10 mth old - should I drop a breastfeed? Help with schedule.

[magicbelly]

I am after some advice from mums who exclusively breastfeed. I have been advised to drop my 4 breastfeeds to 3. My current schedule is:

6am bf
8am breakfast
8.30 - 10 approx sleep
10.30 bf
12.00 lunch
12.30 - 2.00 approx sleep
2.30 bf
5pm dinner
6.30 bf and bed.

Should I cut the 10.30 & 2.30 bf and give one bf at 12.30 after lunch. i figured if i need to give snacks at this time it might as well be breastmilk or perhaps my lo doesnt need anything until lunch/dinner.

My plan has always been to bf to 12 months. I didnt really have a plan after this time - the past 10 months have gone by so fast. I won't be putting my daughter on cows milk until least until 18 months (if at all).

Your advice is much appreciated.
Thanks

[deenz]

Hi,  I have just (yesterday) dropped the fourth bf with my 8mo dd2.  I did as you described, so that the three remaining bf's are at 7am (wake-up time), 12.15 ish (after lunch) and 6.45 ish (before bed).  I used to do a 7, 11, 3, 6.45 schedule.  If you find that your dd doesn't want much milk after her lunch, then maybe keep the 2.30pm feed instead, and just drop the 10.30am bf. 

I offer dd2 a snack now (with water in a cup) when she wakes from her naps, but am still working on timings and amounts.

I did the same with my dd1 when she was around 10mo, and exlusively bf her (at 1yr started intro cow's milk, but did not wean her completely til 25mo).

Good luck!

[teezee]

if you feel you are ready and lo is ready - i say GO FOR IT!!

[magicbelly]

Thanks, one more thing, at what age would you advise I drop the midday bf?

[teezee]

do you mean when you go down from four to three? or from three to two? my lo is almost a year and she is still getting three feedings now - morning, afternoon, night..not to say it is 'right' just what 'we' do...

[deenz]

I wouldn't drop to two feeds before 12mo.

[Katet]

To be honest there is no reason why you have to drop to 3 feeds...I dropped to 3 at about 11 months (although one was an expressed one from a sippy.
At 11 months I dropped the 10.30 am one (sippy) & kept the 3/4pm one  (was doing 7, 10.30, 3/4pm & 6.45pm.. roughly to fit around toddler day & his naps) at 11 months & still (ds is 12months) do 7am, 3pm & bedtime. I give water & crackers or toast at 10.30am now.

Ds only started on yogurt at 11 months & cheese last week (first Birthday) so I wanted to keep the 4 bf feeds as it was his only milk source...ds#1 had problems with  digesting cows milk until around 15months, so being extra cautious with ds#2.

[jbepko]

Who suggested dropping a nursing and why? My almost 10 month old still nurses 5 times a day- 0530, 0830, 1230, 3:00, 5:30. Although he isn't taking as much in the feedings, I still send 3 bottles to daycare. I am trying to follow his lead. I figure he'll drop his noon or afternoon nursing pretty soon and just take solids.

[magicbelly]

Thanks for the input. I am still on 4 feeds and my lo is not showing signs of disinterest yet but i think at 11 mths i will drop to 3 feeds.

My lo has not had one moment of sickness to date, not even a sniffle or off day. We are blessed and I am sure it is because she is breastfed.

Thanks again.

[teezee]

jeni - at this point it would be ok for lo to have less than 5 feedings per day. as he would take more at each feeding and therefore it would sustain him longer periods. this would also help lo if there are night wakings as lo would be able to go longer periods without a feed. do you have your lo on an easy routine?