[konadogsmom]

My dd is going to be 10 months old soon and I would like to introduce a bottle of breastmilk. I have nursed her on demand since birth. When she was around 2 months we tried introducing the bottle of breastmilk but she really hated it and refused to drink from it. I really hated pumping, and had no reason to leave her so it wasnt a big deal. But now I want to take a class and I will have to leave her one evening a week when she will stay with dh. Can an almost 10 month old get used to taking a bottle.. or is it just too late? I really want to take this class... but I just feel too bad leaving her just in case she needs me. Dh is getting offended because he thinks I dont trust him taking care of her. That is NOT the case at all! I have some bottles here, and occasionally, maybe once every couple of weeks I will give her some water in the bottle. She does drink some of it, but she mostly just plays with it. I give it to her when she's getting in to everything.. she is pretty interested in it, because she hardly ever sees it. I think she thinks its a toy. Anyone give there baby's a bottle this late?<br><br>
Oh, and I guess my biggest reservation is that Im worried that she wont need me anymore if she takes a bottle. Im worried everyone will want to babysit or want me to go out and I wont be able to use "Im nursing" as an excuse to stay with my baby. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[hallesmom]

I started working on Saturdays only when my DD was about 9 months old and the first few times she wouldn't drink anything while I was gone-so we froze up some breastmilk cubes and spoon fed some of them to her, and let her suck on them-then we found the Nuby sippy cups w/ the soft spout and she started using it.<br><br>
Don't worry about her not needing you any more. That is NOT going to happen. She'll much prefer you over the plastic bottle/sippy any day <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br><br>
Have fun at your class!!!

 

[elmh23]

You could try a sippy cup. My dd hates the bottle but will sometimes take bm from a sippy. I just dismantled the anti-spill thingy so she could get the milk (she's only 6 months and hasn't figured them out yet.)<br><br>
I'll be taking an 1 hour and 45 minute class this fall, two nights a week. Sarah will be 9 months a week after the class starts. Our plan is for me to nurse her right before leaving, having a sippy of milk just in case and me nursing as soon as we get home. Also, dd won't take expressed milk from me, so you might want to try leaving the room while your dh feeds her.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[kweir]

Why bother with a bottle and just put your milk in a cup for her. 10 months is old enough to use a cup and also very exciting for them at that age. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br>
I wouldn't want to use a bottle b/c it may be something you will have to wean her from...<br>
My dd never used a bottle (also thought it was a toy or something) and went straight to the cup and still nurses fine.

 

[wenat]

One evening a week isn't long to go without milk if she doesn't take a bottle. I'd leave a bottle with DH and it can be their time together, whether or not she takes the bottle. (She'll catch up on on any milk she missed when you get home.)<br><br>
DS took a bottle if I was away but always returned to the boob -- after all this time on the boob, your DD will as well.

 

[TiredX2]

There is no way I would introduce a bottle and the possible problems it brings that late. How about a cup? Even bumping up solids if it is just a couple hours once a week at that age should be fine.

 

[HelloKitty]

I vote for the sippy cup as well - definetly old enough and none of the bottle issues. She needs to learn to drink from a cup anyways - she doesn't need to learn to drink from a bottle. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">