When to wean?

[Briannabear]

Just a question for the breastfeeding mums out there............
When is a fairly normal time to wean your baby off the breast?

I seem to get people asking me all the time now... "Are you STILL breastfeeding her?!". I just hold my head high and say "Yes isnt it wonderful!". I tend not to listen to them, but Im just curious as to know what is 'the norm' - if there is such a thing!

Brianna is 6 months now and still has 5 full breastfeeds a day. She also has some solids now too. (Farex and steamed pureed veges).
She seems to go really well with this at the moment.

Ive been blessed enough to be able to breastfeed with no major issues (thanks to some great advice!!). Im extreemly comfortable with it, and Bri is a very happy healthy bubba.

Im just curious to know when you all weaned your babies.

I have a wedding to go to in October and my hubby and I were just talking about it last night which made me think of this. (I know its a while away, but hey!).
She'll be 9 months by then. How many feeds a day is pretty normal at that age?

How much does substituting a bottle feed for a breastfeed affect your milk supply? (I cant seem to be able to express really well ).

To this point she hasnt had to take a bottle for a feed so Im unsure about the whole process. We try to get her to take a bit of water in a bottle sometimes - she seems to be getting better at it!

Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!

[Kamaikia]

I don't think there is a right age to stop breastfeeding, if you and your child are both happy and healthy go on for as long as you like. My 8 month old is bottlefed but a friends baby (who is also 8 months) is still having up to 6 or 7 feeds a day as well as heaps of solids. Every baby is different in there feeds, you know better than anyone else about what to do with your own child. And as far and starting with the occasional bottle thats fine as long as you realise that once the baby gets a taste for it she may want to wean herself. I suggest you don't try this until you are ready to go to the bottle full time.

[2girls&1boy]

Hi Briannabear,

Grace is now 11 months and is still b/f. She is on 2 feeds a day - morning/evening. I have decided that I will be stopping b/feeding at 12months. Mind you I get people(mainly older& my parents) staring at me in disbelief sometimes that I still give her breastmilk.

Do what is right for you and your baby. I have heard that it doesn't take too long to wean them off so do it when you feel it is the right time.


All babies are different and some even decide they have had enough of the breast themselves. Just go with it I say.

Cheers
Paula

[Kassiasmum]

My dd is 16 months and I am still bfing her. Some days she still has 4-5 feeds a day and she eats solids all day. Just do what you are comfortable doing. My CHN told me that at 14 months their own immune system kicks in so if you are going to wean try to wait for then, but hey whatever suits you and your baby. I am letting dd let me know when she doesn't want it anymore.

Tracey

[Briannabear]

Thanks for your opinions guys!
I appreciate it!

[Milly]

Briannabear: I seem to get people asking me all the time now... "Are you STILL breastfeeding her?!". I just hold my head high and say "Yes isnt it wonderful!". I tend not to listen to them, but Im just curious as to know what is 'the norm' - if there is such a thing!

Goodness people are saying that to you and your baby is only 6 months old. They have a lot to learn Great that you hold your head up high!

The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding for up to two years and it is definetly recommened that you breatsfeed your baby until 12 months (or give bubs formula if you don't).

Really, it is up to you when you wean, but your weaning should not be based on other's ignorant opinions like "are you still breatfeeding her?". You wean when you and or your bubs want to. For most breastfeeders I know in my circle it was 10-12 months and I do know others who are extended breastfeeding and went past that. Many of my friends and family breastfed, so putting the kid onto formula bottles at a certain age is not a common pratice in my circle (except my SIL who wants to do that at 3 months, but up to her. Personally I think it would be a hassle if b/f is easy for her. She always asked me about bottles and thought that weaning means that you go to bottles. But that is what many of her friends did, so I supose that is where she got that idea from). But her choice.

For us, the thought of going from the convenience of breastfeeding to bottles would be a real hasssle. Also, why wean from the breast to a bottle, you just have to wean again. My daughter has never gone onto bottles at all. Straight from breast to cup and breastfed past 12 months. So easy why bother with bottles at all. You really don't have put the kid on a bottle at a certain age. There's no rule to say that you should.

I did not have any comments from family except one friend who said when I mentioned how my daughter was approaching 12 months "Oh, you really should wean her". This coming from a girl who has never been around children at all, so I took her comment with a grain of salt.

So, in my circle 10-12 months plus (if not longer) was common weaning time.

[WeThree]

if you are not having any trouble breastfeeding then there is no reason to wean at all, babies should be breastfed till 12 mths and then if you want to wean them after that they can go onto a sippy cup no need to ever worry about formula, or you can continue to breastfeed to 2 yrs or more if you want too. alot of babies actually wean themselves, cooper refused the boob from 9 mths and i felt so sad, i wasnt ready! dont listen to those people around, feel confident and proud knowing that you are doing the best thing for your baby, and try and surround yourself with like minded people, happy breastfeeding!

[AM]

I have a 16 month old, and he is still feeding like there's no tomorrow!
I am completely commited to child led weaning, so I am in no hurry for him to stop.
I am actually hoping he will hang in there through my pregnancy - I'm 10 weeks - so I can tandem feed.
The CHN who told you that a childs immune system kicks in at 14 months is a little mis-informed.
It is more like 5 or 6 years old until the immune system is fully functioning.
Check out this link.

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html

She specifically speaks about immune system maturation in point 6.

angie

[mimi]

Hi All
I am still breastfeeding my 2yr 4mth old to sleep every day - so that can be anywhere from one to three feeds in a 24 hr period. And I know I am 'VERY ODD' by Australian standards to be doing so!

BUT it is recommended by the WHO and by the Royal Australian College of GPs "... that breastfeeding continue for up to two years and beyond."
And the NHMRC of Australia says that babies should be breastfed until 12 months, and beyond if so desired, as the benefits of bf do continue. WHO says "Breastmilk can continue to provide up to one-third of an infant’s nutrients during the second year of life."

At nine months DD was also refusing all solids - did so until 11 months - so I don't think my recall of what she was doing then will be of any use to you Becca! but I am with the others in the suggestion that you continue to hold your head up high and breastfeed for as long as you and Brianna wish to!

[draught]

Hi
I agree with all the other threads here. I fed DD1 until she was 14 months - at 11 months she was still on 5 - 6 feeds a day, then I finally got her to drink water and cow's milk from a cup so gradually dropped her back to three feeds a day, then down to two. I weaned her at the 14 month mark as I was pregnant, working, tired and needed all my energy for me! But it was not traumatic - and because it had been so gradual she was ready for it too. I am still b'feeding DD2 who is 8 months. I am back at work part time but she (to my surprise) is taking EBM from a bottle (it is easier to express when you are expressing at a time she would normally be feeding), so we are still on 5 - 6 feeds a day if you count the ones in the middle of the night (but that is another story!!)

As for going to a wedding - I was talking to a friend about this the other day - one night or day away does not mean you need to wean. And you don't need to use formula - if you express a little at a time and freeze it you can gradually build up a couple of bottles in the freezer (you can add to already frozen milk), and if you are down to two or three feeds a day by then, she may only be missing one anyway, and with solids and some expressed milk, which she might even drink from a cup, she will be fine.