I am ready to begin weaning my 8 month old daughter. I currently BF 4 times a day. My plan is to slowly replace one feeding at a time with formula, starting with the two in the middle of the day and cutting out the bedtime feed last. My goal is to be done by the end of June. She has never taken a bottle (not because she refused, but because I never really tried). She knows how to drink from a sippy cup, sometimes I give it to her at meal time or when we're out. I give it to her so she can learn how to drink from it and also to distract and entertain her, she really likes her sippy cup. I'm wondering if I should give her the formula in a sippy cup or a bottle. I'm worried that she won't understand that's it's meal time if I give her a sippy cup because I have given it to her so much at random times. She can probably learn to drink from a bottle, she is a pretty easy baby. I'm just not sure the best way to go. Any suggestions about sippy cup vs. bottle or any general tips on beginning the weaning process would be great. Thanks!
She is already using the sippy cup, forget the bottle. Just have her drink from the cup for meals and when she is thirsty for juice or water.
G. K
A sippy cup is your best bet. Any particulr reason you'd like to have her weaned so young? Breastmilk is still the best source of nutrtion at this age. There is no need for formula. Some moms wait until closer to one year and then just offer whole milk in a sippy skipping the formula all together. I agree not to add the bottle in at this age.
Definitely go straight to sippy cup. If you already know she'll take it, it's a good idea. Then you will not have to wean her again in a few mos from the bottle. If you start to offer the cup at meal times, she'll get the ides that she should drink it then. I also used to make water available in a separate sippy to sip on throughout the day.
Good luck!
Denise
It's best to have babies off the bottle around 12 months. So I'd recommend going straight to the sippy cup if she's taking that. Skipping the bottle is not going to harm her oral-motor development and you'll get to skip the step of weaning from the bottle!!
If this were my child, I'd go for the sippy cup and skip the bottle altogether. It's just one less thing to wean.
You may be surprised at how well she transitions, too. Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. If she's done well with the cup, chances are this transition will be rather smooth.
Good luck to you - even if she resists know that it will only be temporary and, just like every other pattern/habit in life she'll learn that there is a new and different way of doing things and adjust quickly.
sippy cup all the way!!!.....her natural instinct will be for the bottle, and once the children attach to the bottle it is more difficult to pull it away. I assume your daughter can sit up....with that said, place her in her high chair, offer her the sippy cup with breast milk in it...hold it for her, encourage her to hold it as well, put it to her lips, pour a bit into her mouth....with practice she should be willing to accept the cup. Also, some moms NEVER offer breast milk in the cup, they switch to juice or water so the child looks for the "new" beverage in the cup format.
As for sippy cups....I suggest Playtex brand over all others.
Check out the la leche league site for good weaning info. There's an emotional aspect to weaning as well. Their info helped me.
L.,
Below is a link to an organization that deals with breastfeeding questions:
www.llli.org
I hope this helps
Since she has to be off the bottle by 1 yr, i would go straight to sippy cup if she is good with that. I weaned by mixing formula with breast milk and gradually moved from 100% breast milk to 100% formula. good luck.
