Once your child has been weaned, perhaps you thought you'd be able to put all his old bottles in the cupboard, or organize a sale of second-hand products? Well, suddenly all your plans fall through! Your blonde head is once again crying out for a drink from one of those old bottles.
What can you do in such a situation?
Understand the reasons for this demand in order to adopt the best approach approach. Let's take a look at how to react to this unexpected situation!
CONTENTS
What should I do if my baby wants a bottle after weaning?
Understanding why baby asks for a bottle when the weaning process is over
When should I avoid giving another bottle after weaning?
Consequences of prolonged bottle-feeding and unsuccessful weaning
Understanding why baby asks for a bottle when the weaning process is over
At first sight, your child's weaning was a foregone conclusion. A priori. Baby drinks from a glass, a bowl or a training cup. He no longer drink from the breast for a long time, and his attraction to milk had diminished significantly.
So how do you explain the fact that from one day to the next, your baby is clamouring to drink from the bottle again, just like in the good old days?
First and foremost, it's important to remember that "caprice" is not the right word. Instead, try to identify the context in which the request is formalized.
It's normal for your baby to need reassurance at certain times in his life.
- Is he sick or tired?
- Has he just learned of the arrival of a little brother or sister?
- Is he away from home, for example on vacation with his grandparents?
- Or did he see his bottle tucked away in a cupboard, awakening nostalgic memories?
Every situation is different and an occasional request does not mean that your child has not been weaned. By responding to this need and offering him a bottle, you're not "giving in" as you might think, but actually showing that you're attentive to his emotional needs.
When should I avoid giving another bottle after weaning?
If the request for a bottle is occasional, it is acceptable to meet it.
Perhaps something has happened that you weren't aware of, such as an important event at the nursery or at the nanny's? It's also possible that, while drinking, the baby swallowed the glass wrongly and frightened himself, creating an association with the bottle to reassure himself.
In any case weaning does not always mean a definitive end to bottle-feeding.
In situations such as those mentioned above, baby may feel the need to suck again, by reflex, and because it was once the only way for him to calm down. the only way for him to calm down.
However, if demand seems to be increasing and becoming more regular, we suggest that you take the time to discuss with your child, obviously adapting your vocabulary to their ageto better understand the source of this sudden craving.
Keep an eye out for recurring requests
A baby who regularly asks to be bottle-fed should make you wonder. If no external event seems to have influenced his behavior, perhaps this means he wasn't quite ready to be weaned?
Or the transition too fast for him?
In this type of situation, the learning cup is a good compromise. Far from indicating a return to the past, it reassures your child by using a container similar to a baby bottle in terms of design, without falling back into the pitfalls of sucking.
Offering this alternative to your baby will save you long evenings spent negotiating, to the detriment of bedtime 😉
Weaned baby = no bottle in the evening!
In the interest of preservation of baby's dental system dental system, we recommend limiting the number of bottles given at bedtime and at night. By offering a bottle containing a sweet drink just before bedtime, you run the risk of triggering a attachment and sleep habits.
Consequences of prolonged bottle-feeding and unsuccessful weaning
If the demand for a bottle persists despite all attempts to understand and replace it with a training cup, this may cause difficulties. difficulties with regard to the child's future, particularly when starting school or in the context of community care (crèche, canteen, after-school care, extra-curricular outings).
In fact, it is generally forbidden to bring a feeding bottle into these places, and your child could feel uncomfortable to adapt to an imposed mode of consumption with which he or she has not been familiar at home.
In a nutshell
It's quite possible for a baby to ask for a bottle again after being weaned. Rather than seeing this as a failure of weaning, it's important to understand the reasons behind this demand.
- If it's occasional, it's advisable to respond with kindness.
- If demand becomes frequent, it is essential to identify the causes and encourage the use of the learning cup as an alternative.
