How to wean without cio?

[Aka mommy]

I know that weaning an infant is not highly supported here & i also know the benefits of breastfeeding as I have extended breastfed and done child led weaning with my other 2. I'm not asking about the benefits though, as due to serious health issues I need to wean my ds.

He took a bottle no problem until last week (he'll be 3 months on the 7th). Now he wont touch the bottle. My dilemna is i wont let him cio as i know what cio can cause in regards to cortisol and stress. My breasts sadly have to wean, but ds wont. He wont take any of the 100s of oz of bm i have stored either.

We've tried fast and slow flow nipples. Silicon and rubber nipples. Nothing is working. By continueing to bf im only hurting myself more so i'm looking for suggestions or tips on transitioning to bottle with the least amount of trauma to ds.

[HeckedyPeg]

Perhaps he would take to the bottle if you are not the one giving it to him, or step into the other room? Babes know their mamas and if he prefers the breast and you're standing right there, he won't understand why he can't have that instead [just until he gets used to it, then you resume feedings again]. Just a thought ...

Sorry you have to go through this

[xelakann]

I guess it depends on what you mean by CIO. The the pp said have someone else give the baby the bottle. But as for weaning without CIO, it's easy don't leave him alone to cry it out by himself.

When I think of cry it out I think of some sort of sleep training method where you let the baby "learn" to self-sooth. That does not sound like what you are doing.

Will your little fella cry because he can't have the breast? Sure. Will it be hard at first on both of you... yep. But to me it doesn't sound like CIO even if he cries for 20-30 mins. As long as you are soothing him and meeting his needs, it is not the same at "CIO".

Big hugs! I know this can be very hard and the upset baby is most unsettling. But he can uber unhappy while mama/dada/grandma/auntie is telling him how he is loved and cared for.

[Devaskyla]

Do you have to wean due to medication? Maybe someone who has Hale's can look it up for you?

[Aka mommy]

Thank you for the replies.

With my other 2 children they loved their daddy. DS wants nothing to do with him, so he screams and cries and it's to the point that you know it is not good for him. It definitely IMO seems like CIO since he is not having his needs met.

No it's not due to medication. It is due to needing to return to work and some trauma on my breast that is causing other health complications. I have breastmilk frozen and it will last quite a few months so he still will be getting the benefit of breastmilk, just not fresh.

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by xelakann

I guess it depends on what you mean by CIO. The the pp said have someone else give the baby the bottle. But as for weaning without CIO, it's easy don't leave him alone to cry it out by himself.

When I think of cry it out I think of some sort of sleep training method where you let the baby "learn" to self-sooth. That does not sound like what you are doing.

Will your little fella cry because he can't have the breast? Sure. Will it be hard at first on both of you... yep. But to me it doesn't sound like CIO even if he cries for 20-30 mins. As long as you are soothing him and meeting his needs, it is not the same at "CIO".

Big hugs! I know this can be very hard and the upset baby is most unsettling. But he can uber unhappy while mama/dada/grandma/auntie is telling him how he is loved and cared for.

I agree with this. CIO, as I understand it, is a sleep or behavior training method whereby a baby is left to cry alone. I totally understand where you're coming from in wanting to avoid crying, and of course your goal is to wean with as little crying as possible. I hope you can get some better tips here than I would have for you, and maybe it's possible to find a way without any crying. But as far as I understand it, weaning is going to be hard for such a young baby no matter what you do. It may be impossible to do it without any tears at all. I wish you luck and I hope for you and your baby you can find a soft way to do it. Some crying may be unavoidable and even inconsolable, but please remember that you are doing your best and it is not CIO. Sometimes even with the most loving, caring parenting a baby will cry and cry hard with no soothing to be had. I would think it will get easier and the first days will be the hardest though. GL!

[xelakann]

I did find this http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning_faqs.html it may be helpful.

And big hugs! Sorry you are going through this.

[Aka mommy]

I wanted to thank you all. Sorry if my reply seemed short, was nursing ds last night as I sat down to read responses. One hand typing is not my strongest talent.

I'm fighting a battle within myself and my body and doctor was telling me to do it as quickly as possible. But i'm just going to try and do it as slowly and smoothly as possible (if it is even). Thank you for the tips, i've got some fresh breastmilk out today in hopes dh can get him to take it without much trauma to ds.

But i truely am appreciative of the tips, it's not an easy thing to do and i'm at a complete loss as my oldest self weaned and then my 2nd was ready to transition to bottle at a much older age then ds is now!

[Asiago]

My thoughts are with you. One thought, have you tasted the BM from the freezer, could it be soured from the effects of lipase?
Just a thought. Good luck I hope you can transition your little one soon to the bottle (hug to you).

[laughingfox]

MAM nipples are the only kind my daughter would take. They have a different texture than most silicone nipples, and the shape puts baby's mouth in a pretty similar position to nursing.
To this day, she still won't take any other nipple at all.
I heard about them from another mama here, and am just passing it forward. It was a nightmare trying to bottlefeed her before we tried those.

I hope that helps!

[mumkimum]

Even that young, you could try offering some of the bm by spoon or cup (so it's totally different than nursing), even just at the start of feeding. Sometimes the difference helps.