Author Topic: Self weaning?  (Read 1215 times)

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Offline ShannonMiller

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Self weaning?
« on: May 25, 2006, 18:46:37 pm »
Hi!  For the past month I have felt like my almost 7 month old daughter is trying to wean herself.  I cannot get her to nurse during the day.  I'm lucky if I get 5 minutes out of her.  Usually it's 2-3 minutes.  I know she should be an efficient eater by now, but 2-3 minutes does not seem like enough.  She eats solids 3 times a day and I try nurse 3 times as well.  The biggest problem is that she's getting up 2-3 times a night acting hungry.  It's like she's saving the nursing until the middle of the night.  What can I do about this???  Here's our eating schedule:

8:00a.m.  Solids
10:30      Breast
12:00      Solids
3:00        Breast
5:30        Solids
7:00p.m.  Breast

Should I be doing something differently?

Thanks,
Shannon

Offline RachelC

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Re: Self weaning?
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2006, 18:58:42 pm »
Shannon, perhaps try breast first.  She may be too full of solids to want any milk.
We do:

7 breast
8:30 solids
11 breast
12:30 solids
3 breast
5 solids
6:30 breast

HTH

~RAchel


Proud to have breastfed for a combined total of 35 months


Offline Monika aka annamum

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Re: Self weaning?
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2006, 03:26:40 am »
I agree with Rachel. At this age you still want your baby's main source of nutrition to be your milk. If you nurse first and then offer solids she will more likely fill up on breastmilk which is a complete whole food that no solids can replace in her diet yet. It may also be that you give her too much solids for her age. I think one teaspoon of whatever you offer her per meal is quite sufficient for a 7 month old.

Another thing is that babies her age don't self wean, it happens much later into toddlerhood. Instead, she may be going through the distracted phase where everything around is so much more fun than breast. Many babies between seven and eight months act like that, they even go on a nursing strike. To make her more interested in breast, nurse her in a darkened room without distraction like tv, other people. You may want to try to preserve one special toy she can hold while at the breast, some women use a nursing necklace which is made of sturdy colorful beads your baby can touch and play with while nursing.

Goodl luck!
« Last Edit: May 26, 2006, 03:32:13 am by Monika aka annamum »
tandem nursing mama to sweet Anna (Feb 2004) and Alexandra (born at home Dec 2006)

Offline Ami ~ 3 girls' mom

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Re: Self weaning?
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2006, 03:44:58 am »
Ditto!  ;D

Offline ShannonMiller

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Re: Self weaning?
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2006, 17:18:54 pm »
Great advice!  Thanks, Ladies!

Shannon