weaning baby... she seems to be doing it herself!

Caty - posted on 02/28/2009

alot of babies go through nursing strkes when they start wanting to really explore the world around them, cutting back on solids might be a good thing considering their main source of nutrients should be breast milk or formula at this age, you can try drinking 3 cups of mothers milk tea a day along with pumping and taking fungreek will get your suplly back up, i wouldn't give up just yet, unless of cource your ready too, it may seam like they don't eat anything, but when your baby is hungry she will eat

Linda - posted on 02/27/2009

Hey there,

My little girl just turned seven months on the 24th and she is doing the same thing. I really have to work to get her to nurse well on both sides and feel like ALL I'm doing is getting her to eat. I cut back on solids doing just cereal after nursing her two times a day, but she doesn't eat much. My pediatrician said her primary source of food should be my milk anyway and the baby food is just practice. I have been pumping four times a day to try to keep my supply up but I have notice a decrease as well. Mine won't take a bottle though so I'm hoping she eventually outgrows it once crawling isn't as interesting to her as it is now. Try pumping after feedings to keep it up.. Good luck. It sounds like this is pretty typcial at this month.

Jessie - posted on 02/27/2009

My son is doing the same thing there is just too much going on to sit there and nurse.  My problem is i cant get enough milk pumped for him to drink a bottle and i have also started working again only part time. I had some stored in the freezer for a while that took me a long time to get and its almost gone.  I keep trying to pump but cant seem to keep up.  The problem is he refuses to take formula.  Regular formula he throws up and the sensitive kind he wont drink.  I've tried mixing it with breast milk and it doesnt seem to matter.  What now? How do i get my little one to drink more?

Lise - posted on 02/27/2009

My daughter started to day wean when she started crawling (about a month ago). She still nurses at night (and has all along, about 3 - 4 times a night) but stopped wanting to sit still that long during the day. Even feeding her solids is a challenge - we use the Exersaucer and shove food at her as she spins around. However, I really want breastmilk to remain her primary source of nutrition through the first year so I've been struggling with this.

According to my doctor, solids are mostly about the experience and not the nutrition at this point, because she gets everything she needs (and lots of other goodies) from the breastmilk. So, I'm cutting back on the solids at breakfast and dinner. A full meal at this age should be between 4 - 7 Tbs so I am keeping those two meals around 4 - 5 T and then dinner is 7T (not that that cuts down on the night nursing at all).

I am also trying to pump after every abandoned nursing session to try to keep my milk up. Then, I am giving that milk to her in a sippy cup along with her meals, and encouraging her to drink up!

So far, I've managed to stay away from formula by increasing my pumping sessions, although my supply does seem to be down a bit.

Annilissa - posted on 02/26/2009

My daughter did the same thing. I think it was harder on me than it was for her. I only wanted to nurse her for a few months, then when she did so well, I kept postponing weaning, I guess she made my mind up for me. Still a lil sad...

Megyn - posted on 02/26/2009

If they only do it a few days, it's called a nursing strike. However, my son has been doing it for about a month, so I know it's not that.

Samm - posted on 02/26/2009

My son did this for a few weeks and i thought about weaning him, until my friend told me she read somewhere that alot of babies go through a period where they nurse lessaround 7 months.  I decided to wait it out and sure enough, a few days later he was back to eating for his regular time.  All babies are different though and you can always supplement with formula until you feel like he would nurse for a longer period.  Good luck!

Ldoo - posted on 02/26/2009

In a way it's easier when the weaning is led by the baby rather than us having to make the hard decision ourselves, don't you think?

Megyn - posted on 02/25/2009

My son is doing the EXACT same thing, and it's so disheartening. I was planning to nurse either until he walks (most likely around 9 months) or at a year. However, he has his own agenda and could care less about nursing. I try and get him to nurse before bed and once he wakes up, but he's now becoming less and less interested in that!

Ldoo - posted on 02/25/2009

OK. That helps a lot. Thanks!

Kylie - posted on 02/25/2009

hey- nah I definately wouldnt be freakng out (unless your baby isn't putting on weight) As they eat more they will drink less.  If your baby is wanting the solid food then that is a good sign! :-)

I usually give my boy  water during and/or after he is eating solids, and when it is very hot...

Ldoo - posted on 02/25/2009

OK, so I should stop freaking out that my 7 month old is drinking less and less? These days we're lucky if she gets 24 oz. I've been holding off giving her as much food because I want to encourage all her hunger to go toward bottles. But sounds like I should give her three meals a day and give her as much formula as possible.

I haven't been giving her water. How much do you guys give your babies?

Kylie - posted on 02/25/2009

Quoting Lainie:

My little one started that a few months ago, unfortunately. Now I'm down to just nursing in the morning. But even that isn't for very long before she gets fussy. Then I give her formula.

It's sad, I totally agree. But they are just so full of life that it kills them to sit still. :) That's why I'm having problems feeding her formula, too! Ahh!

Is it really true that they need less formula/milk once they're on solids? I thought that was only when they're 1 year or older.

Hey there - well apparently (according to my child health nurse) when I took my boy for his 6 month check up, at 6 months your baby "should be" not needing any feeds during the night therefore sleeping through, (this would cut your milk supply) having 2-3 feeds of solids a day and about 700 mls of day.(3-4 bottles) my boy eats a lot more than he drinks now and because of that he is more full not needing as much milk. My first son at 12 months was only having a bottle before bed at night and a cup of milk with breakfast... Every baby is different though... :-)

Ldoo - posted on 02/25/2009

My little one started that a few months ago, unfortunately. Now I'm down to just nursing in the morning. But even that isn't for very long before she gets fussy. Then I give her formula.

It's sad, I totally agree. But they are just so full of life that it kills them to sit still. :) That's why I'm having problems feeding her formula, too! Ahh!

Is it really true that they need less formula/milk once they're on solids? I thought that was only when they're 1 year or older.

Kylie - posted on 02/25/2009

Hey I just stopped feeding my boy about 2 weeks ago. He did pretty much the same thing as what your girl did. Ive found now that he is on formula he has gotten into more of a routine with feeds and nap times, and is finally sleeping longer at night!! I am happy because I know that he got 7 months of "my milk" still a bit sad for me though....

Is she on solids? Keep in mind that if she is on solids she will not need as much milk. Also If you want to continue breast feeding you could always pump to keep your supply up...