Afraid to stop nursing...

[AnnaReilly]

DD is only 9 months old so I don't plan on weaning any time soon, but already the thought of weaning scares me for this reason: How will I know she's getting enough nutrition?

We started solids at 6 months but still pretty much only dabble in them... I don't buy or make baby food, I just give her bits of whatever I eat (minus shellfish, nuts, dairy or anything nasty that I shouldn't be eating anyway like deep fried items). I just don't worry about how much she's eaten of solid food on a given day or if she's eaten any at all because she still nurses A LOT so I know she's getting everything she needs from it. So, I am already getting scared to wean! Isn't that silly? I know it will happen in baby steps, as we are both ready, but it's just so hard to imagine not nursing anymore.

It's so funny to me when people ask how I know she's getting enough since she's nursing, but I wonder how I would know she was getting enough if she wasn't!

And on another vein: It's so hard for me to get my mind around the fact that most women in the US who breastfeed weaned 3 months ago (from my standpoint) and that hardly ANYONE nurses past a year. To have our breastfeeding relationship end in 3 months would break my heart. So I am definitely headed towards the EN train.

[Elphaba]

actually, only 25% of babies in the US are getting ANY breastmilk at 6 months, so that means all the rest of those babies were weaned even earlier, like 3-4 months!

i know what you mean about begin scared to wean because then you lose your nutritional insurance policy. i feel the same way. especially because shosh wants nothing to do with meat or cheese, and seems to be a strict fruitarian!

all aboard the toddler nursing train! it's so awesome.

[Piglet68]

I feel the same way. Having to worry about whether DD's meals are "nutritionally balanced", whether she's getting enough fruits or veggies. protein etc...well, it's just not something I'm looking forward to dealing with. It feels like a huge responsibility. With BFing, I never worry about it b/c I know she's getting everything she needs.

I also TA with you about weaning. I can't get over how some women are just "done" at 6 months (or less!). Six months went by in the blink of an eye. Gawd, was it so much to ask?? I, too, am looking forward to nursing a toddler. I will mourn weaning my last when that happens.

[mama_kass]

I too look forward to what is called "extended breastfeeding". The WHO says babies should be bf for atleast two years and APA says atleast one year. It really is very sad to me that so many babes are forced to wean early. As for the solids, my ds is 7 months and I feed him according to his cues. When babies need more solids they are not shy to ask! I'm sure the needs of solids in babes is just as individual as each babe himself.

For those of you concearned about proper nuitrition, I have learned a lot of helpful tips from the book Super Baby Food. It is also a good course in nutrition and an interesting read.

[eilonwy]

I'm worrying about this too. I was actually *terrified* to start ds on solids in the first place and held him off for as long as I could (until a two weeks shy of 6 months). Mostly I'm worried that ds will not want to nurse until he's two (my goal). I will still pump milk for him, though; we have a a family history of food allergies, and I don't want him having cow's milk until he's at least two years old.

[Beth-TX]

I worried about that too but there's really no sense in stressing out about it. The great thing about breastfeeding is that babies have control over how much they eat and know to stop when they're full. Breastfed (or formerly breastfed) toddlers learn from this and are pretty good at regulating what they eat and over the course of a week or so end up eating a pretty balanced diet (even if its all tomatoes one day, and nothing but toast the next).

My advice would be to keep nursing as long as you want to and delay solids if you're baby is not really ready. My dd didn't really start solids until she could eat finger foods on her own--about 9 mo. It's a good idea to avoid spoon feeding if you can--this is a passive way of eating, like bottle feeding. Self feeding is active--the baby eats what she needs then stops on her own when she's had enough.

Just my $.02. Take it or leave it.

peace, Beth

[TiredX2]

That was such a stress for me with DD when I was pg with DS. Before that, I always *knew* she would be fine because she got so much momma milk, but when my supply dropped I became so anal about her eating. I really had to back off. Its nice, because now even though she is weaned (for 2 months now!) I am so used to trusting her, and she is so used to trusting herself, that we just don't have food issues. DS, at 20 months, still gets 75-90+% of calories from bmilk, so it is so easy to just let him explore at his own rate... I *Know* he is getting what he needs.

Congrats on making it this far and good luck!

Kay