My third child was by far the hardest to wean. I breastfed all three of my girls; I have experience in introducing new foods and cow’s milk, replacing nursing time with cuddles, reasonable amounts of crying it out mixed with distractions – you name it. I have done it all. Do you think any of the things that worked with the first two worked with my last? They didn’t. And no one’s advice worked. She refused even chocolate milk, and she loves sugar. In my opinion, there is nothing more satisfying that feeding a hungry baby, and there is no worse feeling than watching your child cry because she is hungry. But when you are introducing the bottle for the first time and you have made the decision that what is best for both mom and baby is weaning, this is something you may have to endure.
What I learned – every child is different and will respond to certain options in complete opposite ways from their siblings at times.
What worked for this child – Neck-high shirts that did not have room for grabby little hands, lots of cuddles, & the right kind of bottle with a larger breast-shaped nipple for a more natural transition. I would never use the word “easy” when describing the weaning of this kid, but the Philips Avent Natural bottles did work.
How did I settle on this kind of bottle? First and foremost, the nipple shape. It is wider and is closer shaped like a mother’s breast, which was rejected a lot less than other shapes of nipples. Obviously being BPA free, different sizes available, and the anti-colic system that allows air to go into the bottle but not into baby’s tummy – were all huge factors. This brand is a classic and has been around since 1984; the nipple doesn’t collapse, and the bottle is easy to hold and grip in any direction, so she can start holding it herself at night and I can get an extra 1-2 minutes of sleep, which means so much to moms with babies who are terrible sleepers, like my little angel. Don’t get me wrong, she is the light of my life, but nothing comes easy with this one.
The uGrow app has been a great place to track feedings, sleeping schedules, track milestones, track patterns and build routines. I can be sure that my little one is getting enough to eat and drink, and worry about one less thing. And this one is huge for me. Hopefully since the 3rd baby was the hardest to wean, she will be easier with other things as she grows… I may be dreaming with that thought, though. That hopeful, sleep deprived, beautiful thought. What worked for you when weaning your little ones?
See more info on all Philips Avent feeding systems HERE
Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Philips Avent and I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Want to win some amazing Philips Avent products? Enter HERE
Prizes include:
2 x 4 oz Natural bottles
2 x 9 oz Natural bottles
1 x microwave sterilizer
2 x soothing pacifiers
1 x bottle brush