WEANING thread...Come and share your experiences and offer support.

[deenz]

Just thought I would quickly share our weaning 'experience'! 

Dd1 was completely weaned about 6 wks ago at 26m (my decision!).  Of course the whole process started with the introduction of solids at 6m when we were at 5 breastfeeds a day (4hr EASY plus DF).  We dropped the DF just before 7m, then I dropped the 3pm ish feed at around 10m (dd1 was not a great solids eater).  At around 8/9m we started offering solids before the bf.  Then on her 1st birthday I dropped the lunch time feed, so we were down to two feeds a day.  When I say I dropped them, that's literally what I did - just didn't offer them to her.  I suppose she was so busy that she didn't mind!  Well, actually for the DF I only offered one side for two nights, then just stopped (usually two-sided feedings).  The DF was already quite early at around 9.30pm.

We introduced cow's milk at 1 yr out of an ordinary cup (I would hold it), and it took her quite a while to drink more than a sip.  I don't know if it was the taste or what.  I wasn't worried about it though, as she had yogurt and cheese in her diet.  She also was drinking plenty of water.

We introduced water from a sippy cup at about 6m, and it took her until around 10m before she got the hang of it.

So for a few months we stayed at the two feeds (after breakfast and before bed).  But by this stage I was pregnant and was thinking about how I would manage when the new baby came, so decided to drop the before-bed feed.  This took a few weeks as I gradually moved it away from the bedtime routine.  It used to be dinner, bath, story, bf, bed, but I gradually moved the bf to earlier in the routine til it was completely separated from 'bedtime' and then dropped it.

Then through the rest of my pregnancy, and for nearly 6m after dd2 was born we just had the after-breakfast feed.  During the pregnancy dd1 would sometimes go a day without bf'ing (busy, would forget to ask).  But now since I was bf'ing dd2 as well I thought it would be better for my body to just go 'cold turkey', rather than feed one day, then not the next.  So after much 'procrastination' one day I just decided to refuse dd1's requests.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and probably harder on me than her.  I used distraction as much as possible, and also just explantions - I expressed for a while (at the time I would normally have been feeding dd1) and then put some ebm in a cup, and explained that dd1 was a big girl now and she could have her 'mummy milk' in a cup etc etc.

Anyway, hope that helps someone!

[webfoot]

   well good news for us we made it to a year! Hooray! I was a former bf dropout so I am so proud we made it this far, although the convineince of it all may do me in! LOL!

Here is my obeservation. With my older two I took the bottle away at one and replaced it with the sip cup no problem. Ds #1 threw a fit or two about it, dd no issues. Bottle gone. Well this one doesn't really take a bottle, he LOVES to nurse and has gotten quite cute about pawing at me when he wants "it".
And the positions he wants to try, it leaves me cracking up. My girlfriend is a le leche leader and was telling me in India the mums just go about their work frisky 1 year old hanging on and nursing and I can TOTALLY see it. It's the sitting in my lap one that is most amusting to me. Anyways.... I'm digressing... bottom line if you make it this far bf all of sudden you are in a pickle aren't you? We have a bf relationship and I"m pretty commited, as long as I don't get bit more than once a week really I'm cool, but Evan is DEEPLY COMMITTED, and probably this is the wrong forum b/c I'm so UN BW with this one, he sleeps with me and bf to sleep. I haven't even gotten my period back b/c we bf so much (told dh we probalby need to seek a solution to the oopsie at this point!) I'm just worried if I don't get it under control now I'll be bf a 3 year old,which is all fine and dandy but I haVe a just past 3 and a just 3 on hand right now and I can't even imagining bf either of them!

I haven't read the following posts very carefully so excuse me if I repeat. On another board someone said the best way to wean is don't offer don't refuse and they natrually do it at 1. I think I'm going to try this method. We have been doing sip cup with juice or milk. He LOVES juice. Milk, not so hot. I don't pump so if it's in a bottle or sip cup he gets either forumla or whole milk. My problem is I'm jsut so bad, at 4am if I can throw out a boob and everyone is happy I'm happy! Also another observation, my older two went through BAD crack of dawn up like a rooster syndrome around 1 year. DD is actually doing it AGAIN much to my chagrin. This bf baby thing, I can slap that boy on the boob and he will bf for an hour and a half while I snooze and as long as the older two are taken care of w/ milk and TV we are good. I think bf is a GREAT solution to the crack of dawn syndrome. LOL!

Obviously I haVen't gathered my thoughts beyond this. I don't feel the "need" to have boobs back or anything so we'll see where this goes, I will be watching to see other's thoughts. I just worry if we don't quit now it's not so easy to quit. KWIM?

