How to discourage early weaning?

[Babydoll1285]

My dd is 14.5 mo and has very little interest in nursing. I can only count on one consistent session first thing in the morning. I'm all for her choosing when to wean but surely this cant be it! She's so young! I offer several times a day to nurse (she always refuses) and never refuse when she asks. Even if she does ask, she won't actually nurse - it's just a two second comfort nurse and then she's off and running.

I've been battling a low supply since she was 4 months old. Her nursing is so infrequent now I can't keep up! My milk is practically nonexistent, even for our early morning session. I'm taking lactate support and a calcium magnesium supplement. It's not helping anymore. Should I just accept this choice? Or is there more I can do to continue our nursing relationship?

[mambera]

Is it possible her interest is low bc there is not much milk there?

You could try pumping a few times a day to bring back your supply? Maybe she will show more interest if she gets more milk?

[liberal_chick]

I'll be watching this thread as I can see this being us in a few months. Ds is 10.5 months old and only nursing 4-5 times in a 24 hour period and many of those times are a struggle.

[PatioGardener]

Keep offering, and perhaps try to set some 'calm time' during the day when another nursing session or two could slip in... before naps or bed time? in the evening in a dark room with some special songs or a story while you nurse?

Before 2 yrs old I like to think of nursing the same way as wholesome nutritional food. If baby declines vegetables consistently, we still offer, and try to set up a siuation where veggies would be eaten. Same with nursing - keep offering, try new settings, and hope that with encouragement baby will nurse! Good luck!

[NJKim]

Lots of time at that age, they really need a dark, quiet place to nurse so they aren't distracted. She's probably so interested in playing and looking at things that she forgets to nurse or doesn't want to be bothered, but if you can just take her away from the distractions for a little while, maybe she would nurse?