Help! My 9-Month Old Won't Take His Bottle!!

My son started on regular milk at 6 months. Our Doctor said that was Ok and told he is 17 years old 6' 2", tall 185 lbs , senior in high school, very much into sports and very healthy. Our doctor told us that back in the earlier history of the country they did not use formula and if they did not have a goat they had to use cow milk. Goats milk is already pasteurized when it comes out of the animal and is actually better than cow milk for young one but I did not learn that till our son was older.

Maybe he is telling you it is time to switch. Unless he has health issues where he needs formula not all children need formula for a year. I know you will never get a pediatrician to give you the go ahead that is why we chose a D.O for our son and he still goes to him today.

Good Luck, S.

9 months (sometimes sooner) is the perfect age to try a sippy cup. Our daughter really loves the Avent ones with handles, they make ones with a soft tip and a hard one, she doesn't seem to care either way.

Although I would advise against starting cow's milk as a previous poster suggested. I'm sure you are well aware of the reasons why your child still needs the nutrients of formula or breastmilk at this point so I won't get into all of the reasons.

I say, run with it and give him a sippy cup. Maybe you can wean him early? The sippy cup is better for them and he might just drink the formula that way. Sounds like he is pretty advanced and so this just might work. You might even take him to the store and have *him* pick out which cup he wants.

Just a thought. Good luck!
N.

My daughter is 7 months old now and never took a bottle. I breastfed most of the time, but to get a break (dinner, shower, sit in a quiet room, etc) I needed to find an alternative. I found that Gerber's Nuk brand has a learning cup. She loved it and used it like a champ. The top is flexible and the formula does not come out really fast. I say go for the cup. Less stress in the long run. Good luck.

Well nowadays Pediatricians want formula for a year and its great that you have chosen to do what most of us have done from our parents, plus we grew up healthy and that is feed ur child food earlier. More power to you that he dont want a bottle, now you dont have to break him of it. Will he take the formula from a sippy cup or any cup? As long as he is eating food and getting the vitamins he needs he can drink other liquids as well as long as the acid reflux is no longer an issue. My children were off formula and on all baby food by 3 months, drinking 2% milk and at that time we gave them baby vitamins in their cereal to make sure they got what they needed and they have hardly ever been sick. What does your doctor say about it?

I second Nicole's suggestion of trying a sippy cup. You've got nothing to lose and it may spark his interest. He is getting to that age where he is probably more and more interested in finger foods and such, and maybe having control of the cup himself will be right up his alley.

If that doesn't work, I would just offer a bottle very casually now and then, and try to do it when you know he is hungry.

Good luck!

M.