Weaning @ 12mos and Transition to Cow's Milk

[Caitlyns Mum]

Hi,

My LO is almost 12 months and we're still feeding 2 - 3 times a day.  I say 2 - 3 as I'm trying to drop the 3rd, but she's been sick and just started at day care and so some days she gets it, some days she doesn't.

My question relates to weaning her completely.  I have had one flu/cold after another for the past few months and am about to increase the amount I'm training (cycling).  My doctor suggested that I think about weaning bub as obviously my body is run-down and finishing breast feeding would be the obvious way to reduce stresses on my body.  My doc only suggested it as I had previously told her I was planning to wean at about 12 months anyways.  So this is what our routine looks like:

5-5.30am Breastfeed (and then bub goes back to sleep til 7 - 7.30)
7.30 - 8 Breakfast
10 - 10.30 Sleep for approx 30mins
11.30 - 12 Lunch
12.30 - 1 Breastfeed (I'll drop this permanantly asap as she doesn't seem to fussed when she doesn't get it)
2 - 2.30 Sleep for 1 - 2 hrs
3.30 Snack
5.30 Dinner
6.30 Breastfeed
6.30 - 7 Bed

So, do I just drop the last two feeds or do I need to replace them with cow's milk?  From a bottle or a sippy cup?  Replacing the early morning feed with a bottle will be problematic - we've only just got into a nice routine of going back to sleep until 7.30 after months of early waking.  I know it's not perfect and getting her to sleep through til 7am without a feed would be ideal, but its one of those issues many many mums out there are wanting an answer for - including me!  Anyways, any advice would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Jess

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

At a year, you don't need to substitute cow's milk for breastfeeds - some moms never give cow's milk at all.  You just want to make sure that somewhere in the day, your lo is getting the same sorts of nutrients that she'll now be missing from BM.  So fluids, protein, calcium, etc...  Cow's milk can be an easy substitute, but you can just offer it with meals, if you prefer.  When dropping breastfeeds, I'd suggest trying to do it gradually, to avoid things like engorgement for you.

If you wanted, you could always try keeping that morning feed and drop the rest, then see how you do.  You said you're training - have you been limiting your calorie intake as well?  If that's not necessary as part of your training regimen, you might find that just one breastfeed during the day won't tax your system too much.

[Caitlyns Mum]

Hi Erin,

Thanks for the advice.  Bub does get heaps of yoghurt and cheese already and so I think she'll be right in terms of nutrients.  It's more the psycological bit that she'll miss.  But I think I'll try just keeping the morning feed and see how we go.  No, I'm not on a calorie limited diet and I have never found that the breastfeeding makes me overly tired etc, so I think I'll be right once I get rid of the silly wog that's been bugging me for the past few months.  We'll see how we go!

[Shaunie]

I might drop the day feed 1st & not replace it unless she wants a drink of course.  I'd then perhaps drop the evening feed & replace that one with cows milk & then gradually, when you're both ready you can drop the morning feed & replace with cows milk.  I'd also suggest a cup rather than a bottle - it's suggested in the UK that we try to get babies off bottles by the time they're 1.

DS2 now has morning bf upstairs then a cup of cows milk when we come downstairs!  He has water during the day then a bf at night but I do plan to replace this with a cup of cows milk in the coming weeks then gradually stop the morning bf.  Like you said, he's also eating a balanced diet so nutrients are not a prob.  HTH x