Weaning my 5 month old

[mythreesons]

Hello all! My son, Sebastien, is 5 months old and has been soley breastfed since birth. I have to return to work in August so I have been trying to wean my son from breast to bottle/formula feeding to no avail. My pediatrician recommended I try rice cereal as the last feeding of the day and my son acts as though I am feeding him dirt:( . I have tried oatmeal and rice cereal, mixed with breastmilk, formula, and applesauce as well as bananas. He refuses breastmilk and formula from a bottle. I am trying not to panic, but I don't know what to do. I am a teacher so pumping at work is not an option. I have to get him on formula. I can forgo the solids but the formula is a must.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Thanks! Mythreesons!

[Prettyskittle82]

I'm sorry that your baby will not take a bottle. I had a friend with a similar situation. Her daughter had to be fed milk with a spoon. Not sure if that helps. I'm sure someone out there willl be helpful.

I believe by law, time has to be set aside for you to pump... and even if you can't pump, I don't see why you can't still nurse when you are home with the baby. But whatever you do, I wish you luck.... and you've done a great job nursing your baby as long as you have!

[bronco4grl]

I have seen several teachers posting in the "Working and Pumping" forum discussing their pumping schedule. It can be done. Try talking to your boss about it. If you're not able to find a way to pump at work, you could try to spend time away from babe during the day a few weeks before going back to work & pump during that time. Then cut one pumping session a day until you're pump-weaned. Then you'll be able to work w/out pumping and nurse babe before & after work and on the weekends.

Maybe you could try a soft spouted sippy cup rather than a bottle.

You might try posting this in the general breastfeeding forum and/or the working and pumping forum to get more responses.

[mythreesons]

Thank you. I appreciate your suggestions. I realized after i posted here that I was in the wrong forum. I posted in the other one and have gotten some great ideas. Thanks again!

[AtWorkShhhh]

Pumping as a teacher is often possible with a Whisper Wear pump. They have just introduced a new model. It is small and quiet and fits under your shirt where it is nearly impossible to tell it is there.

Plus, as someone else said, you can nurse him while at home and since he will be over 6 months when you return to work, there is no reason he can't be eating solids while you are at work. There is no need to use cereal if he doesn't like it. It doesn't have many calories and has little nutritional value anyway. Mashed banana or avocado are much better choices and are higher in calories.

Many babies will begin reverse cycling as well. They won't take breastmilk or formula while you are away, but will nurse, including all through the night, when they are with you. They still get the same amount of milk that they would have if you were at home, they just do it at night.

As you can see, there are many options that don't include weaning or bottles. Oh, and many babies at his age and older transition directly to sippy cups and never take a bottle.

[mythreesons]

Thanks for your encouraging words. I am hoping to do the reverse feeding and pump atleast 1-2 times while at work. I have stopped introducing solids altogether for the moment. I will try again at 6 months. I am also going to try a sippy cup at 6-7 months instead of a bottle. I do enjoying nursing him and hope not to have to stop til he is ready. Makes me tear up at the possibility of not being able to.

[mama29]

you can still breasfeed at night you know, your son (like the name by the way sebastian is my 2 and a half yr old) may need that comfort and is possibly feeling the stress from you so calm yourself and good luck