Weaning Woes

Amy Kaplan's daughter just turned 1. Now she's trying to wean her off of the breast, but little Gabi won't take a bottle. Any bottle. Zilch. Like most new moms, Amy is frustrated and does not know what to do. She doesn't want to breastfeed her daughter forever, and she doesn't want to keep spending money on every sippy cup imaginable. What should she do? Ann Douglas, author of The Mother of All Baby Books offers her tips:

Ann: "Weaning is a Process: Go Slow!"
-Eliminate one feeding per day, per week
-If you're worried about her being thirsty, offer foods that are full of liquid like apple sauce or watermelon
-Offer sippy cups when she's happy and well-rested (not hungry or thirsty)
-Try sippy cups with built in straw
-Get dad involved!

Other Tips include:

•    Offer breast milk rather than water when you offer the cup. That will give the childan added incentive to figure out how this strange contraption known as the cup actually works.

•    See if your baby can figure out how to work a toddler sippy cup with a built-in straw. Some toddlers who have struggled with other types of sippy cups find that type of cup easier. (And vice versa.)

•    You might also try offering your baby breastmilk via a shot glass or a medicine spoon (so that she can start to wrap her head around the idea that delicious beverages are available from sources other than mom).

•    Keep her busy. You may want to plan an outing so that her attention will be drawn away from all of her favorite nursing spots. Besides, if she's chasing butterflies at the park, she'll have other things on her mind.

•    Respect your baby's preferences. If she’s having a really hard time giving up her morning or before-bed nursing sessions, you might want to continue instead of forcing the issue.

Bottom line: When it comes to weaning, slow is the way to go. Know that your baby WILL wean, but you and your baby each need time to make the physical and emotional transitions that accompany the end of breastfeeding.

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Brenda@MyParent...
1 month ago

Amy, all this advice from friends and "experts" are great, but the answer is really more simple. There is no reason to offer your 1 year old a bottle..that just creates more work when you want to wean her from that. She is watching you drink from a regular cup and there is no reason she can't drink from the same. Don't assume you need to give her milk or juice, she might not like the taste. If you are not pumping, try water, it is good for her and doesn't have an overwhelming taste. Only offer her the breast when she asks for it. You will find that the hardest time for her to let go will be when she wants comfort or she is using nursing to transition to sleep. Finding other ways for her to feel this comfort and making new routines to fall asleep will offer a natural way for her to wean. She is also getting old enough to understand your words. Its ok to tell her "Mommy doesn't want to right now, can you wait a few minutes?" You might be suprised at her reaction!

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Jennifer Brandt is the Managing Editor of Parents Ask, Momversation, and Good Bite. Jennifer lives in Los Angeles and is mom to a 3 year
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