Weaning Help for Me & 4 Month-Old Daughter

You have to think about why you're weaning her this early, and is it worth it? Are you having trouble breastfeeding, are you going back to work, do you want a lifestyle change? I'm not trying to make you feel guilty at all- four months of exclusive breastfeeding is wonderful!- but the AAP recommends exclusive b.f.ing for at least 6 months. If your daughter is rejecting the formula, it may be better for her and you if you wait a couple more months. She'll be older and she won't need as much of the antibodies, etc. that your breastmilk provides. You also may be able to give her some baby food by then, which will help her transition. Two months isn't that long. :-)

Switching feedings during the day first is usually the best. Most babies like to nurse when they wake up and when they go down for a nap or for the night. "Comfort feedings" are hardest to drop, and your baby needs them to feel secure.

Refusing to give her your breast when she rejects the bottle is a bad idea. Your baby doesn't understand why; she just knows she's hungry and Mommy won't feed her. That will only make things worse. Have you tried giving her a little breastmilk (like 5-10 minutes) and then leaving the room (or even the house!!) and letting your husband feed her? That way she's not upset from hunger so she may be more likely to accept the bottle.

Have you considered pumping exclusively? That way she'll still have your milk while getting accustomed to the bottle.
When my daughter was four months, she was just getting the hang of breastfeeding. It took her a long time to get latched correctly, etc. I had to use shields and everything. If you're weaning because of the difficulty, I promise it gets easier!
You could visit a La Leche League meeting and have access to lactation consultants. They may be able to help you with transitioning. I love the one that meets in Grapevine.
Hope that helps? :)

Usually they're more attached to the feedings at bedtime and in the morning. So afternoon feedings are usually the easiest to get rid of first. My son was very attached to his nighttime feeding, so I made sure that one was the last to go. Just pay attention to when she seems to need you most. I know my little guy also had a "fussy time" of day in the early evening. If she has a time like that, it's also probably not a good feeding to start with.

I know it's kind of crazy, but it'll work out. Just do it slowly, and she'll do fine with the transition!

I know what you are going through! My daughter is 5 months and I was trying the same thing as you when she was 3 months. I gave in and I'm still nursing. If you havn't started cereal yet you should go ahead and start. It may be easier for her once you start other foods. I don't nusre as much now, my daughter has started rice and oatmeal cereal and also a couple veggies/fruits. It does get easier the more foods she gets the less mommy she needs.
My daughter would get so upset and she has such a sensitive tummy already, anyway the more upset she got the more gas she had. Which is harder on all of us.
I know this is probably not what you want to hear, I just think if you can hold out a little longer it may be an easier process.
I can't pump but I have been told if you pump and maybe do half breast milk and half formula and slowly decrease the breast milk it may help.
DO NOT feel bad or guilty breast feeding is hard and a 24/7 commitment. You are a great mommy! Please contact me if you want to talk.
I have a couple of bottles called breast flow they are only at Baby R Us and are expensive she did not use them so if you would like to try them you are welcome to them.
They a alot like the breast, they are pretty cool. She just didn't take to them. You may try Dr. Brown's. Good Luck to you!!

Hi J.,

I think you can do either way - cold turkey, or back off one breastfeeding session at a time over a period of a month or so. Each one is going to have it's drawbacks and probably be really tough sometimes. But, the hard part will be over quickly and you'll both get through the transition.

I know it's a tough decision to make, but you know what's right for you and your family, so don't let anyone try to make you feel guilty about this decision. It can and should be a positive transition and it sounds like you're doing your best to make it so!

Good luck! I hope it works out for you! Feel free to PM me if you want a little outside encouragement and support!

C.

My daughter would eat the formula for a couple days, then decide she didn't like it anymore. Once we found the kind she liked (Similac Soy, of all things!) she has done great! But don't be surprised if she eats one brand for a month, then decides she doesn't like it!

Don't feel guilty about not breastfeeding! Every little bit they have gotten counts, and if breastfeeding isn't working for you, its more important to have a happy mommy than a stressed out mommy! My pediatrician told me that they get 90% of the benefits of breasfeeding in the first 4 months, so you are doing good!! I exclusively pumped for 4 months, and than tranistioned to formula as my milk production decreased at month 4 (and pumping was driving me nuts!!LOL!!) If you have a pump, (or can even rent one for a couple weeks if you don't), and can pump some breastmilk, I found that by mixing the formula with breastmilk my daughter would take it much easier! Granted she was already used to the bottle, but she wouldn't take formula straight when I started! I did 3/4 breastmilk, 1/4 formula for a few days, then went to 1/2 and 1/2. Once I was at 1/2 and 1/2, every few days I would try and sneak in a bottle of straight formula. It got rejected the first couple times, but then she started eating that one bottle of formula, and I gradually increased the number or formula vs. mixed bottles until she didn't care either way. So, thats what worked for me! You also may want to try some different bottles. There is a nipple called Second Nature that works like a breast as they only get milk if they suck- it does not drip. And the harder they suck the faster it flows. They have those at BRU as well.

Good Luck- and don't let anyone make you feel guilty for not breastfeeding!!!!! Whatever works for you is the right choice!!