[blacksburgers]

Hi girls!  New here...just starting the EASY plan with my 10-month old, Mason.  We nurse about 4 times during the day with one feed during the night.  I don't nurse him down for naps, however, I do rock him and then put him in his crib once he's asleep.  Last night, we just started the PU/PD that Tracy states using the 9 month and older section.

I'd like to wean Mason off the afternoon feed, after his afternoon nap.  I'd like to pump and give that feed to him in a sippy cup.  Is this a good idea, or should I wait until I can use whole milk?  Once this is established, I'd like to do the same with the after morning nap, then when we wakes up in the morning, then finally, the bedtime nursing.

Any tips are greatly appreciated!! :-)

[Beata]

Well, I think we are officially weaned. I feel okay about it...was not sure I would. Cate will be one this Sunday.  Basically to recap at about 11 months (I was still doing 4 feeds a day, and night feeds during teething or illness) I started offering whole milk all the time. At first dd refused, but last week she started coming around. In the meantime, I cut out one feed a week (first lunchtime, then after the 2nd nap feed, then nighttime, and now morning). I kept offering the morning the last few days, but she never fed for more than a few minutes, so I stopped, offering her breakfast right away, and now she even chugs the whole milk!!!

I thought it would be harder, but I guess spreading it out over the entire month (with the doctor's approval to start the whole milk) help us both get to this point. I have been about 48 hours now with no feeds!  and and a bit full...but overall my boobs are already shrinking!!!! So I am a bit happy about that. I was a C cup and then a DD I think while bf, and maybe back to a D now...

So maybe a little more info than you all need, but that's my story! It's been a fantastic experience, and I will occasionally miss the time, but now we are to new ways of finding cuddle time (especially now that Cate hugs and kisses (too cute).

Beata

[MamaC]

So, Beata, to recap (because I'm almost ready to start!) you started the process at eleven months...offered whole milk instead of feeding...and she did fine?  How does it feel to wear normal bras again?!

[Beata]

MamaCobb, that's right...I was really worried at first because she would not really drink the milk, but I kept offering...with cheerios, with mixed cereal, a cup at every meal (she began drinking from a straw, so we skipped the sippy), and like I said I just went right to the meals (replaced lunch first, then the afternoon feed with a snack, then pushed dinner back, so she began refusing the night feed because she was still full from supper, the breakfast!

It took until about a week ago for her to just accept the milk in a cup completely (thank goodness!) and now I'll say, want milk, or want some water, and she either drinks it or shakes her head no.

I still have milk I Think, so I am hoping that quickly diminishes (I'm not engorged or anything plus Aunt Flo is here this week). But it's nice to even wear a larger size of regular bras, not the nursing ones!!! Now I need to put away all the nursing clothes as well. A little sad, but Cate is adjusted, so life goes on!

[rooby-rooby-roo]

Hi there,

I thought i'd post here and see if someone has some advice for me on how to go about weaning Red. After a very hard decision i have decided to wean him at 12 mos. I feel so so selfish as it is my decision and most definitly not his

Currently he always has the morning and bedtime feed and most days feeds at 11am ish and 4pm ish too. I thought i would aim to get rid of the daytime feeds first. I have just been offering hima sippy with whole milk in but he has rejected it so far. Its good to hear that others have taken to it after a while. Did you warm it or leave it cold? He takes a bottle so i wondered about giving him milk in that, but i had kinda hoped to avoid bottle washing!! Maybe i'll buy a trainer bottle to cup thing specifically for milk.

Which one should go next - morning or bedtime? He does mostly fall asleep when nursing at bedtime but will do the same on a bottle or on the odd occasion he has refused milk he has gone to sleep with no problems.

I have always had plentiful milk, to the point of daily engorgement and noticable fullness if he misses a feed or nurses less. How long will it take my body to adjust and what can i/ should i do to help it?

Cheers guys x x

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Clair - it's hard not to feel selfish when you feel like you're the one leading the weaning, I know, but it's a 2-way street, and I think it's hard for both mom and baby to be ready at exactly the same time.  He'll adjust - as will your breasts!  Every woman is different, so I can't give an estimate for how long it'll take them though - I would imagine they'd adjust after a couple of days without a specific feed.  Try to avoid pumping too much because you don't just want to re-stimulate production.  Pump off a bit if you have to or massage in the shower. I certainly found it easier to drop the daytime feeds, then we went to the morning and left bedtime for last (by that time DD was the less interested one of the 2 of us!  )

I always gave her cold milk out of the sippy - warming it made no difference in how much she'd take and it was more trouble.  With the cold, if she only had a sip, I'd put it back in the fridge to offer again later.  We still give lots of cheese and yogurt, because her milk drinking is inconsistent.

