Well, ds is a big 10 months old today!! He is getting so big, so fast. And I am thinking I want and need to get this boy on the road to weaning. I am having troubles getting him to take a cup. He never really would take a bottle. But I am wanting to start substituting a breastfeeding session with a cup of breastmilk instead. I finally got him to drink with a straw, but usually he just chews on the straw. I can't make him drink it, so what do I do? Should I just not nurse at that time, and just keep trying with the cup until he takes it? Also, if I can get him to take a cup, finally, and we get started weaning, when should I wean myself off the dom? I figure I should be weaning me off the dom as I am weaning him off the breast. Any tips on how to do this? I know we could go longer, but I am ready to be done soon, and we are wanting to try to get pregnant in the spring/summer of next year. I haven't had a period all this time, so I think it's a good idea to get my body back on track. Thanks for any advice. DawnL
Dawn, are you using a sipper cup? If so is it one of the kind that has a stopper and they have to really suck to get it out. If it is then I would say take the stopper out so he learns that there is something there to drink immediately once he drinks that milk that is coming out you can put the stopper back and he should suck on it. Also sometimes trying the cups with the softer sipper part is good, because the hard plastic just feels funny to them. As for the weaning part I am not sure. I always let my kids wean themselves and my daughter was still nursing when I got pregnant. Just because you are having a period doesn't mean that you aren't ovulating. Have you thought of trying on of the ovulation tests to find out if you are ovulating?
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
DawnL, I recommend using the Avent soft sipper. The tip is really thin and rubber, seems easier for the little ones to latch on to. The bigger tips seem too bulky and my babies didn't like those until after they were a year old or so. Hope this helps.
I'm not having a period. That's one big reason I need to wean. Plus, I will be taking clomid and such to help with the IUI we want to do next year. I really don't want my baby to have any of that in his system, through my breastmilk. Plus, I really feel that it is time for us to wean. Trying to conceive is just one really big reason why. We have tried several different sippy cups, and we have taken the spill proof valve out at first, so he can get the drink inside, easily. He still won't drink, and even spits the drink out. He is very stubborn. He will drink from a straw, and some of it does seem to come out of his mouth, too, but I don't think he's spitting, I think he's just not used to it. If he doesn't want to drink, he will blow instead of suck, so he can blow bubbles in the drink. He has been drinking breastmilk from a straw the past couple of nights, at dinner. Not a lot, but some. I am going to keep at it, and when he has done this a week or so, try to transition back to a sippy. We have the Gerber soft tip ones, which we have tried, and we do have the Avent ones, which we haven't yet tried. I guess I will keep at it, and see what happens. Thanks
Hang in there with the sippy cups. That is a big transition even for a baby who hasn't been breastfed. It'll "click" one day and he'll be taking that cup like a champ.
By the way, he is such a cutie! Thanks for sharing the pic!!
Dawn, you could try a small unbreakable drinking glass with just a quarter inch or so of milk in it. Let him try to drink out of that while he is in his highchair. That is what I did with my son. They also make those cups with the straw that sticks out the top if he will do a straw you might try that kind. I am with Lovin, he will catch on soon, just keep trying.
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
I do have some of those cups with the straw on top, and that's what we've been using. The little success we've had has been with these types of cups. As for solids, he LOVES them! If I am eating it, he wants it. He is so busy, that he doesn't breastfeed more than 4 times a day, usually, anyway, so I was hoping he'd take a cup kinda easy. He could have his milk while sitting up, and seeing what his beloved big sister is up to. He's still not into it yet, though. I am hesitant to wean, until he gets the hang of the sippy, or at least takes the cup with a straw on a consistent basis. I don't want him to dehydrate, and I want him to have enough nutrition. Thanks for all the tips. We are hanging in there!!
you've probably already considered this, but maybe he is just not ready to wean yet. Have you seta time frame or are you flexible? If he is still nursing 4 times a day that is still quite a lot much different than if he were just nursing to go to sleep or because of a boo boo. Just a thought. He may need a little more time.
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
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