[blparent] Holding a bottle independently?

[Jo Elizabeth Pinto]

Hi, Tammy.  I enjoy the close time of giving Sarah's bottle to her, so I 
don't mind it at all.  I've just had a few people, including her dad, 
comment that it seems odd she hasn't tried to hold the bottle herself.

As to nursing, I've struggled to maintain my milk supply for a year now, and 
managed to give Sarah half my own milk and half formula for the last six 
months.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that if possible, 
moms nurse for the first year and then as long as it is mutually satisfying 
after that.  I know it's optimal to go even longer than a year, but to be 
completely honest, I'm tired of the battle to keep the milk flowing.  It has 
taken a lot of time and effort, not to mention herbal teas, supplements, 
medications, you name it.  I think that finishing out the first year is a 
good milestone, and it's time to move on and take up other challenges.

Jo Elizabeth

"Don't throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds 
water."--Swedish proverb
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tammy, Paul and Colyn" <tcl189 at rogers.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] Holding a bottle independently?


> Hi,
>
> If she's eating finger food and using a spoon well, then I don't see the 
> problem here.  I know what all the books say and what kids should be doing 
> at 1 or 2, but sometimes I think they worry parents unnecessarily.  If she 
> won't hold the bottle or use a sippy cup, hold the bottle for her, and 
> don't worry about a sippy cup at all right now.  It might be a  security 
> thing for her, and she might like the close time with you.  Also, you can 
> tell me to mind my own business if you want, but why stop feeding breast 
> milk?  Why not just continue offering it to her and letting her wean 
> herself when she's ready?
>
> Tammy