Good luck and keep us posted - we're here for you! HUGS!

[beccarman]

hi guys!

well this thread has come a a good time for me too, dd and i have set meal times but no set bf times, untill a week ago she fed during the day (and sometimes the night!) whenever she wanted, sometimes only once but sometimes up to 5 or maybe more little feeds. just lately her night time wakings got worse so i decided to see if i could wean her off daytime feeds incase that was making her wake in the night, i wondered whether if she got the milk (and comfort) in the day whenever she wanted or needed it she might think she could get the same at night. a week ago i started giving her whole milk in a beaker (she won't take a sippy cup) with a banana or biscuit after her afternoon nap, i warmed the milk and she sat on my lap so we still had a cuddle! i felt quite bad for being the one to make the decision to stop daytime feeds as i'd always hoped it would be more her choice, i was beginning to really miss her needing me in the day and was having lots of conflicting felings about doing it, today dd was very miserable and crying lots so i offered her a feed and of course she accepted, now i just feel bad for going back on what i decided to do! why am i so confused?! dd seems to have adjusted well which i'm really surprised with as she loves to bfeed, i had visions of having to go to school to feed her or poke my boob through the railing so she could have milk! it seems like she loved it but if i wasn't going to offer she doesn't mind so much, theres been a few times when she would have really like milk from me but i gave her a cuddle and offered the cup again and she was ok, it seems that if i distract her long enough she forgets...any body else seem to be talking themselves round and round in circles about why they are doing this and if its the right thing? am i denying her comfort/nutrition/quite times with mummy??? aaaarrrgh! why is it so confusing?

anyway....

I have always had plentiful milk, to the point of daily engorgement and noticable fullness if he misses a feed or nurses less.

i have the same and still have to wear breast pads all the same, even though its only been a week trying to wean off day time feeds it doesn't seem too bad, dd has a good feed (both sides) morning and night and that helps lots, i think i've been fuller by the morning and have leaks lots more at night but the days haven't been so bad, i've decided to hold off pumping unless it gets really bad, i don't think it will do now...red had some good advice re:shower - it always works for me!


webfoot - i totally agree with every you said! i could have almost written the exact same thing a few weeks ago!! (apart from the having other children bit!) re: odd feeding positions, having a 3 yr old still hanging off your boob, being able to whip it out in the middle of night/day and get a few minutes shut eye and put them back to sleep easily! its reassuring to know other babies are so similar and that the mummies aren't so different either!

bec
xxx

[MDHmommy]

My DS is 6.5 months old, and he and I have had a magnificent run at nursing. I've enjoyed it very much, and he enjoys it very much too. I'm struggling though with how long to nurse him. I know that it's the best thing for him, but part of me wants my body back all to myself! But, when I think about doing it ... gradually cutting out feedings, it makes me so sad that I can't bear it. 

Right now, I work 3 days/week. On those days, I nurse him in the AM and the eve. when I get home - then I give him a bottle of formula at bedtime. On the days I'm home with him, I nurse him 4x (he's on a 4-hour EASY schedule) and give him that last bottle of the night.

I've heard of people successfully dropping all but one feeding. Is this possible?

I've got girlfriends who have done different things...some have nursed into toddlerhood, others weaned at 6 months, and some never even nursed at all. I'm just not sure what to do. Any thoughts or encouragement would be appreciated.

[daisymelan]

Each person is different and what they desire to do and what they are able to do.  Some can keep up with one session a day, some cannot even keep up with two.  You will just have to work with what your body is able to accept.  It's a very personal thing whether to keep it up or not, I know everytime I attempted to wean, I changed my mind....  I think I was finally successful on my fourth attempt.

[sleepless nights]

Darbysmom - I think go with instincts - if you feel 4.30 really is habit then start with that. See what happens. The only problem might be it could be harder to get her back to sleep because she's already had most of a night's sleep.

I totally agree...your instincts will guide you...I started to wean Sam when he was 10 months and I let his actions and my instincts guide me.  The easiest feeds to drop where the afternoon because he had other things he was more interested in...then I kept dropping one feed every week - and he sort of led me...afternoon, late afternoon, late morning, now we are trying his night feeding (usually two) and then it will be the ear;y morining and then lastly the last one before bed...I think because that is how much interest he has in each of the feeds.  I have been giving him a cup and/ or sippy cup with first water (6months) then milk (the doctor recommended 2% and then I check with the breast feeding clinic's dietician - she agreed of Sam was eating lots of meat and other milk products with fats in them)...and occasionally juice...he is now pretty good at drinking from a cup and likes very much to hold it on his own...that was my experience...your child might be very different...and I may have a really hard time with the rest of my feedings being dropped but so far it has been easy...I plan to continue dropping every week but keeping the evening feed until he is ready...

