Hi there. My baby will be 11 months old in 4 days, and for the last couple of weeks, he hasn't wanted very much milk. I've tried in his regular bottle and several different sippy's. I've pumped his whole life (due to incorrect latching on) and so it's been my regular breast milk, or supplimenting formula (the same that we've always used) so nothing is different there. I had tried giving him some apple juice (mixed with water) after lunch out of a sippy, and he'll take a little of that. I thought that maybe he didn't want milk because he liked the sweet apple juice, so I stopped giving him juice, but there was no change in his attitude towards the milk. He'll usually only drink about 5 ounces when he wakes up, 3 ounces in the afternoon and 3 ounces before bed. That's it! And all those times it's forced. It takes at least 30 minutes to get him to drink those few ounces. He just spits out his bottle over and over again. I don't know what to do to keep him hydrated! Any suggestions?
You know it's just possible that the little guy wants food more than milk. He may also be coming down with something that may make milk taste funny. Make sure he gets enough water to head off dehydration, and bear in mind that some children develop a distate for milk--you can feed him yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese to make up for any calcium deficit.
My kids did this. Is he learning to walk? He might just be more interested in practicing that than eating.
You might try just giving him a regular cup with his milk (of course, you'll have to help) or a cup with a straw.
If he's still having wet diapers that aren't really "yellow" he's probably fine. But if you're really concerned, take him to the pediatrician just to make sure.
1. try giving him a cup w/ a straw, it will be so cool he can't resist
2. try a big boy cup, no lid. (keep a towel near by) just pour him enough for a few swallows.
Believe it or not this isn't really uncommon, My know 14 month old ate something around 8-9 6oz bottles a day for most of his infanthood and then around 11 months to a year that drastically changed and know he drinks 3/8oz bottles a day, one thing I might suggest is that he might be teething, for some children it is more obvious and for others, like mine,it is noticable in thier feedings, they become less interested in thier bottles, and it can last for a few weeks at a time so try putting him on a tylenol or ibuprophen schedule and see if that doesn't help any. Good Luck.
Hi T.,
My son did this also. He was my second and ate table food much sooner than my first. I think that was why he didn't want bottles anymore. I always offered water at meals and whenever he wanted but I wouldn't give juice all day. As long as he is eating food I wouldn't worry about it. Both of my sons don't drink a lot. During meals they will have water but I always have to ask them to drink something.
Chris
Both of my kids were weaned from nursing, straight to a regular cup (no sippys) at around this age. My daughter was weaned because I made it happen, but my son weaned himself. It was clear that he had no interest in nursing any longer (resisting, etc.). As long as your son is getting enough nutrition through his table foods, I would feel free just to give him water to drink. Juice is overrated and expensive. Your son will get better nutrition from eating small pieces of real fruit, washed down with a drink of water. And water is so much easier to clean up than spilled juice! :) Using the "big cup" right away also avoided the whole weaning-from-the-sippy problem later. Good luck!
As long as you are still getting wet diapers, I wouldn't worry. Our pediatrician recommends 16-24 oz of fluid/day. About 12 to 16 oz of that can be milk. You're getting 11 ounces in which is pretty good. And fluid from soup, fruits and other foods counts as fluid too. I think the other ideas offered were good too.
