Baby Cup

Question: My 11 months old son will not drink during the day. he refuses to take the bottle or drink from a baby cup.?

(Posted by: Tanya on 2007-10-01 14:28:33)

My son is breastfed every 3 hours at night. He did take a bottle before during his day naps (never when he was awake). Now he stopped. He eats well and seems to be ok. I am worried that he might be dehydrated. My doctor suggested that I stop breastfeeding him and he will be forced to drink from a bottle or a cup, but something does not seem right about her approach. Please help.

Posted by: Noah's Mommy on 2007-10-01, 14:33:54

At breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offer him a sippie cup of whole milk and a sippie cup of water. Put it on his high chair tray and then walk off. When you sit down to feed him, give him a few bites of food and then offer the cup. Keep doing this, eventually, he may take a drink ;)

Posted by: Dragonchilde on 2007-10-01, 14:35:14

He may be reverse cycling. This is common when a child is in day care, and the mother works or is away from them. They "make up " for lost time while mommy is at home... usually at the expense of mommy 's sleep! Do NOT take your doctor 's advice to wean... that isn 't going to help anything, and may actually traumatize him! The AAP recommends a MINIMUM of one year. You need to find a certified lactation consultant, or a local La Leche League Leader, who can advise you on ways to encourage him to nurse more. Also be aware that this may just be a phase... 11 months is a busy time development-wise, and many babies just don 't want to stop to nurse. What can help in this case is to go to a quiet, dark room to nurse, with no distractions. It doesn 't mean there 's a nursing strike... they 're just too busy being babies and growing to stop!

Posted by: tina s on 2007-10-01, 14:40:10

HAVE YOU TRYED A CUP WITH A STRAW. I FOUND THAT MY GRANDCHILD LOVES A STRAW. OR JUST SIT A SIPPYCUP AROUND THE HOUSE AND WHEN HIS READY HE WILL DRINK.AT SNACK TIME,LUNCH,AND WHEN HE GETS VERY ACTIVE OR HOT FROM PLAYING

Posted by: mystic_eye_cda on 2007-10-01, 14:42:10

You are right his logic is flawed: A toddler of that age can go 12 hours at night without drinking (I didn 't say should, nor did I say ALL). But medically speaking going 12 hours at night without breastmilk or other fluids is not a concern. If the toddler is drinking as often during the night as others would during the day -or that is to say consuming the same quantity of breastmilk or other fluids as they would per 24 hour period what difference can it possibly make WHEN they choose to drink them? Also liquids other than breastmilk are not required for AT LEAST 12 months and probably longer, some sources even say it is unwise to give babies under a year water because of water intoxication (most sources say 6 months but some do say 12 months). If you really want him to drink during the day try a normal cup with a straw the same as you drink from, many kids like to mimic. But it isn 't necessary. Also you would KNOW if he was dehydrated, his pee would be dark and probably smell worse. Also he wouldn 't be that active. Etc. Guidelines for offering water to breastfed babies kellymom.com/ nutrition/ solids/ baby-water.html In fact this site says to limit water until 1 year: kellymom.com/ nutrition/ solids/ solids-how.html Limit water to SIPS from a cup with meals. drjaygordon.com/ development/ faqs/ faq036.asp When do I recommend water for babies? Starting after six or seven months of age it may be convenient to grab a small cup or bottle of H2O in a hurry, but there is still no "need " for water in a breastfeeding baby in the first year of life. freedrinkingwater.com/ water-education3/ 4-water-infants-babies.htm Newborn babies do just fine with formula or breast milk; drinking water is not recommended until about six-12 months (too much water can cause jaundice or intoxication). However, when making bottles it is imperative to use pure water.

Posted by: confused by court order on 2007-10-01, 14:44:02

Just keep trying different kinds of sippy cups, soft spout,hard spout,different brands,straw cups but do not wean until you and he are both ready to do so. It amazes me the horrible advice to drs give to breastfeeding moms!

Posted by: Kris L on 2007-10-01, 14:50:14

Your doctor is correct. Your 'nightime breastfeeding ' is giving your son enough fluid to get through the day, and he 's not 'learning ' to drink from a cup. Forget about giving him a bottle ... just breast feed him before he goes to bed and when he wakes up in the morning, and let him 'fuss ' through the night, and then give him formula or juice or water in a 'sippy cup ' to teach him how to 'drink ' BEFORE he becomes dehydrated. It will take about a month to get him to drink from the cup regularly, and by the end of that month you should be able to 'wean him ' from your breasts entirely.

Posted by: dsmd on 2007-10-01, 14:57:56

I don 't know much about breastfeeding, so I can 't help with that part, but I can say that my son wouldn 't drink from a cup with a valve or soft top. I bought those take n toss cups. They are "disposable ". You get 4-6 for pretty cheap in walmart or babies r us. The are actually reusable, but the do leak alittle. That was the only thing he will drink out of except his bottle.