Sudden bottle/ milk refusal PLEASE HELP!

[krisskross]

DD is 11 months, and mixed fed from 6 months. She has been exclusively bottle fed for last month as she started to refuse to breast feed- she was much keener on looking around and blowing rasperries on me!

Anyway, last few days she has got increasingly fussy when we try to give her bottles to the point where today so far she has only taken 2 oz altogether from 2 bottles (I would have expected her to take 9/10oz). Otherwise she is well and happy. Though her last nappy was dry after 3 hours.

Please can anyone help? She doesnt drink water much and i am in a real flap about this. Am waiting for health visitor to call me.

Does she use a sippy cup or anything, could you try that instead? Or does she want more control of the bottle if you let her put it in her own mouth when she's ready etc?

Honestly though, if it's just the last couple of days and today being the worst, I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep offering her liquids and sooner or later she'll have some if she's thirsty. You could also try giving her fruit and runny-ish foods if you want to get some liquid into her to reassure yourself but please don't worry - if the opportunity to drink is there, she'll take it when she wants it. Babies aren't daft.

At 11 months I personally wouldn't expect a child to be drinking that much milk. Mine would be having bf/bottle first thing in morning and last thing at night. I also give a cup of cows milk at dinner time. The rest of the milk/calcium comes in cheese and yoghurt.

If she's not attached to her bottles I'd use this fussiness time as the perfect oportunity to get rid of the bottle and give her all her milk in a cup. Many children naturally drop the milk quantity at this age. Nowt to be worried about.

Always have a drink of water available. Snack times, meal times, warm days.

Thanks- think i might try to give it to her in a cup and cut out one feed- she eats loads of cheese and yogurt. does anyone know how much milk/ liquid she needs at this age. She doesnt really drrink water.