What is the best way to wean my baby from breast to bottle

Question

I've heard it all from cold turkey to gradual weaning. She's almost 3 moths old. I've tried both with little success. I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'm going to try using a different bottle with a different nipple. I want to allow my husband to feed her and I would like a break every so often. I will be feeding her pumped milk. I'd love it if she could take a bottle by our anniversary (Nov. 20th!) so we can have a nice quiet dinner at Olive Garden. :)

What is the best most effective way for her to start taking my milk in a bottle? It's most likely going to be a permanent switch but she will still be getting my milk.

Answer 1

Some babies can be picky.  I breastfed my oldest son, and he was a bear to wean onto a bottle.  I had to shop around and try different bottles - he ended up liking Avent ones the best.  Then the milk had to be literally the exact same temperature as it was coming out of my breast.  And lastly, I personally could not feed him the bottle - it had to be someone else.  Are you always the one trying the bottle?  Because that may be the problem, maybe have your husband try.  ALso, wait and try it on a feeding where she is STARVING - make it the longest she can possibly wait between feedings.  If still no go, try some different bottles and nipples.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

Try to find a bottle with a nipple that is most like your own. (this may take several tries!) Also, feed her in the same place that you usually nurse (ie, rocking chair, couch, bed). Hold her just as though you were nursing her. Do it yourself the first few times, and when she seems to be getting the hang of it, let your husband try. This may take a few tries as well. Hang in there, and good luck!

Answer 3

This probably doesn't help, but I made so little milk that I was able to quit cold turkey at 3 and 4 months for my 4 little ones without any negative effects.  

Answer 4

My children weaned gradually.  I've heard trying to mix part breastmilk and part formula and gradually increasing the amount of formula as you go.  

I had someone else feed the baby as I was weaning my little ones.