Weaning off breast milk - Please suggest

[momoflandb]

Hi All,

I have been breastfeeding my baby daughter till her first birthday. I stopped breastfeeding during the day. She is interested in solid food but does not like milk. Tried giving her formula in a bottle but the only source of calcium she likes has been yogurts. I have been breastfeeding her in the night. She is now 15 months and want to stop breastfeeding in the night. Have tried giving her formula in a bottle but is refusing. Please could you give your suggestions.

Thanks a lot.

Have you ever tried giving her a little bit of milkshake just to get drinking from a bottle. Once she's used to a bottle or beaker she'll probs drink anything! Xx

Mine loved a warm hot chocolate from a bottle!

I've stopped to breastfeed at 15 months too. She refused bottles for a few days, took few sips and that was all. Then I added some nesquick and she started liking it( I really added just a tiny bit to give a bit of a different taste).

She's not always super fan of milk, but drinks 150 ml after nap time and before bedtime. I'm not concerned about it as she eats food really well and loves cheese.

One thing is that she's super clingy to me since then, she's 20 months now and I'm pregnant again. But we deal with it, it's just a fase.

I think it takes patience when you wean off your milk, but they'll understand in time there is no other choice other than bottle or whatever way you choose to give your baby milk.

You can use cheese as a snack for extra dairy/calcium to. Or for dinners include milk sauces etc? Would she also have those if she won't drink milk? At 15 months she is old enough for just cows milk. If you are worried about the vitamins then Arla do a milk with added vitamins or you can get vitamin drops to add to drinks.

She is used to drinking water from a straw bottle. I have been giving her formula in a similar bottle. Now she does not want to drink water from the bottle

@momoflandb well done on breastfeeding your daughter until now. I have a couple of suggestions.

1. She doesn’t need formula, save your money and don’t hither. Regular cows milk is just fine after 1.
2. Don’t use the same bottles as her water, she associates this bottle with water and you don’t want her to stop drinking water
3. Try giving her milk in a cup
4. Use milk in cooking, porridge, cereal, pasta etc

Don’t worry too much about the milk, she can get calcium from other sources such as cheese, yogurt, etc

That’s meant to say “don’t bother”

Thank you all for your suggestions.

@R2D2abc - Congratulations on your second.

It's three days since I stopped bf my daughter. Since was used to night feeds the first night she was up every two hours crying and went back to sleep after cuddling her. Second day she was up only once. But now I feel she is waking up because she is hungry. What can I give her in the middle of the night. She will not take milk from a cup or bottle. I have been giving her cow milk mixed with cereal of which she has couple of spoons.

Mine won’t drink milk. I give him plain yogurt and he eats tons of that. Avoid flavoured yogurt because it’s packed with sugar.

I weaned at 17 months and just offered water during the night from a sippy cup. He had it 4 times one night and then stopped waking during the night after that. Why do you think she is hungry? Does she eat during the day? I'm not one for sleep training a young baby as I do believe some need comfort and food during the night but at 15 months I wouldnt be offering anything during the night. Could you move dinner time to nearer half 4/5 then offer weetabix/porridge just before bed time to make sure she is full then? If shes refusing a cup/bottle/cereal during the night it doesn't really sound like hunger, more habit/comfort.