How do I get my baby to drink breastmilk from a bottle or cup?

[tbrunskill]

I am a Mum to a beautiful 9 month old baby who is still breast feeding.
What I would like to know is how do I get him to take breast milk from a bottle or cup. I have tried all different sorts of teets, giving it to him at different stages of hunger, putting it on a spoon, in a cup and in a sipper cup. It seems that as soon as he smells it he refuses it. he will drink water and cows milk (I know he isnt meant to have it until 12 months) from his sipper cup or from a water bottle. I mainly want to get him to drink it from another source so i can have a bit of a break. I can't get him babysat and my husband cant give me a break. I'm starting to get to the point where i hate breast feeding and I want what is best for my baby so don't want to give up. (not that he would let me anyway)
Thank you I hope that you can help me.
Regards Theresa, James and Ethan

[bubhub]

(posted on behalf of Pinky)

Hi Thrunskill,

It is worth considering if this is really about the feeding or the fact
that you are feeling stretched at the unrelenting demands of being a mum?
If your bub is taking other fluids (water) and possibly eating solids, you
could take a wee break if you think in terms of an hour or two - or do you
want longer?

You say he will take milk or water from a cup - the trick here may be that
YOU are trying to offer him breastmilk in another 'container' when he
expects to nurse/ snuggle/ smell your skin etc as he feeds his
mamamilk -it's not just about the milk.

Perhaps you could express some milk / leave it in a cup for Dad to give and
pop out for an hour - somewhere close by so if your baby gets distressed,
you can come home fairly quickly. He may take his mummymilk from Dad if the
boobies arent there. Or, with summer coming , what about making some 'boobie
milk' icypoles? Or expess it onto his solids and let dad give your baby
water to drink?

At first taking small breaks will give you a bit of a rest - what about
booking in for a massage for yourself - after all if bubby refuses ebm in a
cup he will drink water so he wont go thirsty for this short time. You can
then gradually build up to longer breaks if you want.

Pinky