I have been trying to wean my 10.5 month old and am using cows milk. Im down to two breastfeeds a day but my son will only drink 8 oz at most during the day! im worried he is not getting enough. I must wean him to start a medication. He will not take formula ive tried many types. Im using a sippy cup. any ideas?

Alicia - posted on 04/16/2009

Since my last post, I have tried milk in a sippy with my son for his afternoon feeding.  I had a little luck yesterday when I took the valve out of the cup so i could pour some in his mouth to get him to taste the milk since he resisted too much to suck on it.  That seemed to peak his interest and he got the milk down faster with the faster flow.

Also, for sippy cups, we have used Munchkin's sippy.  It has no detachable valve. Instead it has slits in the spout.  All you have to do it chew on the spout and the liquid comes out.  We had to use these to get my son to figure out the purpose of the cup.  After about a week of chewing the liquid out, he started to suck and now we can use any sippy cup.

Stacy - posted on 04/15/2009

I started my son on cows milk around 10 months as well. My Ped said it was fine since he wouldn't take formula either. He's had no reactions and the DR said he was doing well since being on it. I got him to take it out of a bottle by warming it for 30 seconds or so in the microwave. It was a little strange for him at first, but since we are not breastfeeding anymore, I had to do something. It took a few days of holding him and teaching him that he could suck on it and something would come out. Once he realized it, he did very well. I also kept a bottle of water or watered down juice around during the day and asked if he needed a drink. If he did, he'd come over and lay down with the bottle. He takes about 2-4 6 oz bottles during the day this way.



As for the sippy cup, I tried quite a few too. He finally liked the Platex cups. The handles and tip are rubbery and he was able to suck out of it like the bottle. He holds the cup in his hands and sucks, but hasn't quite figured out that we have to tip our head back to get anything out. I make him hold it and tip the cup for him, and he's learning, but he just needs more time. I know it will come eventually.



I hope this helps you!!! Good luck!!

Krystal - posted on 04/15/2009

munchkin makes a good spill proof straw cup. my kids love them! my daughter would only take a straw cup in the beginning, and she mastered it on her first try at 7 months.

Teresa - posted on 04/14/2009

I was going to suggest a straw sippy cup as well.  Other than that I really don't have any ideas.  Good luck!

Jocelyn - posted on 04/14/2009

i suggest to try a straw sippy sup as well.  that's the only sippy cup my son has ever drank from, and we tried them all! lol

my son also doesn't drink plain white milk, he hates it.  so i give him water, or half juice half water (his favorite is acutally the new v8 fusion stuff lol) or half white half chocolate milk.  i just make sure that he gets his calcium from other sources (loves cheese and yogurt, and it doesn't get him all bunged up either, which is nice. oh and almonds are also good for calcium, and he loves too snack on those)

maybe try a soy milk? (or almond milk if you are concerned about the estrogen) i tend to find them a bit sweeter than cows milk

hope you find something that works for you!

Christine - posted on 04/14/2009

Maybe try the milk warmed in a bottle. That's how my daycare provider got my daughter to start taking cows milk during the day.

If you are concerned about your son's overall fluid intake you can try feeding him fresh fruit with a high water content such as watermelon. Or a bit of watered down fruit juice.

Alicia - posted on 04/14/2009

My son is 11 months.  I am also thinking of weaning him, at least for all the day time feedings, from breastfeeding.  He never really took a bottle so the problem I have is that he has NO idea about how to just sit down and drink something, unless he is nursing.  he might drink an ounce MAXIMUM from a sippy cup and then is not interested.  I have tried milk, water, juice...doesn't matter.  He just doesn't "get it."  He is able to handle the sippy, although he does not quite get tilting it yet.  I am not sure I have any advice to offer except that persistence is probably the trick. Just pick a type of cup, a type of milk, be consistent, have a "rountine" (sit in the same place, or hold him the same way, or something) and hopefully he'll make the transition quickly. 

What about putting the milk in a bottle?  Has he ever taken to a bottle?  I know by one year the bottle is supposed to be out of the picture so if he isn't a bottle-baby, it might not be smart to start now BUT it might help in getting him weaned so you can take your meds.  Having a bottle past 12 months isn't going to really harm him long term!  And maybe after a short while of taking milk in a bottle he'll easily move to a sippy.

Good luck

Carolyn - posted on 04/14/2009

i am using the nuby cup it works pretty well but he cant tilt his head back very well and has not caught on to that concept. He is not having problems with the cows milk at all. I was weary too but it seems to be fine for him. I mean what is one and a half month difference going to make from him being 12 months? he has been taking meat which has more enzymes and more difficult to breakdown. Plus id never do anything not perscribed by his ped.

April - posted on 04/14/2009

Are you using a hard sippy? My eldest son could never drink out of those. I had to get Nuby cups. The ones with the soft spout. He was much older than your son when he started but it's worth a try. He actually drank from a straw cup before taking a sippy.

Also, on the milk front, I agree with the other poster about milk. If you want to give something other than formula I would try goat's milk before cow's milk. It is much more like human milk and easier on little tummies. Good luck.

Carolyn - posted on 04/14/2009

im not concerned reg cows milk it was rec. by his ped. and i cant pump because i will be starting medication and will be unable to breastfeed.

Monica - posted on 04/14/2009

using cows milk before 12 months of age can cause food allergies not a good idea. I would pump and give him breast milk if he wont take formula and you want to wean.