How long does a baby *need* milk for?

[Juniperberry]

Hi everyone,

I breastfed my first son for 2 years... he loved BF, and so do I. After he had stopped he just went on to drink regular milk, water etc...

My second son (now 11 months) is the total oppisite to my first with regards to BF. He was BF exclusively for 6 months and then he's been eating lots of solids because he just loves food.. he would almost be throwing himself in to food, even by 4 months... I'm a believer of following what your little one wants, and not pushing anything. My first didn't really 'eat' anything till 10/11 months becuase he just wasn't interested. But my second just isn't interested in BF at all. The feed he goes for the most is int he morning, but even then he drinks quickly and then is off to do something else. He's never really suckled for the sake of suckling, again, totally unlike my first.

so here's the thing... He has maybe 2 feeds a day, sometimes 3, I know my milk level is very low because of this, and I know that if I follow his rkhythm he'll soon have weaned himself. Is this OK though?

I am quite against formula for my own reasons, so I would rather not ahve to give him that. is it ok to stop BF soon and then just move on to only water and a bit of milk every now and then? or does he still need milk as a big part f his diet?

thank you for any help you can give me!!!

[LadyCatherine185]

I think most health organizations recommend babies have some kind of milk making up a large part of their diets for 2 years. I would work on getting a few good nursing sessions in each day if you want to keep up BF'ing. If not, then you will probably want to offer some other sort of milk regularly. WHO recommends BF'ing for at least 2 years.

[kriket]

I think if I was in your position I would maybe try to pump a little (I know, I hate pumping too) or instate a "boobs before food" rule. I would have him at least try to nurse before offering table food.

All babies are different like you said, maybe he's done. It's not like you are replacing nursing with cow milk or formula, he just isn't interested.

[hotharmony]

The AAP recommends breast milk or formula make up a large part of his calorie intake for the first year. So if he's not into it it would be ok for him to self wean at this point.

Although the WHO recommends 2 years.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by hotharmony

The AAP recommends breast milk or formula make up a large part of his calorie intake for the first year. So if he's not into it it would be ok for him to self wean at this point.

Although the WHO recommends 2 years.

Just wanted to point out that AAP rec's that if not BF'ing in the second year that cow's milk be introduced as a good part of the diet. So, still some milk if not BF or formula.

[isabchi]

My DS past for that stage too. Oh!! He loves solids, I was scare of early weaning. I cut a little bit the amount of solids that we offer to him. We even take turns to eat and cleaned up fast after we done eating. Now He's 14 mo., I'm not worry anymore, He's back on truck to nursing, not as his sister at that age, but He's nursing more.
Take care..

[Juniperberry]

Many thanks to you all for your answers. I'm going to continue to offer it to him, I guess that even if it only comes down to one nursing aday, that's still better than nothing. I'm glad to know though that it wouldn't really hurt him if he stopped soon. I'd always just assumed he'd BF like my first lol.. they're each so different!