He doesn't want to BF anymore

[bubbles28]

Hi there, just want to say that I'm a little sad today as today my 10mth old DS has totally refused to BF.
He has been slowly weaning himself over a period of 4mths after I introduced a bottle of formula due to weight gain problems. For the last month or so he got down to one BF and three bottles a day. He was having his one BF in the morning and today he totally refused it :(
I wanted to BF for at least 12mths, but can I just say how proud I am that I have managed to do it for this long. I was ready to through it all in when DS was 4 weeks.
Sorry to winge to you all, just wanted to get it off my chest.
My little man is growing up!

[alicesmum]

hi bubbles
this exact thing happened to me. we went on a big driving holiday (brisbane, sydney, canberra) when alice was 11 months old so i started using bottles of formula as she could drink while we were driving along and we didn't have to stop all the time. anyway, she decided she prefered the bottle and stopped br'feeding by the time we got back home and I was very sad. so i sympathise. but don't worry too much. some babies are f-fed from day 1 and are still happy and healthy. he got 10 months of the good stuff. try not to worry too much :p

[tickle]

I know how you feel!!
It is a great achievement to feed as long as you have, so congratulations!
I had exactly the same feelings as you when O stopped B/fing. He was becoming a 'big boy'. :(
Good on you and enjoy your little man!! ;)

[Chickadee]

Congratulations on getting to 10 months and perservering through those early troubles!!

I know you'll miss the special bond of bf, but on the bright side, now you can sleep in sometimes and let your partner give your son breakfast :)

[cobysmummy]

i know how u feel! my bub stopped bf at 6 months... i gave him one bottle of formula... to gain weight and after that one bottle totally refused the breast :eek: i was so dissapointed.. i too wanted to bf until 12 months... needless to say the formula hasnt helped him to gain weight :mad:

[Briannabear]

I just wanted to say that the same thing happened to me! My daughter self-weaned off the breast at about 9 1/2 - 10 months old. It broke my heart! I was hoping to bf until she turned one - but she had other ideas!
Cheer up... You can still make bottle time special. Lots of cuddles and kisses!
Good Luck! :)

[pickles]

if bub has only stopped for today you could always express, dont be surprised if you only get 60mls or so. You could then add this to the morning bottle or he may change his mind in a couple of days and at least you will still have the milk. My son is 8 1/2 months old and only on to 2 feeds per day from me but sometimes he will not take it for a day and then gets back on. I just express those days. This is my last baby however and i really want to BF until 12 months either from me or expressed ( even if it is only 50 mls per day). Good luck
Pickles
DD 02/03
Ds 03/05

[bubbles28]

Hi everyone, thanks heaps to the encouragment and support.
Thanks for the tip martham. I have already told DH that he can do the morning feed tomorrow so I can stay in bed and just RELAX!
Pickles thanks for that great idea. I have an electric express pump so I think I will give it ago tomorrow. I think I will be lucky to get 50 mls though.
Do you think 50mls a day untill he is 12mths will have any benefits for his health? And if you are only expressing doesn't this make your supply even lower?
Thanks :)

[tickle]

Just me, but I could never actually express much or any but DS fed well. For some people expressing just doesn't have the same effect as that bubba sucking away so efficiently.
But Pickles is right, it might help, you can only try! :)
E

[pickles]

I actually use the avent hand pump. if my son refuses the morning breastfeed i dont give him a bottle he goes straight to breakfast. So on those days he may only have two bottles ( approx 100 - 150 mls each ). If i have expressed i just add that to the bottles - sometimes its 40 mls sometimes 100mls just depends on whats happening. Nutritionally it probably doesnt give him that much but emotionally for me it is the right thing to do. after 12 months if he doesnt want it anymore i will just slowly stop expressing. What ever is the right thing for you and your baby is all that matters.
pickles
DD 02/03
DS 03/05

[bubbles28]

Hi, I tried with the BF again this morning and my DS took it. I was rapt! So we will see what happens tomorrow.
Thanks again everyone.