Seeking Reassurance About Natural Weaning

[not_telling]

So, DS is 13.5 months and it's seeming like we're in the midst of a "natural weaning." At 12 months he was still nursing 6-8 times a day (i.e. in a 24 hour period). Now he's down to 4 or 5 times most days, but sometimes only 3 times. My plan has been to nurse until at least 2 years if that's what he wants. I find myself feeling (mentally) uncomfortable and dismayed at how much his nursing has decreased already. He does eat solids, but he's not like other babies I know who looooove their solids and eat tons. He's only nursing one time overnight. He'll usually nurse sometime after waking for the day, again before first nap, again before second nap and again at bedtime. But, sometimes he won't nurse at one of those times. Sometimes he makes the sign for "milkies" but then doesn't latch on "full force" and just sucks lightly and then just sits there with the nipple in his mouth for a long time, sucks lightly some more...I find this particularly irritating (it drives me nuts from a physical standpoint).

I guess I'm worried that:
a) he's not eating enough solids to be getting the nutrition he needs with so few milkies a day.
b) he might finish weaning way short of 2 years.

Will a baby/toddler this age go for months with just a few nursings a day? Or will it keep decreasing each month?

[Dahlea]

I am going to guess it's a nursing strike, not weaning. Kellymom has great info about it.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by Dahlea

I am going to guess it's a nursing strike, not weaning. Kellymom has great info about it.

:

That doesn't sound like "normal weaning" to me. Especially if he is not eating a lot of solids. Could he be getting some molars in that make it uncomfortable to nurse?

[alegna]

It's important to remember (and easy to forget in our culture) that toddlers need to be reminded to nurse as much as some newborns do.

Don't offer, don't refuse is a weaning strategy.

Offer often. In new places and old.

-Angela

[not_telling]

I thought a "nursing strike" is just stopping cold turkey, no? Hmmm...

Well, I guess I should say that while I don't consider him a voracious solids eater (compared to some baby friends), he does have days where he seems to pack it away more. He also, in the past month or so, has figured out how his training cup works and he looooooves to walk around and play with it and take swigs of water. I've put out an empty one so he can play without dripping water everywhere. Could drinking water (which only happens 2-3 times a day, usually with or after solids) cause nursing to decrease?

We are wondering about teeth. He has the first 8, but we're suspecting maybe those first molars are working there way in. Sometimes he cries while eating solids, but doesn't seem to want to stop eating. He doesn't cry while trying to nurse...he just sometimes seems like, "hmmm, a said "milkies", mama gave me her boob, but....eh. I don't really feel like it anymore." I am asking him throughout the day if he wants milkies, but I will keep trying in new ways, I suppose. Thanks!

[LadyCatherine185]

I dont know if this will help you or not, but for my DS we usually have to be in a dark, quiet room for him to nurse. He gets too distracted otherwise. Hope you guys work things out soon!

[TinyMama]

I would *definitely* take the walk-around-with-all-day sippy cup away. I had to work hard to keep DD nursing a few times before age 2, and IME an open cup of water AT THE TABLE is best. Save the sippy for car rides, or somewhere where you don't want spills.

Good luck! My DD is still happily nursing 2x a day, but it isn't easy with a toddler who just isn't that interested.