Need to start weaning but bub won't drink

[Lin]

Hi!

My 8 1/2 little girl will be going to childcare as of Jan next year so I need to start weaning her a little but she has problems drinking!
For months now she won't have anything to do with a bottle for some reason. So I've been trying sippy cups which she can't seem to get the hang of!
She's been eating solids for a few months now and still b/f obviously. I want to cut back on the b/f's but I'm now finding with this really hot weather, she's starting to b/f a lot more frequently!
I can get her to have a few sips of water or milk from my glass but she mostly spits it all out.
With the sippy cup, I take the valve out but I have to sit there with her to try and get her to drink, otherwise she ends up soaked. (she usually find it more of a novelty turning the cup upsidedown and sucking on the bottom of it!?!) But even then she'll spit most of it. I need to be able to get her to drink so she can last the day at childcare. But with what water she does drink, it's not nearly enough to keep her hydrated in this sweltering weather! I'm finding I'm going backwards - b/f more just to quench her thirst than cutting back!
I just don't know what to do!

[the pero clinic]

Dear Lin,

There’s nothing like the pressure of a timeframe is there?! Are you offering EBM in the cup as well as water? The familiar taste may be a starting point.

Babies who are breast or bottle fed are used to liquids entering their mouths towards the back half of their tongues. It can be quite a different feeling, and quite tricky, to learn to move liquids from the very front of the mouth towards the back to swallow.

Spout cups are good in assisting with this, except for when they have valves. Often the valves are very difficult to suck from, and leave bubs frustrated and confused. You have done a good thing in removing the valve from the spout cup so that is flows more easily. Also try gently holding your daughter’s jaw closed to minimize the spilling from her mouth. Make sure that you don’t react (positively or negatively!) when she dribbles or throws the cup around – this will only encourage more of this behaviour.

If you find that you really continue to struggle, place EBM or water on her spoon – if she is used to eating from a spoon now, she may be more likely to reflexively slowly the liquids if offered this way. From there you can go back to trying the cup or spout cup.

the pero clinic