My DS is 6.5 months old, and he and I have had a magnificent run at nursing. I've enjoyed it very much, and he enjoys it very much too. I'm struggling though with how long to nurse him. I know that it's the best thing for him, but part of me wants my body back all to myself! But, when I think about doing it ... gradually cutting out feedings, it makes me so sad that I can't bear it. 

Right now, I work 3 days/week. On those days, I nurse him in the AM and the eve. when I get home - then I give him a bottle of formula at bedtime. On the days I'm home with him, I nurse him 4x (he's on a 4-hour EASY schedule) and give him that last bottle of the night.

I've heard of people successfully dropping all but one feeding. Is this possible?

I've got girlfriends who have done different things...some have nursed into toddlerhood, others weaned at 6 months, and some never even nursed at all. I'm just not sure what to do. Any thoughts or encouragement would be appreciated.

I know my sister cut her baby down to one feeding with no problem at all...she had to go back to work early and I think did it at 6 months too...

[Mom to ZiTi]

Okay -- so here I go.

My DS will be 11 mos next week and we are currently doing 3 BF / day. One in the am when he wakes up ( 6am ) one before nap (1:30pm) and one after dinner/before bed ( 7pm ).   My problem is that DS is STARVING when he wakes up and wakes up crying most days lately because he isn't getting enough milk in my last feeding ( only 4 oz was able to be pumped last week). 

Over the Memorial holiday weekend my hubby and I tried to re-introduce a bottle of formula so he wouldn't wake hungry.  It worked fabulously the first day. . then DS was "on to us" and refused the bottle the next nights and I simply got him to take it like a DF after he slept -  He woke up pleasant and not starving and life was good.  However I did not continue with this because it seems "wrong". . .

Now, I don't know what to do. . . I have introduced the sippy cup with Whole Milk during the day and he takes sips (I was thankful to see others that say that he will "chug" one day! ) . . . in the meantime how do I get him "full" so he isn't waking up starving.

Do I offer more at meals. . add a snack before bedtime?!?!( He eats well - doesn't really refuse anything!)  I don't know what to do except feed him in his sleep the formula that he needs. . . I just really want my son to wake up pleasant and not starving in the morning. 

I just got my period back this week so I know that the slowing of the milk supply is the source of his frustration. 

Any advice appreciated!!!!
Dawn : )
Mom to Zachary Thomas 7/14/05

[Anthead]

Hi there
My LO is 8.5 months old, and I am struggling to get  her off the breast.  Although it's a hard decision, I have decided that I want to stop breastfeeding now, as my weight is just getting way too much now, and I need to go onto a strict diet, but cannot do so if I am still breastfeeding.  Also LO is waking up 2 - 3 times per night wanting to have a drink.  If I try to give her water or some milk from a bottle, she screams!  She will not settle down again until I have given her the breast.  Does anyone have any advice for me?  I am finding it extrmely hard to get her off the breast, and don't know what to do?  I do NOT want her crying and screaming like that.  Not prepared to just let her cry it out.... that is NOT an option.  PLEEEEZ HELP!!

[Beata]

I need to catch up on this thread, but here is the advice I have. 

Anthead  - First, let me say that dd is almost 13 months and I started weaning at 11 months, off the breast by 1 year successfully. I was fearful of my own emotions and I was convinced that Cate would NEVER give up the boob! But we did, and things are very good now...she was a bit sick last week, and I offered her the bob, and she did not even seem to know what to do! 

I would first suggest slowly cutting night feeds using pick up/put down, walk in/walk out, or whatever method you feel comfortable using. Maybe one feed every few nights. Anthead -  I think that this will take a little patience because your dd WILL cry, ONLY because it's a new way of doing things. If you are there with her in the room even though she is crying, she will not lose trust in you, I promise. I think it will take at least 3 nights for each feeding, and you can expect to be quite tired during this period. This will make things a bit more difficult to deal with, but if you are consistent with however you procede things will change.

Once you have gotten DD to not feed at night (even if she is still waking - maybe offer some water in place) then star with one daytime feed every week or so. Replace with formula or a snack (my doctor okay-ed whole milk at 11 months if we were weaning slowly). The upside of taking it slow is that you will probably adjust  physically quite well.

Please PM me with any questions. I know and have been exactly where you are (including wanting to start a strict diet, which unfortunately has not come to pass yet  So just be sure you are ready to follow through, no reason to stop if you cave because that is a lot of discomfort for nothing...IMHO!

Good luck  Beata