Beginning weaning...not looking forward to this!

DahliaFlower · September 2014

Hi Ladies,

I'm in need of some guidance. My goal was to nurse DS until at least 9 months, possibly 12 months. I then decided to go to 12 months. We are currently at just past 11 months and still going strong.

I have posted in the past about trying to cut back on pump sessions at work, which I have done to some degree. Basically, I'm only pumping about once during the day, going about 6 hours between pump or nursing sessions during my workday. DS is taking about 12-15 oz in bottles during the day while I am gone. At home, I have continued to nurse on demand, including MOTN feedings. He is usually up about 2 times at night.

He takes solids very well, including yogurt, cottage cheese and cereal with almond milk. He gets probiotic, Vit D and DHA supplements. He loves to ice drink water from a sippy cup. His growth is excellent. I feel like his nutritional status is very good and I believe it is safe to start cutting back on BM.

One of the reasons I feel I need to start the weaning process now is because he is so dependent on these MOTN feedings for soothing, I think it could take some time to cut back and end them. Similarly, he is still nursing or getting a bottle before naps (2 naps per day).

So my questions are: what do you suggest for weaning from MOTN feedings (not really interested in CIO)? How would you gradually wean from daytime feedings? Any other suggestions for weaning over a period of 3-4 weeks?

TIA!

TheBorg7of9 · September 2014

In my experience, weaning was a gradual and natural thing that happened as they were eating more real food. At one year, the doc said to go cold turkey to whole milk in a sippy cup instead of bottles of breast milk. At that point, I weaned from the pump. I continued to nurse before and after bedtime and nap time when I was home. He gradually lost interest and was done nursing around 15 months. I'm curious why you think that weaning from nursing during the day would help him sleep all night? And I don't think you should cut back on feeding milk until he is 1. I'm not sure why you need to force this now. I've found that most baby issues like this just need time.

NatesCupcake47 · September 2014

We were able to successfully get DD down to getting up just once per night by DH going in to her instead of me for her first waking. He would rock her for a few minutes then put her back down with her nuk. Now she typically only gets up once per night to nurse. Though the last two weeks have been hell as we worked through sickness and now teething... DD will be one next week.

BootsOrHearts · September 2014

We didn't have a problem with night weaning but I've read you can slowly give a smaller and smaller amount (or if you're BFing, shorten the timeframe you feed) over time until you're only giving cuddles and a binky.

DahliaFlower · September 2014

Thanks ladies for all the input.

I appreciate the suggestions re. night weaning by cutting back on volume. The one think I forgot to mention in my original post is that DS have never taken a pacifier, so that is a slight disadvantage for night weaning.

@TheBorg7of9 I don't really like to think that I am "forcing it," just that I am doing what is right for my family. I think nursing to 12 months is really quite an achievement, especially since I am a full time working professional mom. I would love to be able to draw out this experience for months to come, and if I were in my early 30's and a stay at home mom, I am sure I would. But this is not my situation and therefore, I believe it is in our best interest as a family to start the weaning process at this point.

TheBorg7of9 · September 2014

DahliaFlower said:
Thanks ladies for all the input.

I appreciate the suggestions re. night weaning by cutting back on volume. The one think I forgot to mention in my original post is that DS have never taken a pacifier, so that is a slight disadvantage for night weaning.

@TheBorg7of9 I don't really like to think that I am "forcing it," just that I am doing what is right for my family. I think nursing to 12 months is really quite an achievement, especially since I am a full time working professional mom. I would love to be able to draw out this experience for months to come, and if I were in my early 30's and a stay at home mom, I am sure I would. But this is not my situation and therefore, I believe it is in our best interest as a family to start the weaning process at this point.

Sorry. I wasn't trying to criticize your choice to stop. But you didn't mention any problems you were having, so I was wondering why. FYI, you don't have to stop nursing when you stop pumping at work and weaning at night might not improve his sleep. When I weaned from daytime feedings, we just went straight to the sippy cup of cows milk. My doc was very insistent that we wait till 12 months though.

Want a personalized experience?

Beginning weaning...not looking forward to this!

Re: Beginning weaning...not looking forward to this!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards