EBFing: 10 month old self-weaning?

FigureSkater8 · October 2013

So my baby is on the young side of this group (Nov. 28th). For the last month he has been less willing to take pumped milk during the day from others (my mom, DH, babysitter). Sometimes he won't take any milk at all during 9am-5pm. He's eating some solids- but not a super large amount (maybe 1 pouch and 1 small container of baby food). So on those days I'd just make sure we had a good morning feeding, after work feeding, bedtime feeding and one late night feeding. On the days I was home with him - he would still nurse during the days.

However, within the last 2 weeks he has refused to nurse during the days even with me there. He's too distracted and won't go for it. So after a week of this my daytime supply reduced greatly to the point that I don't need to pump at work. (I've always had a good supply and have a fair amount of frozen milk).

Could he be getting enough from nursing at 8am, 5pm, 9pm and 11pm? (He's still being offered expressed milk in a cup during the day but isn't very interested). Or do I need to start supplementing with formula?? And do you think he's weaning or this is a phase and I should try to pump again to increase my supply just in case? My Mom says all 3 of us weaned at 9-10 months....

What do you think? TIA-

Gargita · October 2013

H is BF and a late November baby, too. I've weathered a couple of nursing strikes with him, but he's always come back to the boob. Your LO could be getting enough from nursing 4 times a day, but that seems like a long time to go during the day - but he could be reverse-cycling (from how you describe his night feedings). As long as he's gaining weight and all that jazz, he's probably in good shape. It could also be a phase! Babies are crazy, who really knows? Kellymom has a lot of info about weaning, etc.

Did you have plans for when you wanted to wean him?

FigureSkater8 · October 2013

I was planning to nurse until 12 months and go from there...probably not longer than 14 months or so. But at this rate it may be sooner!

LBStewart · October 2013

I'm still BFing too. I'm pregnant with my second and my supply has seriously decreased. I will tell you that DD has totally adjusted fine to having less milk. If my DD has adjusted then maybe yours has too. I know that your situation is different, but I'm guessing that your LO is fine.

SurpriseAt39 · October 2013

I still BF, and LO refuses a bottle, so last week (when I had a job) he didn't have milk until I got home around 3pm. He missed his 4am feeding all 3 days that I had to meet with clients.
He was offered a bottle but only drank part of one Monday and refused the other days.
He does, however, usually eat quite a bit of food.

He doesn't have a 'schedule' of when he nurses (when I'm home) but has a rhythm. After breakfast, after lunch, before supper and before bed. And once MOTN.

He sometimes 'snacks' a lot and other days he just has those 5 BFing sessions.

Your LO is probably fine.

I plan to BF until 12 months (Nov 29 here) and play it by ear after. (New LO due March 20). I personally wouldn't be adding formula in at this point, but I have given LO the occasional homogenized milk at the advice of his doc, and would basically be switching to that at a year anyway, so I think it would be more of a hassle (and more upsetting to LO) to switch twice in two months.

Good luck.

FigureSkater8 · October 2013

Thanks all - I appreciate it. I have the sense he's probably getting enough or he would demand more feedings.... but there's always that little voice in the back of my head that questions it. I'm giving him daily vitamin drops too- so hopefully he's getting what he needs right now.

winecastle14 · October 2013

Gargita said:

H is BF and a late November baby, too. I've weathered a couple of nursing strikes with him, but he's always come back to the boob. Your LO could be getting enough from nursing 4 times a day, but that seems like a long time to go during the day - but he could be reverse-cycling (from how you describe his night feedings). As long as he's gaining weight and all that jazz, he's probably in good shape. It could also be a phase! Babies are crazy, who really knows? Kellymom has a lot of info about weaning, etc.

Did you have plans for when you wanted to wean him?

This is exactly what I was going to say. Probably just a phase. Four feedings is still good though. I 2nd looking at Kellymom.com. Good luck!

starsinger17 · October 2013

My 10.5 month old is beginning to refuse his 2nd or 3rd feeding and doesn't even eat a full feeding at the other ones. He just seems much happier eating solids. I decided to cut out his afternoon feeding and only BF him then if he is fussing because he's hungry. If we go a few weeks without him fussing to eat for that feeding I'll keep it gone. Next month I'm dropping to two feedings and at a year we'll drop to just the morning feeding. (I know they say the bedtime one is the worst but he sometimes gets it at 5 or 6 a few hours before bedtime and it doesn't seem to phase him so that will be second to last.

People have told me that babies younger than a year don't self wean but I seriously don't agree. There is not other explanation for DS's disinterest in BFing.

winecastle14 · October 2013

starsinger17 said:
My 10.5 month old is beginning to refuse his 2nd or 3rd feeding and doesn't even eat a full feeding at the other ones. He just seems much happier eating solids. I decided to cut out his afternoon feeding and only BF him then if he is fussing because he's hungry. If we go a few weeks without him fussing to eat for that feeding I'll keep it gone. Next month I'm dropping to two feedings and at a year we'll drop to just the morning feeding. (I know they say the bedtime one is the worst but he sometimes gets it at 5 or 6 a few hours before bedtime and it doesn't seem to phase him so that will be second to last.
People have told me that babies younger than a year don't self wean but I seriously don't agree. There is not other explanation for DS's disinterest in BFing.

You're letting solids replace a milk feeding. If you cut back on solids an hour before nursing he'd probably be more interested in milk. However, if it works for you and him and he's getting the required ozs of milk then no reason to change that since you're so close to a year.

starsinger17 · October 2013

I tried cutting back on solids the last few days but he still only "asked" to be fed 3 times. He's 23lbs so I'm not worried about his weight. I'm just kind of following his lead at this point. If he wants more food I'll give it but I'm not going to force him.

winecastle14 · October 2013

starsinger17 said:

I tried cutting back on solids the last few days but he still only "asked" to be fed 3 times. He's 23lbs so I'm not worried about his weight. I'm just kind of following his lead at this point. If he wants more food I'll give it but I'm not going to force him.

At least you tried...that's all you can do, right? Maybe he's getting more efficient nursing the older he gets and he's able to get more from you. I've also heard that our milk gets fattier and even more nutrient dense as they get older.

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