dd 8mo, need to stop b/feeding but dd refuses bottle/ cup. Help!

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Hi, I really need some help! I'm starting a new job in 3 weeks and would really like to stop b/feeding altogether. DD eats 3 meals a day and was having 4 b/feeds: 7am, 10am, 2pm, 7pm. Tried to replace 2pm feed with a bottle, first couple of days were fine, then a bit hit and miss, then a couple of good days - the last 5 days have been a complete no-no, I can't even get the bottle near her face. Have tried different formulas (can't express, gives me severe breast pain so this is out) and the one she liked she is now refusing, have also tried a cup but she just takes mouthfuls and spits it out. Have tried in highchair, on lap, facing away from me, dh has tried as has sister. Sister (2 dd of own, 1y and 3y) said go cold turkey with bf and after a few days she will give in and take the bottle - she did this with dd2 and she took no milk for 3 days. Seems a bit harsh to me especially since I'm going back to work soon so she has big change ahead anyway. Really don't know what to try next, sorry for garbled message!

can I just ask if you've tried expressing in different ways? eg electric pump, manual pump, hand expressing?

Mind you, my DD is 10 months and won't even take expressed milk! Sorry, not much help...

How old is she? Would you consider just doing the 7am and 7pm feeds? If so, she would get a fair bit that way and you could make sure she's eating plenty milk things in the day to make up any difference. My friend did this and after a couple of weeks in nursery her DD eventually took that bottle. Once she was happily taking the bottle she felt that she could wind down the breastfeeding.

I agree with your sister, I think you just have to keep persevering. The one thing you could try changing is the bottle/teat type.

I had a similar problem and had success with a Playtex bottle and teat. The teat is meant to be very similar to the nipple and the bottles are great as they have a bag inside which collapses as the baby feeds. So there is no build up of pressure and bubbles going back in to the bottle. Blimey I sounds like a sales rep!! Anyway link here

Also perhaps try in the morning when your DD is most hungry.

Good luck

Thks for responses, the kinder option to me is continuing just the 7am and 7pm feeds and seeing how it goes, was worried she wouldn't get enough milk though (she is 8.5 months). Will definitely try the playtex bottle!

I had to do the same as you. I started replacing morning feed with a bottle. The only teat I could get on with was the tommy tippee ones (the old style ones with nobbles on) as DD used to latch onto them as if she was bf. It was hard work but she managed to take it a few days before I went back to work. I left before she woke in the morning so cut back to the evening feed - which I actually really enjoyed as I felt it was good to have that time together as I really missed her during the day!

Don't worry about her not getting enough milk - it sounds as if she's getting enough calories throughout the day - she might take a bottle from someone else during the day especially once she realised she wasn't getting anything from anyone else.

Good luck - it's hard work but babies soon realise what their options are!