[Daffodil]

I will ask the pediatrician on Friday but I was wondering if you ladies had any advice. Arie is still drinking 5 bottles of formula a day. She eats but not that much, and will only sip at milk.

Did your little ones just start eating a lot and drinking milk and that's how you phased out formula? Or did you stop the formula in increments (or all at once) and then they ate more solids/drank more milk to compensate? She isn't doing it on her own, so I was thinking of giving her less formula...but I also don't want her up all night hungry.

Speaking of which, now that your little ones are completely off of formula, do they ever wake up at night hungry? If so, what do you do?

For us, it just happened. Not sure how to explain it, but she's always been a good eater, and formula/bottles were second (meaning she didnt depend on it) From about 7 months on, she only had 4 bottles a day, and over time we just replaced 1 bottle with a cup. Then the last month or so we replaced a formula with milk to where now we have no bottles, and no formula.

I think it's just going to have to be a trial and error to see what works with her. I honestly wouldnt worry about taking her off asap. For me it just a personal preference to have bottles gone by one, but if you are ok with her still having one, I wouldnt stress over it.

No Kaileigh never wakes up hungry at night, never. She also doesnt need breakfast as soon as she wakes up either. When she gets up I start breakfast and she usually doesnt eat for at least 30 minutes or more depending on what I make.

[Daffodil]

I guess what's concerning me (not that I'm super concerned, at least she is getting nutrition somehow) is that she hasn't dropped her formula intake at all. I don't mind her still being on bottles or formula, but I'm wondering when she is going to transition. Like I thought at this point if she was still on bottles or formula, it would be a morning bottle or a nighttime bottle or even both...not 5 bottles throughout the day.

Its funny, I mentioned this to my mom and my said "she's only 12 months old, its ok!" I guess she is right, its not like she is 5 and on mostly formula. But I'm just so tired of bottles and formula!! LOL

[Mama2Owen]

Owen is still taking 4-5 bottles of formula a day. His eating habits are getting better, but he just doesn't have a big appetite. I'm not pushing it yet, but I'm trying to slowly drop him down to just a morning & a bedtime bottle.

Our pedi takes them off forumla & switches to whole milk at 12 months, so we'll see how that goes after his appointment on the 19th.

[Vincent'sMommy]

We just happened to drop a bottle. He was on 4 8 oz bottles for the longest time and I just decided to let him go as long as he could between feedings and he really only ended up needing 3 bottles a day (about 7:45 - right after waking up, then between 12:30-2, and then one usually around 6). He only eats a little solid food. Breakfast is usually his biggest meal and sometimes he eats bites of lunch and dinner and he usually has some snacks but really doesn't eat much at all. I'm also waiting to see what they say at his 1 yr. appointment and his WIC appointment before I start introducing milk. I'm guessing that when we switch to milk he'll just start eating more food to make up for it.

[jessanddane]

I did what Shannon said, I offered her more food. I had been worried for months about the milk transition because I didn't have a clue as to what to do. I started giving her formula mixed with a teeny bit of milk on sippy cups and just used more and more milk and less formula. But the thing that helped us the most was snacks. I had only been giving her three meals. Adding two snacks in there changed everything and she is completely full and happy now. She gets a bottle before bed just because I still want to hold and cuddle her, and she doesn't wake up at all at night.

[nat1970]

The boys drink formula 4 times a day. I've had them on 3 sippy cups a day and a bottle at night only because 8ozs won't fit in the sippy. I just started today giving have whole milk and half formula and they have been fine. Going to start putting all their milk in sippies in the next few days. Good ridance bottles. I will not miss cleaning you.

[cbnurse04]

I've been mixing half formula with whole milk. Holt seems to like it. Our problem is transitioning to sippy cups. He hates them.

[Mama2Owen]

Christie, it took awhile for Owen to like sippy cups. I recently got him one with a straw (Nuby brand at WalMart) and he loves it! Might be something to try, if you haven't already.

