Re: Weaning onto Bottles (sorry long)

[Guest guest]

Weaning onto Bottles

> However, doctor says his weight gain has fallen and doesn't match his

height on graphs, so has recommended weaning onto a couple of bottles a day.

> She is feeling completely guilty about feeding formula to him and

initially he rejected the bottle but now will take it but only from her, not

dad. But he's still waking twice a night.

> She's hoping that the formula will maintain his weight gain.

DD2 refused to have anything to do with bottles and also refused to gain

weight on breast milk alone. Thus she was weaned earlier than I'd intended

at about 18 weeks. She thought real food was great and from day one would

eat the equivalent of whole 4 month tins or jars. Up until 6 months old she

lived on baby rice flavoured sometimes with fruit or veg puree and made up

with formula so it had some calories ( unsweetened fruit and veg have

surprisingly few compared to milk) or yoghurt.

(Yes it would wave been best to avoid dairy until 6 months, but DD2 managed

to spend 5 weeks well off the bottom of the dreaded graph).

Now aged 8 months she breast feeds when she wakes up (keeps her quiet till

people want to get up). Has cereal for breakfast followed by 5 oz formula

from Avent non spill beaker (these she'll just about put up with but she's

still not very keen), Else she'd have another long breast feed because

sticky food makes her thirsty and DD1 would not get to nursery!

She might have a breast feed mid morning and or mid afternoon if she's

grumpy.

She gets fruit juice with lunch which she mostly drinks next to nothing of.

And she gets another 5 oz of milk with tea.

If tired may have short feed before bed, tonight guveled for best part of a

hour.

> I just wondered if any of you weaned onto bottles and carried on with

combined feeding (she hopes to continue b'feeding until 12 months) and if

you have any advice / support to give.

1 Decide if she is worried about weight gain or just the medics.

2 If DS likes solids check they have some calories

3 Ruthie and the other BFC will correct be if I'm wrong, but is it possible

that once eating solids he might be taking shorter breast feeds and only

getting fore milk and to other the same breast next feed.

4 Get Dad to give him a small amount of his fave food then a bottle. DD2

just didn't (and to a fair extent still doesn't ) seem to associate feeding

cups with food. If I go out DH has to start supper with a small yoghurt and

then a cup of milk. I think food off a spoon tastes and smells of food

straight away, you don't have to suck a bit of plastic first.

5 try not to get stressed

Stress messes up breast feeding ( I suspect that's what started DD2 and my

troubles) Not necessarily easy to avoid unfortunately :-(

6 give her a big hug

Sue Hutchinson, Mum to 30/01/98 and Isobel (HB) 23/02/01