Weaning already?! Nooooooo!

Re: Weaning already?! Nooooooo!

• ForeverEverAfter member

  April 2016

  Babies under a year don't self wean. They can form bottle preference, or have nursing strikes, but not truly wean-as they need BM or formula as a main source of nutrition for a while yet. This comes up a lot in my bfing support group, and that's the answer the LC gives.
  
  With DD1 she went through phases of nursing less-mostly from distraction or while working on a new skill. She didn't have bottles, so I knew she was making it up at other times (otherwise she'd get dehydrated). She always picked up again, and didn't fully wean til she was 2 (she was down to bedtime only for 4 months). 
  
  Can you offer more frequently, or go to a quiet spot to minimize distractions?

  

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• ElleKH member

  April 2016

  Thank you, @ForeverEverAfter!! That is so comforting to hear! I was hoping that this was just some phase of lighter-than-normal nursing. You've put my fears to rest.
  
  I do offer very frequently since he was eating so often before, and I do take him to our bedroom where there are little to no distractions since he's a very curious baby. He's just not hungry. I was worried because he looooves solids and I thought he was starting to give up on breast milk altogether. Thank goodness that's not the case! You're probably right - he's been struggling to work out the mechanics of crawling and that could very well be part of it. Thanks again for your input!

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• etayislove member

  April 2016

  As PP said, it's relatively normal to have a ebb and flow, as far as number of times a baby nurses, in a breastfeeding relationship. So, don't be distraught, but certainly do keep an eye on it and make sure LO isn't dehydrating themselves. Also, if you are doing solids right now, make sure you offer foods AFTER a good nursing session and maybe don't offer as much/ or as often, if you feel LO is choosing food over breastmilk. Your milk is more nutritionally dense then any table foods he's ingesting right now.

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• Nehouston member

  April 2016

  The LCs in my BF support group always remind moms of babies that are just starting solids to make sure to BF BEFORE solids are offered.  This is the opposite of what my pediatrician told me, but honestly, he's way old school and I trust the LCs more on this topic.  BM is still the perfect food for our babies - just like others have said.  I would offer the boob more, maybe even back off of solids for a couple of days.  Things will get back on track.  Hang in there! 

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• vibarra27 member

  April 2016 edited April 2016

  Nehouston said:

  The LCs in my BF support group always remind moms of babies that are just starting solids to make sure to BF BEFORE solids are offered.  This is the opposite of what my pediatrician told me, but honestly, he's way old school and I trust the LCs more on this topic.  BM is still the perfect food for our babies - just like others have said.  I would offer the boob more, maybe even back off of solids for a couple of days.  Things will get back on track.  Hang in there! 

  My boys ped said the same thing. The reason they want them to have solids first & then drink milk after is so that they can start weaning off BM & Formula( little by little of course). So by the time they are 1 year old they have 3 solids a day & snacks in between & not need formula or BM.
  
  My boys have 3 solids a day (4.5oz-8oz)
  22oz of formula a day. Used to be 24 oz but they dropped 2 oz of formula last week because of the solids. They just werent finishing a bottle.
  
  @SunSilverFox I think you should just do what works for you. I didnt BF just pumped so take these ladies advice if you really dont want to stop breastfeeding. 

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• ElleKH member

  April 2016

  Thanks, ladies! I appreciate your input.  
  
  @etayislove and @Nehouston - When I offer solids, I always do so roughly an hour after breastfeeding. But since reading your comments, I have started offering BM again immediately before putting food in front of him. So far, so good.   Thanks again.
  
  @vibarra27 - That's exactly what I was afraid of: that LO was starting to cut down his BM intake because of a preference for solids. I know that self-weaning will happen eventually on its own, but I panicked because it seemed like he may have been starting now. But you're right - he's just cutting down a little bit now that he's eating solids. He's also going longer between BF sessions (despite my attempts to offer more frequently), which is something new for us. Until recently, he had always been a heavy and frequent feeder, so this sudden change in nursing habits was definitely part of the shock. I guess his system has finally matured enough for him to stay full for longer, which also means that he's sleeping longer at night. (Finally!!) Thanks for the reassurance! 

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