Weaning Baby from Bottle/Lab Work

Hi there,
My daughter did not have a blood test done. Wasn't even brought up. Find out what could be some symtoms of anemia and be aware of them. If you don't want it to be done, then I don't think it is nesessary. If it is as simple as a pin prick, then you could consider it.
The way I weaned off the bottle was to slowly eliminate a few ounces of milk from the bottle every few days. When she only had a few ounces in the bottle left, I just stopped giving it to her, and she never even realized she was missing it. The night bottles will probably be the last to go. If she ask's for it, just tell her "we don't have a bottle right now, maybe later, are you thirsty? Here is a sippy cup of a little milk instead."
She's only a year, so you don't have to wean her off completely. I really don't think there is a set rule on when to wean off the bottle, it's more about when You want to do it. Don't stress out about it, it will all work out.
Good luck!!!!

My advice is to take the weening slowly. You don't have to stop the bottle completely just because your daughter is 1 year old. It's good that she is using sippy cups for water. She's used to them already. Start introducing sippy cups with Milk or maybe some juice so she knows they are not just for water. She can have milk with her meals but have her eat first so she doesn't fill up on liquid. If she is getting 3 bottles per day, stop one at a time - Stop one of the nap bottles first then the 2nd nap bottle and probably do bedtime last since that is where you want her to be most comfortable. You want the transition to be smoothe so you she doesn't get upset about it.

As far as the blood test is concerned, it's good to check just in case there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Good luck! I hope this helps!

Since she is already drinking out of a sippy cup, it shouldn't be too difficult to wean from the bottle. You can have her drink the milk any time of the day. We actually don't do a lot of milk, my son often has a bowl of cereal with milk in it at breakfast, but other than that he gets his dairy from cheese, yogurt, etc (although I also still nurse my almost 2 year old, so he is getting milk that way too). He drinks water at meals (except sometimes juice at breakfast), which is a good habit for the future. If you do yogurt every day (which is really healthy for you anyway), that is one serving. Cheese can be another serving, maybe one at breakfast, and your baby probably doesn't need more than 3 servings of milk a day (4 at the most).

For the blood tests, we didn't have to do those, my doctor didn't even bring it up. It is not necessary, and seems kind of weird if your baby shows no signs of anemia. I wouldn't do it, except for the lead test if you live in a building older than a certain period, like another person said.

My son has had a several blood tests due to unexplained weight loss and other health issues. I can tell you a very helpful tip I have discovered to make the blood test easier for both you and your daughter. If you have a front carrier put her that. She will be very snug and you can quietly whisper in her ear and hold her other arm tightly while they do it. That way she will not have to be strapped down to the table (very traumatic for both of you). I did this the first time more because I knew the office was small and a stroller would be really hard to fit inside. It worked so well and the nurses said they would be telling other parents about this tip :)

The blood test thing is totally normal. They do it again at 5 years as well. It's good...helps you make sure your baby is healthy before any problems do permanent damage.
-M

The blood draw is normal - but it is not just a finger prick. They take blood from a vein in the arm. My son had this done and he was found to be anemic. The girls at our lab are so good, the baby didn't even know what was going on.

Just switch the "bottle" to a sippy cup. The recommended amount of whole milk in a day is 16-24oz, so you don't HAVE to eliminate any of those, if you don't want to. Just start putting the milk in a sippy instead. Personally, DS was on a similar schedule. We took the mid day milk and replaced it with water, which eventually he just started drinking it whenever he wanted it. He also just stopped wanted the bedtime milk as well. So now we just have it first thing in the morning, and then we drinks water as he's thirsty throughout the day.

For the second question, yes, that's normal. It's just a finger prick and they'll have the test done before you even leave the office.

Here is a site that might be helpful for dealing with the bottle weaning...

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/bottle?utm_campaign=...

And as far as checking for anemia, I would suggest doing it.

Good luck!

My pediatrician checked for my son's iron level for anemia at his 9 months checkup but no blood was taken. The nurse just pricked his foot with something and it only took a second to do and no pain. I think after 6 months babies start losing the stored iron that they got from the mother when they were born. I think that's what I've read before.

I heard 16 oz. of whole milk is sufficient in a day. I think you can serve the milk with each meal and water in between meals.

You need a lead level if you live in a building built before 1974. All of my kids have had this it is just a finger prick . As for anemia it is a a recommendation from the AMA to have it done. Good Luck!
J.

Hello, My children are 32, 35, 40 and 42 years old. The first two did not have the blood test done. The second two did with a new doctor. They found that after my babies were weaned from the breast, they became anemic. They were able to treat them for the anemia and they were fine. When we had custody of one of our grandsons, the doctor did the test on him as well for anemia and lead levels. They just draw some blood and it is done.
Good luck with your precious little girl.
K. K.