weaning my baby from breastfeeding

Clare - posted on 02/24/2010

Your baby will probably self wean when the time is right. As long as you are happy to continue, go with it - you're doing the best thing for your child. People joke but seriously, how many kids are still breastfeeding when they leave for university?? Good luck and enjoy your special time with your little girl x

Elizabeth - posted on 02/24/2010

I am really glad you are going to conitnue BFing. Mady's ped tried to tell me otherwise and I flat out told him no and gave him the right information he needed to be giving his patients. Sadly our doctors seem to lack alot of knowledge with bf. Wean when baby is ready, it is most important to wean when LO is ready.

Sarah - posted on 02/24/2010

rubbish!! if your daughter is not ready to finish then dont!! she will wean in her own time!! my aunt didnt finish bf til nearly 2 and half, the child weaned herself gradually when she became more interested in food!! LISTEN TO YOUR OWN INSTINCTS AND YOUR BABY!!!!! good luck and keep BFing if thats what you want

Chelsea - posted on 02/24/2010

Great choice to continue breastfeeding. Here is a link to give you an idea why continuing breastfeeding until at least 2 years is such a wonderful thing:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/eb...

Loni - posted on 02/24/2010

It was more her ped telling me i need to stop breastfeeding her...I'm still going to continue to nurse and offer her whole milk throughout the day. thanks!

April - posted on 02/24/2010

don't wean just because someone told you to

Michele - posted on 02/24/2010

I disagree with this. I nursed my youngest till she was nearly 2 1/2 yrs and I never had any problems. I left the decision with her and she basically self weaned. If your daughter is so unhappy is it worth it? I personally would leave weaning until she was ready. What you could do is only nurse her when she asks, don't offer and gradually she may start self weaning. The decision to wean your daughter is yours and hers and no-one elses.

Teresa - posted on 02/24/2010

Well all I can say is your under presure so take a step back and think.... how long do you want to bf for? are you comfortable and is your baby comfortable? That's just a couple of questions you should ask yourself. I'm still breastfeeding my daughter and she's 19mths. I'm just slowly weaning her I'm down to about 1-2 day feeds and 1 night feed unless she wakes up and the rest of the time she has formula.



My mother is the only person who is presuring me to stop and my fiance he's just like just do what you want cos she's happy bfing. My only ticking is I want to finish bfing before I'm due and that's in about 5mths

Emily - posted on 02/23/2010

Are you wanting to wean, or is your doctor just saying she *should* be weaned? Because you don't have to wean if you and your daughter aren't ready. It's actually healthier for her if you continue to nurse. As Hannah stated, the World Health Organization recommends nursing a minimum of 2 years. Research supports this.. babies nursed longer than a year are statistically healthier than those weaned earlier.



But regardless.. even if you are ready to wean, it sounds like only nursing once a day is not working for your daughter. Take your daughter's lead on this. Remember the doctor is not your daughter's parent.. you are. If it doesn't feel right to you, you don't have to do it. And I have to disagree with your friends and family.. I don't know of any teenagers still nursing ;) Babies stop nursing when they are ready to. If you wean them when they are ready, there is no "breaking" them of it. They just stop because they are ready. However if you wean before they're ready, you get emotional consequences, like what you're experiencing now.

Martha - posted on 02/23/2010

Do YOU want to wean her or are you just doing it because other people are telling you too??? As long as she is nursing 3-4 times a day she doesn't need whole milk at all. AND the only time weaning is hard is when it's forced before baby and/or mom are ready to stop. If you feel like you are ready to wean her and YOU are comfortable with it, then just do it gradually. kellymom.com has the best info on how to properly wean if you are truly ready to! Congrats on making it to a year :) Good luck! ♥

Kerri - posted on 02/23/2010

My daughter is just about 11 months old and I feed her at least 5 times a day. She eats cereal for breakfast, a yogurt mid day and 2 jars of food for dinner. She is taking alot longer to transition to finger foods and anything with texture than my other 2 and I am just taking it in stride. I don't feel like she should be rushed or forced into anything, so we are enjoying her babyhood. BTW, she wouldn't take a bottle or paci and is not at all interested in the sippy cup. Your daughter probably just misses you and the closeness of the breastfeeding experience. Don't wean her until she is ready.

Hannah - posted on 02/23/2010

WHO and AAP recommend breastfeeding until AT LEAST 2 years of age. Do what feels right for YOU and YOUR daughter. My daughter is 14 months old, and breastfeeds about 5 times or more during the day, and about 3-5 times at night still. She eats 3 meals a day and snacks, AND gets whole milk.



Again, do what you feel is right. You are her mother and YOU know what's best for your daughter.