Weaning help

Roxie5739

Hi Ladies,

I posted last week that I need to wean LO ASAP so I can go on new medication that is not compatible to BF'ing (and there are no alternatives to this medication). We were down to one feed a day anyway, the bedtime feed.

In the last few days we have tried to offer thawed BM in a bottle - he flat out refuses. I have tried thawed BM with a hint of WCM and the same result (I now wasted 10oz of BM of my limited stash X( )

Last night we timed the feed and at 3 mins into it, the dog next door barked and it stopped LO feeding. I put him down at this stage and he went straight to sleep. No issues except once he woke this morning, he was asking for boob again. Total regression from where we have been. I offered Milk in a sippy and some cheerios as a quick snack before we walk the dog and all was well.

I was thinking that to wean slowly and not to stress LO too much, tonight I offer boob until 2.5mins and the next night 2 mins etc etc until there is no boob. Is that doable? Is there other ways to do this weaning? He clearly needs the comfort of me and the boob for bedtime but I am struggling to have him create other bedtime wants that is not me.

Any suggestions out there??

pb_bride

No real advice except for some hugs.  Our last feed to drop was the morning feed, and it wasn't difficult to wean.

His bedtime feed wasn't hard to wean either.  The nursing session was in the living room.  After he was done, then we go upstairs to start his bedtime routine (diaper change, PJs, lotion, book etc).  Also, DH is the one who does the final parts of the routine (I leave after he gets into his PJs). 

When we were ready to drop that feed, I simply just didn't offer and he didn't ask.  Having said that, I've been nursing M on schedule since he was 7-8m old so he never learned how to ask for it.

I don't know what your bedtime routine is currently, but maybe you can change things up and nurse him earlier in the evening so the boob doesn't come into play during the bedtime routine? GL!

Roxie5739

Thanks @pb_bride I may do that tonight and see how it goes

jesselayne8

I just cut it out cold turkey last night. DS asked for it but was easily distracted by an extra book. When I laid him down he freaked for about 5 seconds then went to sleep.

He asked for it at naptime today but I just redirected him to a book. He hasn't nursed before nap in week.

Good luck. It's hard to say no to their sweet like voices and puppy dog eyes.

dmhrn13

IMO the before bed session is the hardest one to eliminate, I took that one on first. Question- does he take your frozen BM at other times? I ask because I had something called excess lipase which made my daughter not take any of my milk that had been frozen, wasted a whole freezer full of it before we figured it out. 

I think cold turkey is the best since they do regress often with things like this. You're doing the right thing by offering other things in place of it, LO will get it. 

TJ1979

Yes, I would say doing the times noting thing is a good choice. GL, I know this is hard.

Roxie5739

dmhrn13 said:

IMO the before bed session is the hardest one to eliminate, I took that one on first. Question- does he take your frozen BM at other times? I ask because I had something called excess lipase which made my daughter not take any of my milk that had been frozen, wasted a whole freezer full of it before we figured it out. 

I think cold turkey is the best since they do regress often with things like this. You're doing the right thing by offering other things in place of it, LO will get it. 

I have lipase issues so my milk is all scalded prior to freezing. The milk smells fine (well no smell so it is fine). Good suggestion though and sorry you had this issue too.

srveatch

Maybe try a Sippy at night? DD went straight to a Sippy when we weaned. She refused the bottle before bed.

Roxie5739

Update: Sippy cut rejected yet again. We did the time method and 2.5 mins and we fed in the living room and not his bedroom. I then walked him to his room, and we went straight down.

Tomorrow we try 2 mins and the same system and see how we go.

Thanks for the ideas ladies!

TJ1979

So glad that worked Roxie. FX it keeps working.

mcgeeva

I would stick to what your doing. I did the same when weaning and all worked good. And maybe at some point your lo may not want a bedtime bottle at all. Good luck!

mcgeeva

Oh I was going to add..the only other thing if shortening the minutes doesn't work..start having DH put the baby to bed and do the bottle

Roxie5739

Thanks @mcgeeva but sadly LO will not even take the bottle. If it all goes belly up I will stay away for 45 mins prior to bedtime and have DH try a bottle then.

pb_bride

M never really took the bottle either (he did around 3-4m but refused it ever since).  I was going out at night maybe 2-3/month and on those nights, I left a bottle for DH to give to M at bedtime.  M would drink < 1 oz and refused.  IN any case, he was totally fine on those nights with one less feeding.