Thursday, March 8, 2012

Weaning

As Gianna approaches the 8 month mark I am extremely proud that I have stuck with breastfeeding this long. Before having her I said 6 months would be the cut off. Then after talking with my mom I changed it to 9 months. My mom said that she stopped breastfeeding when my brother and I were 9 months and we went straight to a sippy cup. So that became my next goal. However my pump broke a few months ago and my frozen milk supply is really low. So I'm debating about purchasing a thing of formula to supplement until the year mark. I do still intend to give Gianna a sippy cup at the 9 month mark but I'm not sure if that will really work

At 6 months I tried to introduce one to her. It didn't work. She had no idea what to do with it. I keep trying to give it to her and all she does is chew the lid. I think I've purchased every type and brand of sippy cups available. To no avail. Oh but my daughter is smarter than I think. When she's around other babies, she loves stealing their bottles and sippy cups and drinking out of them. At home she looks at me like I'm crazy when I give her one. She is def my stubborn child

I also need to start weaning her through the night. She still is up every 3 hours wanting to eat. And it's more or like one or two sucks and she's back asleep. This past week I think she has started teething again because the nights have been really rough. I plan on waiting until her tooth pops through but after that I'm not really sure how to proceed with weaning. I also don't know how much longer I can breastfeed while being pregnant.I will be asking my dr that at our next appt.

So Mommies, any tips on weaning or getting your child to take a sippy cup. I'd greatly appreciate them!

6 comments:

  1. We have a drawer of sippy cups that have been thoroughly rejected as well, so I feel your pain. I don't know if your daughter has ever had a bottle before and understands how the nipple-concept works, but my son will only drink out of soft-spouted sippy cups- specifically, the Nuk brand.

    I stopped pumping for my son when he was six months, thinking that another six months of formula would not be a big deal. What I wouldn't give to go back and continue pumping!! (He never latched, so pumping was our only option.) Formula is SO stinking expensive. And breastmilk is *free*. My goal with this next baby is to pump as long as humanly possible, just to avoid the $20 per week cost of that stupid bucket of formula.

    Good luck!!! Sounds like you are doing great to stick with it for 8 months!!! :)

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  2. Congrats for sticking with it! It's tough!! No matter what the dr says, breast feeding IS safe while pregnant, thats a fact. The milk consistency may change, and you might be tender, but it's perfectly fine. It's a personal choice, just wouldn't want you to quit because of a misconception. Anyway, it does get easier, as they get older because if you are giving them more solids, they are nursing less. Teething can be rough, the biting was so frustrating, but it's just a phase thank goodness! You are doing awesome! You will know the right decision for your baby and body, good luck!

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  3. Just keep offering her the sippy cup. Delia didn't get the hang of it for a while, but we'd always offer her one and she caught on! Especially if she's not bottle fed, it's not something she'll get the hang of right away. No clue on weaning as I didn't make it past 3 weeks =) Way to go!

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  4. You can nurse as long as you want. It doesn't affect the pregnancy at all, although the pregnancy may affect your milk supply. Also, even if you wean her you will need to supplement with formula until a year. Babies get most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula for the first year. Great job getting so far with nursing!

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  5. Good for you! I wish I could have breastfed, you should be proud!

    Alaina is 5 months and we practice with a sippy cup every day. I just put a tiny bit of formula in there so she can get the hang of it.

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  6. Congrats on the breastfeeding. Good for you. I did the same thing (kept moving the date forward). Just keep offering the sippy cup. She'll take it when she is ready!

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