No thanks mum...

[lukaelmo]

The dude, who has never been the most enthusiastic BFer, refused pretty much every milk feed today...

He won't drink cow's milk from his sippy cup, he will drink water though, and has never learnt to take a bottle. Which now leaves me the problem of what to do... He is only 11 months old - isn't he supposed to have some kind of milk until about 2?

This is not a question of supply either, despite his lack of interest, I have always had plenty of milk.

Should I just not worry and give him lots of cheese and yogurt? And what about my milk? Just let it dry up?

[misskittyfantastico]

Will he take EBM from his sippy cup?

[Manxie]

Hi Lukaelmo!

I think we chatted in my thread about my DD self weaning, so I may be repeating mysef. Anyway first off :hugs: .

My sister stopped b/f her boys at 11months and they wouldnt touch cows milk. From what she tells me and from what Goosie replied to my thread as long as they are getting enough calcium from other sources and drinking plenty of water they dont need to go onto cows milk or any formula.

You may recall that I thought that DD was self weaning - well she wasnt, we are still b/feeding. I dont know what was going on - I had a day of her biting and not touching the milk and then the next day she was back to normal. So maybe if you want to continue try again as usual tomorrow.

If you are happy to stop the b.f you may need to express a bit each time you would normally feed and just try and gradually reduce your supply. Good luck:D

[Tam-I-Am]

Express feeds if he refuses them to preserve your milk supply.

Sometimes babies just aren't hungry on some days - a bit like adults really! I find there are days still when Claire (who's nearly 12 months) wants 5-6 feeds, and others when she wants 2 or less. Don't stress for the moment - take it as it comes....

Could you be pregnant - some babies go off milk for a bit when their mums fall pregnant with #2. Just a thought. Alternatives - could you have early mastitis (unlikely at this late stage, I know!). Are you getting your period - same as pg, babies sometimes go off milk for a couple of days around when your period is due etc.

I'd keep offering him feeds. Don't stress if he refuses. Offer him water in a cup, and normal solid feeds. In a week or two if he's still refusing all breastfeeds, it might be safe to assume he's self-weaned and introduce cow's milk in a cup.

Good luck - I hope it works out for you!

[Manxie]

Are you getting your period - same as pg, babies sometimes go off milk for a couple of days around when your period is due etc.
- Clarabelle you've just solved my mystery thank you:smiliedance:

[aardvark]

Keep on offering. He might change his mind.

[lukaelmo]

Thanks everyone, it is very reassuring to hear your replies.

Misskitty, I must admit I haven't tired EBM from a sippy cup, I never really got the hang of expressing and as slack as it sounds, it peeves me to go to all that trouble of expressing when the dude is a little slurping machine and could do it a lot more efficiently if he had the inclination. I will save that one for the bad mother's club :laughing: .

Manxie you are right, we did talk about this, I like to stress for a while and then ask again :laughing: . I am glad to hear DD is still BFing. I am perhaps jumping the gun a bit in saying the dude is stopping - tomorrow is another day.

Clarabelle it hadn't occured to me that the dude might not be hungry, thanks for that.

And Aardvark, I will keep on trying :yes: .

I think that trying to feed a disinterested, squiggily baby is one of the most frustrating tasks out there :o .

[Tam-I-Am]

I think that trying to feed a disinterested, squiggily baby is one of the most frustrating tasks out there :o .

Yup! I will agree with you 100% on this score!:laughing:

[Goosie22]

It could be just a little break, as the wheather isnt so hot. Some people call the break a " Nursing strikes or breast refusal " (http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/refusal.html) and suggest giving heaps opportunities to feed throughout the day (without pressure) lots of skin to skin and cuddles maybe snuggle up in bed, something that will intice.

My second son went on a few breaks untill he finally stoped about 15 mnths and switched to cups (he has nursed since then but nothing to regular or for any length of time) pumping is good like someone previously said just to keep some interest there. But if you're happy to finish and he is happy to finish, a good diet (tuna,salmon with bones, yoghurt and cheese) and plenty of water is going to keep him slim trim and terrific;) .