[Vincent'sMommy]

I like the Nuby straw cups too. I have several different types of them. I tried giving him formula in 2 different ones and one he drank fine from but he just made a huge mess with the other one. We started with a straw cup and I don't think he'd ever get the hang of a spout one now since he doesn't realize he has to hold it up (he doesn't hold his bottles up either).

[Daffodil]

Originally Posted by cbnurse04

I've been mixing half formula with whole milk. Holt seems to like it. Our problem is transitioning to sippy cups. He hates them.

I've tried that too...she doesn't like the cold milk. She will sip a bit but then after about 40 minutes when it warms to room temp, she will drink the whole thing.

I'm going to start trying the formula in a sippy... the thing I'm concerned about is she never wants to sit still long enough to eat or drink something for herself. At least not yet.

[Ally-Mac]

Sydney is completely on milk now. I never did half and half -- I just started introducing milk in a sippy (I also like the straw sippy cups ....I have a playtex one, like it better than the nuby straw one...the straw in the playtex is more like a normal straw).

[starrsgirl]

Good luck! Emmett just has one bottle per day at night when I'm working....but even getting him to give up that one has been tough. We are clueless as well. I think the bottle has just become part of the "routine" versus a necessary food supplement.

[sfarrow3]

Originally Posted by Daffodil

I've tried that too...she doesn't like the cold milk. She will sip a bit but then after about 40 minutes when it warms to room temp, she will drink the whole thing.
I'm going to start trying the formula in a sippy... the thing I'm concerned about is she never wants to sit still long enough to eat or drink something for herself. At least not yet.

It's ok she'll get use to it. If she doesn't want it at first just give her something else like food and then when she is ready she will drink the rest. Please stop worrying she will get it, I promise just keep offering. I agree with Shannon just try it, if she is hungry or starving due to switching over, jus offer her a snack (nutrigrain bar or something) sometime before bed. London is on whole milk and she isn't starving when she wakes up. I personally did half and half with no problems.

Let me add that London didn't just do it on her own. I just had a goal date in mind and gradually worked her to it. I offered her more food and less milk. Some days we fell off the wagon (giving her a bottle w/formula), but for me this is my second baby so I already had worked out most of the kinks with Caden and I knew what to expect. hahahahaha

[sweetliberty]

Aaron is down to just taking a bottle of water before nap and bed and it's just for comfort and we're slowly trying to take it away but the boy loves his bottle!

For meals though we started offering solids before formula and put rice milk in his sippys instead of water or formula. That's when his formula intake really started to plummet.

Give it time and be consistent. You're doing great.

[Daffodil]

Originally Posted by sfarrow3

It's ok she'll get use to it. If she doesn't want it at first just give her something else like food and then when she is ready she will drink the rest. Please stop worrying she will get it, I promise just keep offering. I agree with Shannon just try it, if she is hungry or starving due to switching over, jus offer her a snack (nutrigrain bar or something) sometime before bed. London is on whole milk and she isn't starving when she wakes up. I personally did half and half with no problems.

Let me add that London didn't just do it on her own. I just had a goal date in mind and gradually worked her to it. I offered her more food and less milk. Some days we fell off the wagon (giving her a bottle w/formula), but for me this is my second baby so I already had worked out most of the kinks with Caden and I knew what to expect. hahahahaha

Um, can you please come over and get Arie off the bottle and formula? I really think I'm too lazy to be a mom!

I'm really at a loss, if I give her food on her tray, she usually just picks at it and then dumps it. If I feed her, she'll take a few bites then start refusing. What worries me is she wakes up hungry now at night even on bottles...I know its my fault, I sorta lost my resolve when we moved (and now I'm sick so I REALLY am doing the "easy" thing).

Ugh, I fell into co-sleeping because I got more sleep that way (and when I say more sleep, I'm talking 3 hour stretches instead of 1 hour) but now I'm starting to regret all the decisions I've made. Co-sleeping, not having a strict eating schedule, etc etc... I'm now having to "fix" every decision I've made in the past but I don't have the energy to really do it.

