My 14 month old weaning

[pedi08]

Wow, I thought my son may be weaning but after connecting on this board, I have no clue what is going on. I work full time, I was pumping until 11 months then I stopped. I was home full time and he went from nursing about 5-6 times a day (2 being pumped milk in a sippy) to about 9-10 times, it increased when I was home and over the summer he weaned himself to morning and night nursing and he is 13 months. He has had this pattern now for about 2 months. He has 3 solid meals a day and several snacks. He sips here and there water throughout the day but never finsihes a 6oz bottle.
What is he doing if not weaning???? And how many times a day should a 14 month old be nursing?

[ssh]

My 3.5 DD has had several periods where she just nursed to sleep and then when waking. Then she'd nurse more often for awhile. At 14 months I'd probably offer other times during the day. Your DS could just be really busy right now and nursing isn't as interesting as the other things he's doing. As long as he's still nursing and you're still offering, I wouldn't worry.

My older DD, 23 years old, only nursed to sleep and then on waking from age 12 months till she weaned herself at 3.5 unless she was ill.

[alegna]

Many babies can be easily weaned at that age, but they don't truly self wean that early. At least 50 % of nutrition should be from breastmilk at that age.

I would not do any bottles when you are with him and offer and encourage nursing at least every couple of hours during the day and cosleep and offer through the night.

good luck!

-Angela

[TiredX2]

I agree with Alegna in that I would definately eliminate all bottles. They *are* a method of weaning (replacing breastfeeding with alternatives). I would also encourage you to offer nursing several times during the day (if you are not already). Many children go through a lower need stage around 10-15 months, so that just be what you are seeing, but if you want to continue nursing I would take steps to encourage it (don't offer, don't refuse is defintely a weaning technique at that young (and distractable, lol) of age so I would consider offering every couple hours when you are around him and just letting him know that he can nurse more often.

And, yes, he is weaning. Once that take that first sip of something other than bmilk or that first bite of food the path to weaning has begun. But weaning can be hastened along by mom over a matter of days, weeks, months or allowed to slowly come about over a matter of months or years. DD & DS were both in the process of weaning for years before they were actually done nursing.

[pedi08]

He's 14 months soon. I didn't realize he should have been nursing so much more, I feel bad that I thought it was normal. Live and learn. He was off bottles it was a sippy and he had to have it that way because I was at work! I meant he never finishes his 6oz siggy bottle (of water)... Anyway, I have a lot of questions for the specialists I am seeing. I see myself going down a path of trying many formulas. I go back to work full time and don't want to pump anymore so I understand I'll need to replace what he needs with formula (since he cant have milk/soy).

Thanks for the replies tho. I do realize now that I am the one forcing his weaning by not offering throughout the day, so I'll have to learn more about formulas etc. since I can't offer and choose to give up pumping. I was getting 2 oz per day TOTAL pumping 3 x at work, it was annoying pumping at work. I feel guilty but have to move past this and try and accept formula is our next step.

[turtlewomyn]

I am also a WOHM and I quit pumping around the time DD was 11 months. At that time I sent organic whole cows milk (obviously, you would do the formula if he can't do soy/milk and you don't want to pump) to daycare and continued to nurse whenever she was with me. At some point (I don't remember when, maybe 18 months) she cut down to just morning, after daycare, and at bedtime. She did that until she was three and then I did gentle MLW (I realize this is the CLW forum, but I like to give encouragement to moms who have to WOH).
When you are with him keep offering, you can continue to have a nursing relationship, even while WOH.

[mmeoiseau]

This is a helpful discussion, thanks. I've just returned to work full time and have found that my almost 14 mo old DD is reducing her nursing substantially. We send her to daycare with organic cows milk, and she nurses upon waking, before bed, and usually when I come home. But previously (when I was at home) she asked to nurse (she signs for it and says a word for it) every 2 - 3 hours. We cosleep and she's still nursing that much for maybe 6 hours of the night (so 2 or 3 times she nurses at night). I guess I'm struggling with whether I should be pumping every 2 -3 hours while at work and at home, or if I should just let my body follow her demand. Any advice on that? If I don't pump, is my supply just going to go to nothing? Is this sort of a child-led weaning situation going on within the context of my return to work, and I should just follow her lead (i.e., just nurse when she asks to nurse)? Thanks.

[annettemarie]

I'm going to move this to Breatsfeeding Beyond Infancy since it's not, strictly speaking, a child-led weaning issue.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by mmeoiseau

This is a helpful discussion, thanks. I've just returned to work full time and have found that my almost 14 mo old DD is reducing her nursing substantially. We send her to daycare with organic cows milk, and she nurses upon waking, before bed, and usually when I come home. But previously (when I was at home) she asked to nurse (she signs for it and says a word for it) every 2 - 3 hours. We cosleep and she's still nursing that much for maybe 6 hours of the night (so 2 or 3 times she nurses at night). I guess I'm struggling with whether I should be pumping every 2 -3 hours while at work and at home, or if I should just let my body follow her demand. Any advice on that? If I don't pump, is my supply just going to go to nothing? Is this sort of a child-led weaning situation going on within the context of my return to work, and I should just follow her lead (i.e., just nurse when she asks to nurse)? Thanks.

Pumping is a decision you will have to make- whatever feels best to you. At just over a year though I would offer nursing a LOT while together. Don't offer, don't refuse is a weaning technique.

-Angela

[foreverinbluejeans]

Your baby won't need formula or pumped milk while you are at work. Babies that are 9 or 10 mo can eat solids while their moms are at work and breastfeed when they are with their moms. That way they don't need formula or pumped milk.

Toddlers don't need to drink cow's milk (organic or not) even if they are no longer breastfed. Cow's milk is for baby cows. It causes constipation, digestive problems, obesity, other health problems and it is bad for the environment. Toddlers need to drink just water.