11 month old reluctant to give up the breast

[Backtoworksoon]

My daughter is 11 months old and eating fairly well (BLW). She still has around 4 breastfeeds a day: 1 breast when she wakes up, 1 breast before her morning nap, 2 breasts before her afternoon nap and 2 breasts before she goes to bed at night. I am going back to work in 5 weeks and really need to wean her but am finding it tricky. She won't take formula or cows milk from a bottle and will only take a few sips from a cup. Even when she's clearly hungry she will take a few sips and then whinge until she gets the breast. I've also tried giving it to her when she's not hugely hungry and mixing with expressed breast milk.

We will have a 2 week handover with her nanny and I'm wondering if I can leave it til then, as the nanny may have more success than me. Then again, it will already be a period of change for my daughter and I'd rather have the weaning behind us.

Any suggestions?

Is there anyone else who can try giving her a bottle or cup, when you are not there (or at least if DD doesn't think you are around) and therefore breast is not an option?

Will she drink water at all? I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I understand they can survive without milk during the day (even if they would usually feed then) and hold on until you get home in the evening, IYSWIM?

I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along shortly!

DS (now 10mo) refused to take bottles off me so I got MIL to try. It does take some perseverance but we are now at the stage where he'll take bottles happily with me in the room. The bf counsellor told me that even if he refused milk all day when Im at work, he'll have a huge feed off me when I get home, before bed and in the mornings. He does feed thru the night a couple of times but making progress with gradual night weaning.

It may be a hard couple if weeks while you all get used to the new routine, but you'll get there. I would personally be tempted to wait til the nanny starts then at feed times leave the room until the nanny has given the bottle. Hth

Have you tried other drinks - a Lassi perhaps? Different flavour and texture to milk but still good source of dairy protein and fat?

Tea - she does drink water so at least we don't need to get too worried about dehydration.

Ipswich - my husband has tried but she refuses even more steadfastly. I suspect though that the nanny will have more luck as she is the "firm but fair" type who, according to her references, has an uncanny knack for getting kids to do what she wants them to. I think I agree, probably best just to keep up the milk until the nanny starts so she has all the health benefits of breastmilk, as it may be a tough few weeks coming up for her.

Fred - never tried a lassi, good idea, will definitely try it.

Yeah DP has so far not been able to get him to take a bottle, but certainly in his case he'd get so anxious about DS refusing and getting hysterical, that I think DS picked up on the stress and just wouldn't take it. It will probably be better to get someone not quite so emotionally involved like nanny or in our case nursery staff (who had no real probs with bottles) to get her used to it before your DH tries again.
Good luck!

At 11mo will you need to use a bottle? DD was drinking from beakers at that age. It's easier because they are in control. Basically just hand a beaker of milk to him and let him get on with t. You do BLW so would understand he will drink as much as he needs.

Once she is one the recommendation is 300 ml of cows milk per day so if you are able to BF first thing and before bed she will be getting enough with the other dairy foods in the day.