We've made it 12 months (WOW! big deal given the disaster I had at trying to bf #1) which I really do put down to just feeding Ruby whenever she wanted it, rather than to a schedule or anything.
At the moment, I am feeding first thing in morning, sometime in the middle of the day/afternoon and once at night.
We bF for comfort especially if she wakes up in the night, it's just soo easy to soothe her, I just pop her on straight away.
What I'm asking is, Will she wean herself as we just continue on our merry way? My friend asked me the other day when I was going to wean her, and to be honest I have never given it any thought because it has just been so easy to bf her. Plus to have made it to 12 months is a miracle given last time's experience with #1.
I worry that if we aren't bf she'll miss out on vitamins and nutrients... as I'm a crap cook and very lazy with getting her food together.
As far as i was told (by GP) from 12 months onwards if they are eating a good varied diet cows milk is fine for them (unless there are allergies obviously) and there are no nutritional defecits caused. I switched DD to cowsmilk in her 12th month (mixed it half and half - can't do that if you're BFing unless you express i suppose...) and she's not had formula since about a week after her birthday. I phased the bottle out with the formula - she's a thumb-sucker so she can suck for comfort anytime and she likes that the milk comes out faster with the cup.
I think if you WANT to wean you can start to offer a cup of EBM, and then gradually mix it with cowsmilk, at times when she'd usually be on the boobie. The comfort sucks are the last to go, so you'd need to be sure of not wanting to BF anymore to be firm in the middle of the night when she's sad.
NOw, the question is do you WANT to wean? Breastmilk goes on offering benefits as long as you feed it and is the easiest thing for babies to digest until well into their third year (when some of the BM-specific enzymes start to decrease as they digest solids better and better). Even beyond the third year the benefits go on stacking up (in China children are sometimes fed as long as 7 or 8 years) all the time. There are no downsides from bubs point of view! There is even evidence to suggest that the mothers of babies who are not eating solids well have more calorific BM! Incredible!
Basically there is no dire need to go on if you feel you WANT to wean, and certainly absolutely no reason to wean if you don't want to. Most kids eventually wean on their own, some at 9 months, some at 15 months, some at 30 months. If i were you, and i hope one day to be in your 1-year-boobie-feedin' shoes , i'd go on as you are and see how it goes. She might self-wean when she's ready, or you might come to the conclusion that you'd rather not BF anymore. Just going with things has worked so well for you both, why not go on and see?
According to the majority population statistics, Ruby will likely wean herself between the ages of 2 and 4
When I get asked when I plan to wean Oscar, I just reply that I'm not going to, that I will let him decide. Usually that's too confrontational (no matter how gently I say it!) for a response. Otherwise, I quote the WHO's recommendation to feed for at least two years, and that is the last word (well, apart from 'Gee, I never knew that'!)
Oh, and congrats on 12 months! Me too! I'm so impressed with myself - two years ago I would never have considered that I would be celebrating this kind of milestone, and here we are, patting ourselves on the back, as we should!
I admit to the luxury of breastfeeding, too - sometimes I forget to bring 'Oscar food' with us, but know that a booby feed will fill up his tummy, till we can get our act together, more than admirably.
Yay for you and me!
ETA: missed your post, Bec - that was great
Last edited by Smoke Jaguar; June 21st, 2007 at 12:58 AM.
: missed post whilst typing
I fed my son for 21 months exactly and he self weaned.
There are still nutrients in your milk that she will be benifiting from.. I always thought I would stop at 6 mnths and then I said 12 mnths but we just kept going..
Congrats on 12 months, I sure hope we get that far.... Isnt it awesome when u do such great things for your bubba and can step back from it and go- YAY ME!!!
IK- now i have a quote i can use to fend off the nonbelievers.. WHO are reguarded more highly than i am in arguments....
I agree - if you're happy to keep feeding, then keep feeding I think Tallon hasn't weaned yet coz he doesn't know what else there is LOL. Except for water. He sips from his cup all day. I did give him a couple of drinks of cows milk to see if he liked it, in case he weans any time during this pregnancy, and he seemed fine with it, but otherwise, he just gets boob & water.
They definitely self wean when they're ready - Don't know of any 18 year olds still breastfeeding hehe.
Oh and as for the night comfort feeds.. omg - for this reason alone I hope Tallon doesn't wean soon! LOL. It's the quickest easiest way for us all to get back to sleep.
Congrats again.. and enjoy the extended breastfeeding!
Congrats - what an achievement.....
I b/f my DD#2 to 12.5 months. I fell pregnant when she was 10 months, i had morning sickness and found b/f to be really draining, so i weaned her at 12.5 months. I think she would have kept going if i had of pushed it.
Like you, i love the comfort factor with b/f...if she woke up at night, DH and i knew, we just knew she would be settled after 3 mins or so of a b/f.
If your okay with continuiting b/f, and she is showing no signs of weaning, continue.....its a memorable time......sad to let of go sometimes. Good luck.....
congrats on getting to 12 months. unless you want to wean there is no reason to. Mine have all self weaned at just 2, 3 &11 months and oscar is 2 tomorrow and still breastfeeding. I usually start the 'never offer, never refuse' after about 2, this means i wouldn't ask if he wants a breastfeed but if they ask i give them the breast. i haven't started with oscar yet but probably will soon.
well done
beckles
Hiya Nickel: I agree, just keep doing what you're doing. I'm lazy-as when it comes to feeding my 1yo and would much rather just pop him on for a BF than bother with much else... like Maya I also forget to pack solid food for him on outings most of the time... BF is much easier and probably better for him anyhow. Also, like Liz I dread the day Niall self weans because ATM it's by far the easiest way to get him back to sleep in the middle of these cold winter nights.
So what now?
Reply With Quote, i'd go on as you are and see how it goes. She might self-wean when she's ready, or you might come to the conclusion that you'd rather not BF anymore. Just going with things has worked so well for you both, why not go on and see?
hehe.
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