[veve]

But if you happy to finish and he is happy to finish a good diet (tuna,salmon with bones, yoghurt and cheese) and plenty of water is going to keep him slim trim and terrific;) .

I'd just like to change that quote to ...

But if you happy to finish and he is happy to finish a good diet (tuna,salmon with bones, yoghurt and cheese) and plenty of water is going to keep him fat... on plan with development ... spunky and terrific (sorry goosie... but Luka has already master the art of being slim :D )

hon - if you need a pump.. I have one I can lend you - they are easy to sterilise.. and at least that way you will find out if you like it or not .. without spending 100 dollars for a pump...

How has Luka gone now?? has his disinterest continued?? or was it more of a 'just for today' thing???

xx

[Goosie22]

(sorry goosie... but Luka has already master the art of being slim :D )

Good to hear (hes slim), and happy to have my words modified by you. Although not to keen on the FAT bit or maybe you ment Phat:cool: .

[Manxie]

...I like to stress for a while and then ask again:laughing: Like your style. Glad you have asked the question again though because next time I'm stressing about it I'll know the answer!!

How things going today? These independent bubbas sure are hardwork sometime!

[lukaelmo]

Ah yes, my FAT baby :laughing:...not :o

Thanks for the diet tips Goosie...

Well this morning at the cheery hour of 5.30am I think I reattached the dude about 6 or 7 times... he is just much more interested in anything and everything around him. I do feed him in a quiet environment, but even then he wants to look at the light/curtain/pillow etc...

His nappy was only a little wet, so lots of stress there - right up my alley Manxie:D .

However at about 7am when I changed his nappy, it was really, really wet. And that liquid had to have come from his 5.30 feed. So I guess it's possible that he is getting his milk really quickly and I am frustrating him by trying to encourage him to take more. I can usually tell how much he's had by feeling my breasts, but sometimes they seem as though they are still half full...

Just how quickly can an 11 month old down a good tummyful of milk?

[misskittyfantastico]

Amelia has been going through some anti-BF behaviour and she pulls off really quickly....I guess maybe they do get what they need in a really short time.

[Kooy]

I think that trying to feed a disinterested, squiggily baby is one of the most frustrating tasks out there :o .

YESSS!! A few weeks ago my 9 month old decided he didn't want to be b/fed anymore... so I gave him formula via cup and it would take him almost an hour to get through half!! V frustrating!!! :banghead: He would sip then play then sip then play!! arghhhh. Same thing if I tried to b/feed him. off on off on off on.

After deciding to keep the morning feed (I love snuggling in bed with the bubba for this feed! ;) ) and feed him formula all other feeds, I changed my mind and I decided that I wanted to keep b/feeding if possible, so started to offer it to him when I knew he'd be hungry and one day he just took to it again and now I'm back to exclusive b/feeding him. My supply is back to normal now and I just need to take him into a quiet dimly lit room so that he is relaxed.

Good luck.

[Tam-I-Am]

Just how quickly can an 11 month old down a good tummyful of milk?

In as little as 2 minutes per side - I've had friends and cousins who's nearly 12-month-old bubbas are hoovers and suck that fast.

If his nappy was really wet - you have nothing to stress about!

Also, I'd try and play it a bit casual for a while - if he pulls off, re-offer, if he doesn't take it, no stress. Try again in an hour or two - the more stressed you get about it the more he'll pick up on that and the less he'll want to drink! Catch 22 I know.....

Good luck!

[lukaelmo]

In as little as 2 minutes per side - I've had friends and cousins who's nearly 12-month-old bubbas are hoovers and suck that fast.



Really? That is great. Perhaps Luka is getting a lot more than I though after all... but what on earth am I going to worry about now :laughing: ?

[rynosmum]

Fabulous outcome Ali !

Maybe you could just cuddle him and enjoy his beautiful smiles and glowing complexion !:laughing: :hugs: