weaning not going well

[14mthbabe]

I tried to give my 14mth old fresh cow's milk in a bottle for the first time and so far she is taking it, but with breastfeeding. A few mouth full of breastmilk then bottle until she had enough from both. I nurse her 3 times a day two naps and then at bedtime. Right now I'm trying to drop the afternoon feed and subsitute it with just bottle and it's not going anywhere. She asks for breast milk otherwise she'll scream when I put her down. It's been 8 days, am I expecting too fast and doing too much?

[old mum]

try giving her the afternoon milk in a cup. May break the association with being held close and sucking. Another possibility is to make yourself scarce while she has her daytime milk. Can your husband get it going over the weekend? If you make sure you are not around she may take it quite happily. Apart from maybe a bedtime feed for comfort, I wouldn't bother weaning a 14 month old from breast to bottle - just go straight to a sippy cup or you'll just have to wean her off the bottle all over again.

[maree]

Hi  I'd agree with 'Old Mum' with regards the weaning to bottle issue.
I am also in the process of weaning off my 14 month old and I have been giving him cows milk to substitute his afternoon feed. I opt for giving it to him from a cup or a sippy cup. I've found that if I warm the milk slightly then he is much happier to take this.

[No bottles]

I think defintitely don't wean to a bottle - it is really not necessary & is too closely linked to the breast in its delivery for the child to not want boob instead.  This is esp so if you give the milk as a cue that it is sleep time.  My first never had a bottle & self weaned at 16 months after I intro'd the sippy cup of warm at lunch time (He was used to the sippy cup already as it was what he drank juice/water from).  I will do the same with number 2 when the time comes.

The other thing is why not just sub with water or watered down juice & give it with lunch?  As long as your child is getting enough calcium from his/her diet & little drinks of milk throughout the day for thirst, then the missing lunch time milk won't be a problem.

Otherwise all I can offer is this - you have to stand firm if this is what you really want to do.  If you are caving in at the crying (I know they can be VERY persistent) even a little bit,  the message will be that if he/she pushes hard enough you will give what they want.  Having someone else help you deliver the message helps too - ie: hubby on the weekend - that is how I dropped the breakfast feed (hubby got bubs up and went straight to breaky while I slept in!!!! Heaven!)