Weening Advice for a 7 Mo Old Who Won't Take a Bottle

Updated on September 17, 2009
J.H. asks from Fairfield, CA
6 answers

Ok Ladies - here's what I need help with. I think it may be time to ween my third baby, a 7 month old - the only problem is, he will not take a bottle! 1) What are your suggestions for fast flow bottles? 2) What are your ideas for bottle alternatives (he uses those cups for water that have a slit in the top - have not tried it with formula yet.) He is eating solids 2-3 times a day.

Also, he has 8 teeth coming in at once and is not sleeping well through the night anymore. Any suggestions? He won't take a pacifier...and the challenge here is that he has trouble self soothing - and I don't want my 5 y/o and 3 y/o waking up so night nursing has been the solution...but now I am not sleeping anymore!

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C.J.

answers from Stockton on

This sounds just like my kids all three of them would not take a bottle the first two could not self soothe but the third sucked her thumb so I got lucky there. Anyway I totally feel you with not sleeping during teething even my thumb sucker wakes up alot with teething I have been falling asleep on the coach holding her alot, but I always put her back in her bed when I wake up so she won't think that she can sleep with me always. Just keep reminding yourself it is only for a few months and drink lots of caffeine. I would suggest putting the formula in the sippy cup. I went straight to sippy cup with all of mine and it worked great.

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K.H.

answers from Modesto on

I agree with Shannon K's advice. I think you'll have trouble weaning until this bout of teething is done. Wait til afterwards and use some teething gels and/or tylenol/motrin in the meantime to help sooth the teeth and get some sleep. Good luck!

Cassie

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S.K.

answers from San Francisco on

At six months I introduced my daughter to a sippy cup of breastmilk (in addition to beastfeeding- still going strong at 13 months!), and she took right to it. I would try one that has soft tip and take out the no-spill valve so it comes out easier when he sucks.
Great job for breastfeeding for 7 months! If you are starting to feel like it may be time to wean, you may want to wait until this bout of teething is done. 8 at once! Poor little guy! I can't imagine how bad that must feel! Because he is nursing more at night for comfort and not necessarily for hunger, switching to a cup or even bottle at night will most likely not work until the teething subsides a little. Maybe try a teething cream and tylenol right before bed to help him sleep longer- the combination seems to be the magic solution for my 13 month old (You can also make your own with olive oil and a few dropes of clove extract). Good luck! :)

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D.S.

answers from Stockton on

Keep Nursing your a mom keep that bond a little longer

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M.T.

answers from Modesto on

Hi J., the same thing happened with my youngest. At 7m, my now 6yo daughter, weaned herself of nursing and refused a bottle. I put formula in a sippy cup and she was totally happy with it! Sometimes I think it was because she saw her older siblings using cups and wanted to do the same thing. Good luck!

M.F.

answers from San Francisco on

hello J., i am in the same exact boat you're in!! my son is 7 months now and just doesn't like the bottles! he only likes the playtex bottles, the ones that you put drop ins in! he hates the skinny nipples, he just bits them and complains! also, since he got sick he's been really fussy! he's got a little stuffy nose, so he wakes up alot at night too! he's also teething, he has his first two teeth on the bottom, but i'm unsure if he's got anymore coming in, but he is a fussy guy all around! he use to be fine at night and sleep at least every 3 hours! once he got sick that changed! it's so hard to put him down for bed time at night, he will fall asleep, but wake up 30 min later and not want to nurse, he just rolls all over the place and cries and cries! i have to finally rock him to bed sometimes, but sometimes that doesn't work! i'm not sure what is wrong with him, but he can't self sooth either! i don't know what i can help you with, but i agree with some of the moms, i guess we just have to wait until they are done teething or being sick and then try weening them off..i'm trying to go for 1 year of nursing, but i'm so scared with his teeth, especially when he gets the top ones in...he's already bit me 4 times!! ouch...good luck and i hope it makes you feel better knowing you're not the only one having a hard time! =) take care..and try to get some sleep during the day when you can!

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