Breastfed 9 month old won’t even drink water

[LolaBumble]

Any tips or words of wisdom??

My 9 month old has literally never accepted a bottle and won’t even drink water. I’ve tried SO many different cups. Eats well enough and still breastfeeds a lot.

My worry is about going to nursery when I go back to work in 2 months.

On Saturday I trialled a bit of separation - for 2 hours I went out and left my husband with her, came home and she was screaming and he was trying everything.

I am just looking for any tips or tricks to help her get ready for nursery.

Two months is still a way off. Mine never had a bottle and I couldn’t express so they were EBF or nothing.

By the time I went back to work they would take water from a sippy cup and were happy to have food instead of milk during the day.

Milk was just morning and bedtime.

Thank you! This is reassuring to hear!

My breastfed babies found it easier to drink water from a small open glass - think shot glass size - than from a sippy cup or bottle. You could give that a try.

Interesting! Will give it a go thank you

My breastfed babies also preferred drinking from a cup or sippy cup. They didn’t really drink much water when they started nursery at around 10 months either. First couple of week were a bit unsettled but after that they were fine and ate and drank water throughout the day (never milk though!).

These are the ones I have. They’re espresso glasses so they’re much tougher than ordinary glasses (in case they get dropped from the high chair!) https://amzn.eu/d/06ZJ1T7f

And keep practicing leaving her for 2 or 3 hours with her dad and maybe one of your parents to get her more used to being cared for by other people. Things will be different in a couple of months as they develop so fast but I would be trying to get her more comfortable with other adults. Unless this scenario with her dad was unusual? Does she always scream when she is left with him?

You can also concentrate on food with a high water content (watermelon, cucumber), very milky porridge or Weetabix. Be aware that they can get weaning constipation when they reduce breastfeeding IF they aren't willing to drink water/fluids, so it's good that you are working on this.

I would also say that the novelty/peer pressure of nursery helps many reluctant eaters/drinkers/sleepers. You see lots of comments on MN about babies who only contact nap at home, feed to sleep, yet at nursery they just roll over on a mat and drift off with a gentle pat!