help - is he weaning????????????

[kaydensmum]

My ds is 9 1/2 months - i have been trying to cut the bf down to 3 feeds a day. Ime struggling to get the lunch and night time feed into him, my boobs have shrunk heaps, even my friends have noticed. Does this mean he is weaning himself & if so, will i have to go onto formula and a bottle?????????? I really want to bf till he's 12 months so then he can go straight onto a cup. Ime not sure what to do - ime wondering if i should make an appointment with mchn?????? I would appreciate any advice, suggestions etc., ime also not increasing the amount of solids he has for fear he won't take any milk at all. He's always been such a boob boy - ime really surprised this is happening!!! :eek:

[Chickadee]

I can't answer on the breastfeeding/weaning issue, we never got that far with breast. But I'm sure you could wean onto a cup instead of having to go to bottles. I'm now facing weaning my nearly 2 year old off of bottles and not looking forward to it, so I'd say avoid bottles if you can.

[pickles]

My daughter weaned herself at 9 months. Not only was ahe not interested in the breast but she didnt want formula in a bottle either. I had to make sure that she drank plenty of water for hydration , formula in her cereal and plenty of yoghurt, cheese etc. you can wean onto a cup and bypass the bottles.

[sasholi]

i think my DS is weaning himself at nearly 6 months. he is totally disinterested in breastfeeding but when i whip out the bottle he is more than happy to drink from that... is that normal?

It is quite saddening as I wanted to bf until he was 12 months old at least but it is becomming a huge struggle each feed time to the point where he is nearly crying!

[kaydensmum]

i also really wanted to bf til 12mths but figured it wasn't worth the stress to both Kayden and myself. he's taken to the bottle better than expected - i can't explain how devasted i feel. it's like the only real thing that only i can do for him & now anybody can give him a bottle!!! (having said that he wasn't to impressed when dad tried to give it to him last night, something else to work on i guess!!!!)

[Chickadee]

... i can't explain how devasted i feel

Rest assured, you're not the only one who has felt this way when switching to bottles earlier than planned. Bf creates a special bond and it's sad to lose that. But, just because anyone can give him a bottle doesn't mean that everyone has to. You can still make it your own special bonding time. Having DD cuddled in my arms for her bottles was still special, and still is today.

[kaydensmum]

ime not really due to drop the last bf (the morning one) till monday or tuesday but this morning it was a real struggle to get kayden to take one side let alone both - they were not hard or nearly as full as i had expected. if i completely wean does anyone know what the chances are of having troubles??????????? i only started to wean last saturday, i can't believe how quickly he has adjusted although after this mornings effort, i don't feel as sad as i did the other night. thanks for the positive feedback martha m - it made me feel heaps better!


Carole