How do I wean quickly?

[C_mother]

I need to wean my 8 month old very quickly - how should I start?

Thanks!

[*Ali*]

Hi, sorry to hear you have to wean suddenly.  I hope you are both healthy.

Since she is under 12mo you will need to move to formula.  Does she take a bottle or drink formula from a cup at all already or is she only fed directly from the breast?

What is the time scale you are working with?  Are we talking hours,  days or weeks?

Have a look at our FAQ on weaning and see which method you think would work best for you guys. Weaning

[C_mother]

Unfortunately, it is due to a health issue   I am hoping to wean her over the next week.  Currently, I do about 4 feeds per day plus a night feed. She doesn't reliably take a bottle yet. I was thinking of starting by feeding in the morning, evening, and overnight first and then see from there??

[*Ali*]

How did it go?  Or are you behind me timewise? I'm in UK so it's 7.25pm right now.

[*Liz*]

Thanks for calling me Ali  .

I went through the same 3 years ago with DD. She was 8 months old at the time, completely breastfed, never had a bottle in her life, and I had basically 2 weeks to stop feeding her so I could start chemotherapy.

DD was never great with her first feed of the day, she preferred solids first, but basically after I got up in the morning I started with the bottle with expressed breast milk in it. I offered the bottle only at all feeds until the bedtime feed, when I breast fed and then fed through the night. If I remember correctly she managed to suck it once but basically rejected it all day  . I gave her solids as normal, and plenty of water. DD used to take her milk feed before a nap, and after refusing the bottle I would end up rocking her to sleep.

Next day I did the same - started in the morning - no breastfeeds only bottle with expressed milk. She ended up refusing all day, and being rocked to sleep for both naps. I also offered the 'missed' feeds on waking as well. She accepted the bottle after a short second nap as I assume she was so very hungry. Drank the whole lot  .

After that I gave her a bottle at bedtime, and a breast feed during the night. I simply didn't have enough ebm to do all of the bottles, but I also started to dilute the bottles onto formula straight away as well. Literally 1 oz more with each bottle. Once she was happy with bottles and formula I stopped breastfeeding completely. I think I was done in a week.

I then expressed as little as possible for comfort to dry my supply up. I think I stopped after about 2 weeks with that.

When she took the bottle I cried and cried. I was just so relieved. There really was no plan B. Plan B was to end up just stopping and giving her milk in cups and solids and hoping she would sort herself out, and she really was a bit young for that.

So yes - it is a 'cold turkey' - but when no other option exists then this is the way you do it. I actually think since ladies in our position are stopping for sure, being consistent and staying strong is fairest for the LO. Gives them a chance to realise what they are going to have to do iyswim??

Oh and the night feed dropped as soon as the little monkey was on 3 bottles a day. Little monkey  .

[C_mother]

Thanks! We have had some success with the bottle!  How often do you think I need to nurse/pump a day to make sure I don't wean to quickly?

My first two didn't wean until well over a year, so this is new to me.

[*Liz*]

Do you mean in terms of risk of getting mastitis??

Once I stopped pumping as much as I could for bottles to mix I just took off a bit at the feed time at first. So say I could pump 4/5oz if I pumped to dry, I would assume DD took a bit more than that as well, so would take maybe 3oz and dump. Then do the same at the next feed.

I did go pretty fast though as my boobs didn't seem hugely bothered TBH.

I would guess over 2 weeks is reasonable.

I think I pumped to dry before bedtime for a while as well.

[*Ali*]

Thanks Liz. I knew you would have some words of wisdom.

Let us know how it goes c_mother. Get well soon vibes for you 

[C_mother]

Thanks! She seems to be taking a bottle now I am going to try pumping/nursing dry at wake up and bedtime and she how that goes. Will let you know.

[Erin M]

Glad she's taking the bottle, ((((hugs)))) for you both.

[*Ali*]

What a little champ she is taking a bottle already. Bless her.

[*Liz*]

Seems like she is like Megan - she knows you need her too and so is helping you along 

[C_mother]

She is doing amazing. I need to work out how much she is taking in 24 hours because I am new to bottle feeding guidelines, but she is a least accepting some formula when offered (and at least a few big bottles a day). I am so proud of her and a bit weepy that our nursing days are over.

I have been pumping a couple of ounces a day when I feel really full and am hoping to stop that in the next day or two. It seems really fast, but hopefully I won't have any complications.

Thanks for your help!

[*Liz*]

I seemed to dry up pretty fast as well. Not sure why, but didn't get any infection at all.

Megan went to 3 bottles a day when I stopped. It was something like 5-6oz for am and pm feeds, and 8oz at bedtime. By 10 mths it was only 2 bottles at lunch and bedtime. Little monkey! She was feeding every 3 hrs through the night before that!!

[*Ali*]

How are things going?
I hope your LO is a pro on the bottle by now and your health issues are getting treated