bf for a 1+ yr old and should I wean

[TSW13]

DD is almost 13 months but I have no idea how many bf she is supposed to have.
I bf her at 7am,
brekky at 8am,
bf 11am,
lunch 12pm,
recently cut out a 3pm feed and replaced that with cows milk
and a final feed at around 6:30pm.
Most nights if she wakes I settle her with a feed as well (bad habit but it's slowly getting better).
Also, in three months I'm leaving her with my parents for three nights. I'm a bit anxious as she hasn't been left o'night before and I'm worried about the bf'ing. I don't necessarily want to stop just cause I'm going away though even though she'll be 15 months. I just don't know!

[VicPark]

My opinion may not be popular but here goes. At 12 months I think that's too many breastfeeds. Most babies start to move towards 2 feeds a day at that age (morning and before bed). The danger of excessive feeds is that it negatively impacts solids intake: and at 12 months solids is the priority. This can in turn make bub hungry (causing night wakings) and affect growth.

At 12 months unless there are medical issues a bub doesn't need to wake overnight for a feed. Night wakings at this age are for the most part preventable. If it were me I would slowly wean back the amount in the night feed before cutting it. This will give bub the opportunity to slowly increase the calorie intake from solids during the day. Bub will most likely start sleeping through when the night feeding stops.

Good luck

[Amber4304]

I agree with VicPark. At that age, solids is more important than breast milk. Can you start with offering morning tea and afternoon tea?

[Hollywood]

I agree with the others. I night weaned my DD at 12 months and she was fine. She started to eat more and slept better after that. I fully weaned her at 15 months as she was down to one BF a day and lost interest.

[LoveLivesHere]

Please down think one answer is right for every child.

Your child's needs are individual. If your offering solids at every meal time and snacks than it really doesn't matter how many feeds your little one has.

You definitely don't Have to wean.
Not every child is ready to wean at 12 months.
I still demand feed my 2 yr old. Most of my 6 weaned on there own between 12 and 2 years.

[Rose&Aurelia&Hannah]

I think that's not enough bm feeds. I'm the exact opp to VicPark in my parenting style.

I was still demand feeding till 13-14mths. Then 5-7 feeds in 24hrs.



wifey of hubby who is always away. mother of two girls who are always amusing.

[kbf2plus2]

I'm still demand "feeding" ('cause it's not so much for the feed, but more for the emotional comfort) my daughter who turned 3 about 3 weeks ago. She still has 1 or 2 feeds during the night, but that's no biggy, 'cause she sleeps with us. I have never counted feeds. My babies feed when and as often as they need to.
Guess it just depends on you and your little one and which parenting style you choose to follow.

[sajimum]

I think there is no "right" amount to be breast feeding a young child. It depends on what you and your DS are happy with. I think that what you're doing sounds fine though I would offer afternoon tea rather than cows milk at 3. At that age both my kids were still breastfed - DS was probably having 2 or more overnight feeds and at least 3 during the day at 13 mths. I night weaned him around 14mths but only day weaned recently about 22mths. You can definitely keep feeding after going away for a few days - you should probably express to keep up your supply though.

[Skye Baby]

Well done for Feeding for 13 months. I certainly don't think you are giving your baby too many b/f in a day. If you are happy to keep feeding your baby on your current scedule than go for it. I have sucessfully b/f 3 toddlers one to 20 months, one to 2 and a half and one was almost three when we stopped. On some days I may have even fed them more than what you are currently doing. I never worry about a too strick routine I just go with the flow. I have to say that all my children are very healthy are not overweight and have no problems with solids and have always met their milestones. They are currently 14, 9 & 3. If you are worried about not getting enough nutrition, than offer solids first before you B/F.

If you are happy feeding your baby overnight and it makes life easier for everyone than why not just do it. Not every B/F is about bub getting calouries the first milk your baby gets from a full breast has a low fat content and naturally quenches baby's thirst. I always have B/F all my kids if they woke in the night because I was happy to do so. All my children have had different sleeping patterns regardles of what was fed to them in the day. My 14 year old was a shocker never sleeping more than two hours a a time until she was 16 months where as my 9 year old slept threw the night from Six weeks old my three year old was somewhere in the middle of them, they all sleep threw the night now.


You may find that if you are leaving your baby for 3 days that they may wean that's what happened with my first I went into hospital and when I came out she wasn't interested in B/F anymore. In saying that I have a friend who went away a few times and her toddler was happy to pick up where they left and keep feeding. I'm sure your parents will be able to settle your bub if she wakes up in the night they could offer her water, pat her bottom, cuddle her ECT.
The Australia Breastfeeding Association has some excellent advice on feeding toddlers, they really helped me. Good luck with it all.

[DarcyJ]

If your baby is eating enough solid food throughout the day, just breastfeed her when she wants it. The right number of breastfeeds is what is right for you and your baby. There is no reason why you should have to wean, it is perfectly acceptable for your baby to keep breastfeeding as often as she wants if that's what works for you.
At that age, my DS was having a morning feed when he woke up, a feed at naptime to get to sleep (feeding to sleep is NOT a bad habit) and a feed at bedtime. I left him overnight with my mum a couple of times and he went to sleep fine without it but when he was with me he wanted boob. If he woke at mum's house wanting a feed he just had a bottle of cows milk. No need for night weaning. However, if you are wanting to keep feeding you might need to pump while you're away (I didn't bother for one night but you might need to for 3 nights).