[sfarrow3]

Originally Posted by Daffodil

Um, can you please come over and get Arie off the bottle and formula? I really think I'm too lazy to be a mom!

I'm really at a loss, if I give her food on her tray, she usually just picks at it and then dumps it. If I feed her, she'll take a few bites then start refusing. What worries me is she wakes up hungry now at night even on bottles...I know its my fault, I sorta lost my resolve when we moved (and now I'm sick so I REALLY am doing the "easy" thing).

Ugh, I fell into co-sleeping because I got more sleep that way (and when I say more sleep, I'm talking 3 hour stretches instead of 1 hour) but now I'm starting to regret all the decisions I've made. Co-sleeping, not having a strict eating schedule, etc etc... I'm now having to "fix" every decision I've made in the past but I don't have the energy to really do it.

OMG!! NO!! you are an awesome mommy, and don't ever regret your decision with co-sleeping or not having a strict schedule. You have to do what's best for you seriously. For me I work a full time job so a strict schedule/strict routine and no co-sleeping (unless sick) was needed for me to function. You are doing a great job! Never, ever, ever, ever, ever doubt that hun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by sfarrow3

OMG!! NO!! you are an awesome mommy, and don't ever regret your decision with co-sleeping or not having a strict schedule. You have to do what's best for you seriously. For me I work a full time job so a strict schedule/strict routine and no co-sleeping (unless sick) was needed for me to function. You are doing a great job! Never, ever, ever, ever, ever doubt that hun!!!!!!!!!!!!

I promise she wont be on a bottle of formula forever. It takes time, but do what works for you and her.

[Vincent'sMommy]

Originally Posted by Daffodil

Ugh, I fell into co-sleeping because I got more sleep that way (and when I say more sleep, I'm talking 3 hour stretches instead of 1 hour) but now I'm starting to regret all the decisions I've made. Co-sleeping, not having a strict eating schedule, etc etc... I'm now having to "fix" every decision I've made in the past but I don't have the energy to really do it.

I feel the same way with the formula, the pacifiers, the no schedule thing, and the co-sleeping. Guess who is sleeping on me right now and would not go down for a nap without his paci and will have a bottle of formula as soon as he gets up? I know these things will work out eventually and I used to feel confident in most of my decisions but as I need to start making these changes I'm thinking maybe I should have done some things a little differently. I'm trying not to worry unless we start having major issues with things, which we're not. I'm sure some day he will be eating 3 meals and no formula, sleeping in his crib and not taking a pacifier but it will be a while.

[Daffodil]

Originally Posted by Vincent'sMommy

I feel the same way with the formula, the pacifiers, the no schedule thing, and the co-sleeping. Guess who is sleeping on me right now and would not go down for a nap without his paci and will have a bottle of formula as soon as he gets up? I know these things will work out eventually and I used to feel confident in most of my decisions but as I need to start making these changes I'm thinking maybe I should have done some things a little differently. I'm trying not to worry unless we start having major issues with things, which we're not. I'm sure some day he will be eating 3 meals and no formula, sleeping in his crib and not taking a pacifier but it will be a while.

I'm going to try putting the next baby in the crib when he/she is really little (probably in our room though, or I will sleep in the babies room on a mattress) and try putting them on a schedule as soon as I feel comfortable with it... I think I was so nervous with Arie and really wanted her to feel secure and everything, but I think there's something to be said about the security kids feel about having a routine and everything. We'll see how it goes.

I guess I just want someone to tell me its ok to pull the bottle and formula away cold-turkey LOL. Or give me directions on how to do it. So far everything I've tried hasn't worked, so I don't know if I should keep at it or how long. I am very interested in what the pediatrician will say tomorrow about it. She looked at me like I was crazy at her 9-month appointment when I said she's not feeding herself yet, she said "she's so little, she will do it!" Haha, sometimes I need a reality check when I compare her to other babies!