Breastmilk vs. Formula Debate

I am new here but need some advise. My son Darren will not take a bottle, he has never taken one, I have been with him since he was born to BF him. I was wondering how do you get them to take a bottle or sippy cup after they have been bf this long? He is 7 1/2 months old. My mother-in-law is always saying stuff like he can never spend the night with her because I am bf him. Sometimes I would like a break though. We have tried so many different bottles, he hates them all, he truly loves being bf.

Another question, I am planning on BF until at least a year but I was wondering how do you wean them? I really have no idea how I am going to get him to stop, he already knows where they are and tries to pull down my shirt. No one in my family has ever BF before so I have no one to give me advise. I really love the bonding I feel when I am BF so I don't even know for sure if I will stop at a year it just seems like my husband and everyone else wants me to, because it is uncomfortable to them.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and welcome! Your older DS and my DS are the same age. I don't have any weaning advice, as I let my kids wean when they are ready to, but here's a great link with lots of resources to help you: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/how_weaning_happens.html

Re: taking bottles, do you give Darren water in a sippy? I would suggest trying that first, and then if he takes to it, put breastmilk in it and see how that goes (my DD takes water in a sippy but won't drink anything else in a sippy, including breastmilk, but she also never had trouble taking bottles). I'm sure others will come around with advice. Here's another good link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

HTH!

 

<<I really love the bonding I feel when I am BF so I don't even know for sure if I will stop at a year it just seems like my husband and everyone else wants me to, because it is uncomfortable to them.>>

There is no reason why you need to stop at a year if you don't want to. Just because your husband and relatives, in-laws, etc. are uncomfortable with extended nursing (BFing beyond a year) does not mean you have to stop. There is absolutely no evidence that ext. nursing is harmful to the baby psychologically or physically. In fact, there is evidence to support that BFing for at least 2 years has benefits immunologically. I would suggest you do some research on the benefits of extended breastfeeding and share it with your husband. Here is a link to lots of info on extended BFing:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html

Some babies do just hate bottles.

However, a sippy was mentioned. Some babies can also take to straw cups at an early age. Try with a bit of water in them first, so they get used to it, and can use it without making a mess.

Also, later, once the baby is taking a few solids, if you need to get out for a few hours without the baby occasionally, the baby can be given some solids at that time.

I agree not to let others dictate to you, if you can see what the baby seems to need. There are many good reasons to continue well beyond one year of BF.

With an older child, they will get to a point where they will not be BF as often as a younger child, and weaning happens so gradually. So although you may feel all touched out by a younger baby BF every few hours, an older child may get to the point where they are having one or two quick nursing sessions a day, and then maybe every few days.

One advantage for mum as well I think, can be that your breasts have a chance to go from BF to non-BF quite gradually also, and the fat tissue replaces the milk making glands as they diminish in size. Helps keep the shape of the breasts.

Of course, you can wean more quickly, if you want to, whenever you want or need to.

Teresa