How long do I keep offering to nurse DS2?

financialdiva

DS2 went on a nursing strike around 2.5 months ago. Even though he is on a slow flow nipple for his bottles, he just loved his bottles more bc they were easier. I was able to get him back on the boob first thing in the morning, when my flow is the fastest and then pump for his other four feedings (at the time).

He's dropped two bottles since then, so he was nursing in the AM, then having one bottle during the day and one at night.

For the past week he has refused to nurse in the morning. Started last Saturday, so it's been like 6 days. I have offered every morning. Sometimes he will latch, then pull right off and try to squirm out of my lap. Other days he won't latch at all.

How long do I keep offering to nurse? He wants food, so I've just moved his breakfast earlier to right after I offer to nurse. He isn't even a big fan of his other two bottles, but takes them, sometimes he finishes them, sometimes he doesn't.

He's 11.5 months. I need to let it go right?

ETA: I'll probably keep pumping for the other two feedings for another month- I mean let go of the AM nursing session.  

shakinros

It sounds like he's saying he's done nursing. You've done amazing to get this far, especially with the commitment to pumping. Though I know it's tough to let it go before you're ready, from the outside it seems like its time.

WBMom

Sounds like what my son did.  Personally I was so done with pumping that I just stopped offering and then reduced pumping.  It was so bittersweet - I had a goal in mind but he had another objective.  I think he is ready to give it up - you've done an amazing job!

nosoup4u

There's no harm in offering, but maybe try different times of day. Have you tried when you first get home in the evening? DS2 would ask to nurse first thing when I first started going back work. He was older than your DS is now, but I think wanting to nurse when you first see your mom is pretty universal. It's probably more likely a nursing strike than full-on self weaning.

litzo27

I got no advice - I'm just sorry the process is not going exactly as you would have wished for. I mirror the PP suggestion of trying a different time though. My boys were no longer interested in the morning session around the 1 year mark - they were just ready to start the day and play. But they would still nurse for naptime (which we dropped around 1.5) and for bedtime (which was the last to go). Either way - CONGRATS on making it to a year! Especially with the pumping - you're awesome!

financialdiva

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will try a different time today. I just wanted to keep the morning so I can obviously nurse before work. But maybe another time might work.

A friend of mine brought up a good point that they see what their older siblings are doing and want to mimic, which could be the reason for him self weaning now. Which is definitely what I think is the reason. He watches his brother all the time! Grr....

DS1 always preferred me over the bottle until I weaned his last feeding at 14 months, which was the am feeding.

Again, thanks for all the comments. I know I did a great job, but this wasn't what I had envisioned or had planned which makes it disappointing. I also didn't really have time to mentally prepare!