Should child led weaning apply to bottles?

[jlsmama]

I believe in the child led weaning philosophy (I like to say, "a met need goes away") but I'm worried it might be interfering with my son's nutrition. My 30 m/o DS has been refusing to eat most foods during the day and just keeps requesting milk. I am wondering if I should set limits around his bottles/begin working towards weaning from the bottle, or not. I am reluctant because he seems to rely on the bottle for soothing, and to limit his bottles seems incongruent with child led principles. But some days he barely eats any solids and we burn through expensive milk so quickly.

DS was EBF to 9 mos and primarily BF to 12 mos, when I had to start working F/T (I am now only working ~10 hrs/wk). I had trouble pumping enough, so the bottles he got from Daddy became increasingly attractive to him and he weaned fully by 18 mos. (If this had not happened, I would likely still be committed to a child led approach with breastfeeding). He has been drinking organic cow's milk in a bottle multiple times a day since (sometimes mixed with almond milk). He also came to rely on the bottle for soothing, and still uses it for that purpose quite frequently. Once solids were started, he grew to eat a nice range of good, whole foods, but he has become more picky as time has gone on.

BTW, I have posted my same question in the child led weaning forum, but I don't know if it might be better categorized here, since it is not regarding breastfeeding. That said, I would especially appreciate feedback that considers child led weaning principles, since that is important to me. Thanks in advance!

[crunchy_mommy]

I haven't bottle-fed so I'm not sure how qualified I am to answer this but I do believe that child-led weaning works best with breastfeeding... with bottle feeding, there are other issues to consider, like dental health, overall nutrition (since non-human milk wouldn't be balanced the way breastmilk is), etc. I guess I would consider allowing one or two bottles of milk (morning & night or something) and replacing the rest with water? Would he accept that? Then he can continue to satisfy his need to suck but it would lose a bit of the appeal and not fill him up so much so he would theoretically be hungry for actual food. Even with people who CLW, a lot of us place limits on breastfeeding for various reasons... Maybe the strictest CLW wouldn't place ANY limits but most people end up cutting down the feedings a bit for various reasons. However, one thing I want to point out is that many 2yo's really don't eat much... so it may not have anything to do with the bottle, he might eat just as little even if you take away the bottle completely...

[DeChRi]

Good question.  My now 12 yr old BF until age 4. My now 4 yr old self weaned at 2.5.  #3 came along with a rare disease and her immune system sees protein as a pathogen and she has to live on a powdered prescription amino acid only formula that mixes up just like milk.  So the bottle thing was new to me.  She is almost 19 months now.  Our pediatric dentist said for starters, she wouldn't even sweat it until age 2.  What I have done is think back to when my older two were that age, and how they nursed them.  Mainly it was wake up and sleep time.  Sometimes when they didn't feel good.  So she gets a bottle at bedtime, never wants one when she wakes, and sometimes during the day.  I invested in some cool straw cups and sippies which she liked for a bit, then didn't.  Now she loves to drink out of a big girl cup with a straw (me holding it of course).  I think if he is drinking regular milk, the dental side would not be my biggest concern, but more just making sure he was getting enough calories in from other things besides the milk.  If he needs a bedtime bottle past two, I sure would not lose sleep.  I would gently encourage some other things during the main part of awake time.  All that said, having a little one with special feeding needs, let me tell you that there are a lot of things to lose sleep about, and having a bottle past a certain age is just not one of them.  I know I am probably not much help, but I think my answer to your question is....yes, I think it Does apply to bottles, but keeping in mind that kids can carry a bottle around all day but not a boob.  So I would try and keep the bottle to a snuggle and bonding time, like nursing, vs as a carry around comfort. All easier said than done. :)  Good luck!