I'm weaning my 8-month-old son and need some advice on getting him to take a bottle for night feedings. He's completely bottled-fed during the day but still has two night feedings and only wants the breast.
Switch it around. Bottle in the day and breast feed at night. You've got to impose YOUR schedule on the child, not radically, but gently enough so you maintain your sanity for when he grows into a true toddler, then teenager!
Have you tried giving him mashed regular foods yet? My son stopped taking a bottle by his own choice at 9 months. Regular foods are a little more filling and will help him sleep through the night. I got lucky with my son, he's been an all night sleeper since he was 3 weeks old. Ask your doctor about bringing in solids along with his normal day bottles. :)
Make Dad do it for the first week or so, because baby is going to think, "Mom, why don't you just bring out the breast? I don't want this bottle!" if you are there so soft and milky... With Dad, he'll be like, "Okay this is the only food I can get" and after around a wek he'll get used to the night bottle and then you can come back on the scene and feed him the bottle. If Dad is resistant, tell him it is only one week of his life...
By the way, hooray for you for breastfeeding. I'm with Heather B, nurse as long as you can ( I went 3 years) but if you must wean now, try having Dad help, as I stated.
Have you tried nipples that imitate the breast? I know they may be a little more expensive, but I promise (from past experience) they are well worth it. If you have tried that, and it didn't work, it may be a little early to wean him completely from the breast this early. I waited at least until my son was 11 months old and instead of introducing him to another habitual problem, (the bottle), I went straight to a sippy cup, spill proof of course, but he caught on real quick, and by the time he was 1&1/2 he was sipping out of small plastic and styrofoam cups. Its a win win situation if you have the time and patience.
Is there a reason you want to wean your son? 8 months old is still very young, as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a full year if possible. He is trying to tell you that he still needs it, not only fir the tremendous nutritional benefit, but also for the emotional and comfort security he has grown to trust from you. This is flu season, and a bad one at that.... You may consider waiting until after the winter season to fully wean.
Even if you have already switched him to bottles ( of pumped milk hopefully) you can still breastfeed at night fir as long as he still needs. It will still nurture his emotional and comfort side and probably keep everyone sleeping more of the night if his needs are met. Battling will keep him stressed and everyone awake.
There is a book called 'weaning happens' that has some gentle approaches for the nursing times that are most desired by baby. Also consult mothering.com or kellymom.com as well as the Le Leche League for advice.
Unless there is some serious reason, there is totally no need to completely wean from
the breast so early. You have come soooo far to take away such a good thing so soon. Don't let old-fashioned parents, grandparents or well meaning friends give you misleading advice.... Research shows you are doing the right thing for nursing and there is no need to stop before a year ( or longer!) unless you must for other reasons. If you think of your night nursing as a way to stay connected in a special way.... This only lasts such a short time!
