How often should my 10month old be nursing

[Kim919]

How often should my 10 month old be nursing?

We don't nurse on demand, because I work full time and have sense DD was 5weeks old. Trust me, I know this isn't ideal, but I'm doing my very best as a semi-single parent.

I stopped pumping around 6 months, and sense then our feedings have been 7am, 12 noon, 6pm, 8pm, and 2-3 more times during the night.

DD is on the small side, but really healthy and active. She is a really good eater and loves all food. She has a sippy cup of water available most of the time at the sitter.

How terrible would it be for me to phase out the noon feeding? This is the last feeding that is really troublesome to my schedule. Once that one is gone I will continue the rest untill she is ready to wean.

Is this feeding schedule alot less then normal for a child this age? She doesn't drink much water (1-2oz a day at MOST, oftentimes none) and has plenty of wet diapers.

Thoughts and advice?

Thank You

[Down2Earth]

No advice. I just wanted to congratulate you on working full-time and still nursing! You do a noon feeding? Awesome! But I can totally see why cutting that one out would make your life a lot easier. Hope some wiser mamas than me chime in. (I'm useless since DD is 9 mo and during the day nurses every 1 1/2 hours and at night every 2-3 hours. )

[PatioGardener]

Are you going to be able to go from 7 am - 6 pm? Could you pump once during that time? I'd be really worried about mastitis.

[Kim919]

I have never had a a problem with engorgement or supply... I guess in that way I'm lucky. I'm really much more worried about her getting enough to eat.

I'm not going to pump, ever again in my life! I threw away that machine when she was six months old. Its much easier for me to go to the babysitter's house on my lunch break(5min away) then pump at work. I'm not going to have another baby unless I can stay home for the first 6-12 months. Its too hard.

The reason I'm even considering taking away the noon feeding is becuse I'm starting nursing school part time in September, which is probably crazy to try, but is going to be a really good thing for both of us in the long term. The difference between "getting by" comfortable and truely comfortable. I was thinking if I could use my lunch break for one solid uninterrupted hour of school work every day that would be a big help.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Kim919

I have never had a a problem with engorgement or supply... I guess in that way I'm lucky. I'm really much more worried about her getting enough to eat.

I'm not going to pump, ever again in my life!

I take back my suggestion I wasn't aware of the passion you have towards pumping - I can completely understand though. I feel very fortunate to be in Canada with 1 year mat. leave.

I'll let other Mamas give their thoughts on the nutrition aspect. I just wanted to wish you luck for nursing school

[Baby_Cakes]

I just wanted to chime in and say, wow, you are amazing for nursing this long and working FT!!
I think after your DD is a year, you could easily drop that feeding. She's 10 mos now, so maybe try it once or twice a week now and see how it goes. Lots of mamas stop pumping at work once their babies hit that 1 year mark, so I think dropping that one nursing mid-day would be like the same thing.
I would offer something else though, and since you don't pump (I loathe it too, mama and wish I didn't have to) you could offer another animal milk or a soy milk so that she's getting enough calories and fat.

[averlee]

you know, there is a big broad range of normal at that age. some babies are just having their first taste of solids around 1 year, while many babies are pretty much solids-only by 1 year. If your little one eats a good lunch, and is happy mid-day without nursing, it would probably be Ok.

[twins+1]

Way to go mom! You're awesome!

I think my twins were still taking some expressed breastmilk in morning and evening bottles by 11 months and then drinking goats milk as a supplement (they refused supplemental formula since they were only getting breastmilk. They hated the taste of formula - don't blame them at all). I stopped fully pumping at 11 months. Maybe she would be able to take some goats milk as supplement soon??