One Year Old Will Not Drink from Anything, but Mother and We Are Leaving Town

That's exactly it...she will drink if she is thirsty enough...it is hard to hear my second child screaming when I give him slightly colder milk than what he is most comfortable with, so I understand your delema, but if he cries long enough he eventually drinks it...either that or he falls asleep and wakes up later and drinks it forgetting why he was upset in the first place. I did that with my first son and he was the same way but with much patience and persistence it eventually works out. We did it that way when transfering him from the bottle to the sippy also.

Dear L.,
First of all...congratulations on nursing your little daughter for a year! That is wonderful.
I am amazed at how many responses say to "just wean her".
I don't want to put guilt on you, it sounds as if you have a long awaited vacation planned, but I like what Michelle has said from Boise.
Have you considered that your milk will "drop" while on vacation? Your breast will be full most of the time. Are you going to pump while away? It's not just as easy as just deciding to stop breastfeeding. You are very bonded to your little baby as she is to you. I have seldom enjoyed our vacation time away from my children. I do ok for about a day, maybe two, then I get very antsy and want to go home...now! It drives my husband crazy, but how much fun am I without knowing first hand that my baby/ies are ok? As the children have grown it is not as difficult for me to leave for short trips, but think about taking her with and finding a very responsible sitter where you are going.
I have encouraged weaning, but have never had to "wean" my children. I have nursed all nine from 12 months to 2.5 years. My children have given cues that indicate that they are ready to stop breastfeeding, either they are too busy playing, learning to enjoy food, or just bored with nursing. She will give you the cues - I would sometimes limit breastfeeding to naps and nighttime as they got older, but they would wean themselves. She isn't ready. There is more to breastfeeding than just milk. It is very nurturing for both to breastfeed- so consider encouraging weaning slowly.

If you must leave her, at least she will be with your mother. What a wonderful woman! I am glad it's her and not me!

Take Care,
H. B. MOM (mother of many-9)

You need to wean her as much as possible before you leave, you have to. It won't be easy but she won't starve herself. Just start weaning her now, offering her only things from sippy cups or other means (I personally wouldn't start the bottle at her age now as that is another habit to break). Have someone else feed her though, she will smell you and it will make it worse.

Why don't you just take your baby with you on vacation? I can't imagine leaving my baby for more than half a day, and certainly not out of the country for five days! I'm concerned that you may not enjoy yourself as much as you think once you are there because you will miss your baby and she will be missing you - especially if you and she are still nursing. She is too little to understand that you will return in a few days. All she will know is that mommy is gone. Give it some thought please. Our children are little for such a short time, and they truly need us with them for those first couple of years.

pump during the day and only give her breastmilk from a bottle you can nurse still at night. Also offer something sweet in a regular cup. You have to put more effort in but she might drink from a cup when she would only chew on a sippy cup.
Most of all enjoy your vacation!! Everyone needs a break sometime.

It sounds like your leaving town will be the easiest, albeit not easy, way to wean. Just leave your mom lots of options for drinks and maybe a gift card to someplace like Babies 'R Us so she can get different cups if she needs. Your daughter will be fine and won't hold it against you long. Go on your trip. You're right, it's much needed. I'd say don't call home, but let your mom know she's more than welcome to call. Have a great time and come back rested and refreshed and that will mean more to your kids that mommy and daddy love each other than that she didn't get to eat the way she wanted will mean. Have fun!

The thing that has worked best for us is using a juice box with a straw. Put the straw in her mouth and then squeeze so that she can taste the juice. That way she will learn that a straw means something yummy is coming. Otherwise they don't have any idea why you are putting these strange things in their mouth. Good Luck