weaning question

Chantelle - posted on 01/01/2011

i plan on bf until my daughter is one but i started her on cows milk now so the transition will be easier for her. i give her 3.25% milk because that's what we drink as well and the fat content is higher in it. she also eats at least 3 times a day for solids. bf as long as possible is very good for them.

Lisa - posted on 11/22/2010

My little guy is 14 months and we're still BF - not nearly as often (cause he's on solids like CRAZY), but we're still at it. Both Canadian and American Pediatric Societies, plus the WHO recommend at least one year - even beyond. Do what feels best, but try to keep it up if you can and if it's working for you.

Lisa - posted on 11/21/2010

whole cows milk has more sodium than a baby can handle, I'd suggest using formula instead if you are going to wean. The WHO suggests breastfeeding for more than two years. I suggest going as long as you both want to. I personally love nursing my babies and I have breast fed each for two years.It gives your child the best start in life.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/21/2010

Two years is the minimum recommendation for the health of the child.

Aafp, says a child is at increased risk of illness if weaned before two years.

Teri - posted on 11/21/2010

If you're looking for a logical end date, I would suggest bf-ing til she is 12 mos old (when she no longer needs formula either). It will be easiest to wean then as yoru milk supply naturally wanes as your baby increases the amount of solid food she eats.

many people bf for longer periods of time and that's great too. I have heard that 18 months is a key milestone as past that point a baby is definitely using bf as a comforting tool instead of as sustenance) but other than that you can bf as long as you want.

A year is what is recommended though.

Amy - posted on 11/20/2010

I disagree with Megan McKillop. If you read the book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from La Leche League, it's extremely encouraging to BF past a year because of all the science and experts that back it up. But if you don't enjoy it, or if being employed makes it difficult, or whatever reason you want to wean before your baby self-weans, it's all right, and that book gives advice on the best ways to do it. I've got it checked out from the library, but this book is an excellent resource, and I will probably buy it.

Megan - posted on 11/20/2010

It's your choice when you wish to stop breastfeeding, don't let anyone try to tell you that you 'should keep going'. My first born went on cows milk at 12 months, and my second is EBF, but he is only 10 weeks old. Good luck!

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/20/2010

Cows milk isn't really that good for humans anyways, and so I don't give my son cows milk to drink.
You *can* wean at any age but if you would like to give her the optimal age of breastfeeding health wise, it's two years minimum.
More is always better for the child, so as long as you are willing to go will be a blessing for her health.
The older she gets the easier it is to encourage her to wean, but if you really want her to develope naturally you can allow her to self wean when she is ready.
That's my plan, I couldn't live with the guilt of making my son stop before he grows out of it. I think it's his right to have my milk, it's what he needs, so I couldn't make him stop before he is grown out of the need.

Amy - posted on 11/20/2010

Along with what everyone else is saying about going to at least one year, several organizations, including La Leche League, recommend BFing for at least TWO years because babies are physiologically ready to self-wean at 2.5-7 years of age.

Sharon - posted on 11/20/2010

You can give whole milk once she gets to 12 months but you can continue to breastfeed for as long as you are both happy. My daughter is 18 months and still happily breastfeeding. She will usually only have cows milk on her cereals.

Jamie - posted on 11/19/2010

hi, i have a 12 month old girl i bf her the hole 12 months, 2weeks after she turned 1 in stoped cold turkey! she only cryed for 1.5hr then she was fine with it. she took to hole mike right away i started letting her drink some at 10months to get use to it from a sippy cup, and this is commeing from a baby that never took a bottle or formula! she was a booby baby!! i hope this helps! good luck:)

Ashley - posted on 11/17/2010

thanks ladies!

Celeste - posted on 11/17/2010

I would nurse at least to 1. You can switch to whole milk then, as well.

Though, it's ok to continue to nurse after 1 if you're OK with it. Benefits will still continue as long as she is nursing. And, at that time, if she's nursing at least 3 x's a day, you don't even have to give her cow's milk.

Tabitha - posted on 11/16/2010

I switched both my girls to whole milk at one and they were fine. I started introducing it around 11 1/2 months just to show them that milk could come from somewhere besides mama! I quit nursing at 12 months with both, because we wanted more kids. I'm pregnant with our third and final kiddo now, so I'm happy with that. I think if you're happy breastfeeding beyond a year, more power to you. As long as it works for both of you, it's great! Best of luck!

Katie - posted on 11/16/2010

My daughter's also 7 months. How long you breastfeed her is up to you and her. I plan on letting my daughter self wean. They say that you can switch a baby to cow's milk when they're 1. I plan on introducing my daughter to cow's milk when she's 1, but mainly so I know if she allergic to it. So if she's ever anywhere else, and they give her cow's milk, I know if she allergic or not. However for the most part I'll be still breastfeeding her. There are many benefits to baby as well as mom to breastfeed for 2 years, but that's really up to you. However, a baby should definately be breastfed for 1 year if you didn't want to go the 2 years.