No signs of weaning...

[branwen]

Hi there!

So no signs of weaning at 11 months...we are on 4 feeds and sometimes a 5th.  Should I be worried?  Should I just let her go on?  After our move she seems to really need it more than ever.  She doesn't really ask but when I say "boobie" every 4 hrs she gets very excited and makes her hungry grunts (that sound like old rooting noises) and grabs at my shirt looking for it.

How do I wean if I want to start???

[annamum]

Hi,

That reminds me how Anna was keen to nurse after I moved to California. Anna felt unsecure and boobs were her safety zone. It passed, she became secure and confident again. So you may want to give her some time.

I think at 11 months you are still OK with 4 feeds. Your dd may be one of those who are really attached to nursing and may not want to give it up on her own. But then, is she already walking? When they start walking they lose some of their interest in nursing to a new discovered skill and practice it so much that they forget to nurse. That might be a good time for you not to remind her if you want to start weaning. Don't offer if she doesn't ask for it, that's one of the ways to wean. If you get serious about complete weaning, drop first the feeds that she cares the least of all, do it gradually, give it at least a week per feed to drop. That way you are gentle on your own body too.

[Finnegans Mom]

I also have been wondering about weaning my almost 10 month ds.  I bf 4 times a day with 3 meals (right now, he is really into finger foods).  I feel sad and excited at the same time with the thought about having my body back.  I was wondering if and when I start the transition?  Do I let him tell me?  Or, in the next couple of weeks, do I slowly replace the 11am and 3pm feeds with a snack and cows milk (when he is a year)?  He hasn't started walking yet, so maybe that will be the sighn?

After a year of being his sole food source, it's just a little scary to make the change.

Cheers,
Jill

[branwen]

It is so scary. :shock:   I am so nervous.  I have been reading on the extended nursing board and part of what is talked about is what I wanted to avoid (breast as object/comfort), this is for my personal comfort of course and not a judgement towards other moms. 

It is also that my sex life is just awful and sex itself is so painful.  It doesn't matter how much lubricant I swim in :oops: ...my doc confirmed this- it won't change until I end nursing.  So I'm looking toward finishing at 14 months.  If we start weaning at 12 months, I figure we can drop 1 feed every two weeks (I have an abundant supply so anything faster I think would be painful for me).

I am also wondering- do I replace the feeds with whole milk, or do I replace the feed with a snack and give the milk with meals?

[GraceKellysmom]

.my doc confirmed this- it won't change until I end nursing.

BUT, it doesn't always get that much better when you wean. Ooops I shared the secret handshake! lol I think we'd all have different opinions about that too.

Weaning is kind of an unknown that until you go through it (like childbirth) you don't really know what to expect. I think dropping a feed every couple weeks sounds great and would be the easiest for both of you, if you both agree it's a good idea.  :wink:  She may decide she's going to start asking for it, or she may decide phooey on you and she's done sooner than you hoped.

Go into it with your honorable intentions and know that what is meant to happen will happen. I am so happy for you, you're nearly at a year already! Time has just flown by, huh?

At this point when you drop a mid day feed, I'd give a healthy snack and maybe a little water unless your doc gives the go-ahead on milk already. If you drop the first morning feed, just go straight to breakfast. If you drop the last feed, a cup of milk or a yogurt before bath/brushing teeth (whatever your routine is) can help get that tummy to breakfast. With both my kids, they had a big growth spurt at 12-13 months and then it was much easier to wean the last snack/feed.

[annamum]

Branwen,

I had no desire for sex during the first year at all. Everything got better after Anna turned 13 months, I finally became more intrested in it even though we were still nursing. I totally understand your wish to wean because you want to avoid comfort nursing, I have to admit, this is what it becomes after a year :lol:.

As long as you go slowly you will be fine. Even if your child is not showing signs of readiness, you can lead the way for her, just make sure you are not rushing things too much.

I would probably replace some of the nursings with a snack when you can additionally offer a cup of whole milk and some with just milk. You will see what works best for you.

Good luck ladies!

[annamum]

Jill,

It is usually bittersweet for moms to start weaning and it makes you feel somehow sad once you are done. Your lo is only 10 months so if you are sure you want to wean soon, you should take a lead, your baby is too small to make that decision. Some babies happen to lose interest in nursing at around 11-13 months only to get more interested once they pass this mark. It is up to you to decide what you want and how long you want to continue.

Good luck!

[Finnegans Mom]

I go from a mixture of excitement (look how big he is when he drinks from a sippy) to sadness (he won't need me anymore) at the thought of weaning him.  It was always my plan to stop at 12 months.  By then, he can have cows milk. Plus, don't they need to start learning to get more of their calories from food insead of liquid?  Once again, if only these little buggers came with instruction books, life would be so much easier.

Thanks for all the ideas...I'm sure in a month I'll have a ton more questions!

It WILL be nice to feel like you have your body back...just in time to try for #2.  And, then it starts all over again!

Cheers,
Jill

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

to sadness (he won't need me anymore) at the thought of weaning him.

He'll ALWAYS need you! (Just ask my Mom - and I'm 33!!  :oops: )

I felt a tremendous sense of loss and, I admit it - of failure, when I dropped the daytime nursing sessions.  I thought I was failing dd by not continuing to give her the best supplement to her solids that I could.  But I got over that and realized that by nursing her for so long (and continuing with what I'm still doing) I was doing just fine and not to stress it!  There are lots of things that make up a good parent, and this was just one piece of our family's picture.  I've also noticed that as Megan's gotten older and understands us better, she's even cuddlier.  I still really enjoy our twice daily nursing sessions (well, unless she's teething and using me to chomp on!), but I think I love the hugs and kisses she's started giving me even more.  There's something wonderful about having her press her wet, open mouth against my cheek when I ask for a kiss! 

I guess I'm just feeling soppy tonight, but I was thinking that when our lo's grow out of something so sweet that we loved to share with them, there's always something new that's just as wonderful waiting to start. 

[annamum]

but I was thinking that when our lo's grow out of something so sweet that we loved to share with them, there's always something new that's just as wonderful waiting to start. 

Absolutely true, Erin .