to make a difference. Maybe I will persevere with that. I’d never heard of a milk thermometer but just found one on amazon so maybe will try.

Yesterday when I offered milk in the afternoon I gave some ready made formula instead of powdered milk and he did take a bit more of that. Maybe I’ll get there with a combination of partner, heating it, and ready made milk....

Don't expect him to drink too much either. You'll be lucky to get more than a couple of flozs into a bf baby at first.