Do some babies wean before 12 months?

I was just reading the breastfeeding slogan thread and thinking how I want to be one of those ppl who breastfeeds to 12 months and as long after as DD wants to. And then I had a thought...what if she doesn't want to and weans earlier? How sad :(

Does this ever happen? Or is it really rare bc I always see ppl saying that until 12 months breastmilk is the most important and food is just for fun.

My DS2 weaned at almost 11 months, I was so upset! I wasn't ready, I wanted us to make it to 12 months, but he just didn't want it any more and flat-out refused me. He was well established on solids and my MCHN told me to just start giving him cows milk.

My DS1 weaned at 6 months, but this was because I had been topping him up with formula from 4 months of age as I didn't seem to have enough BM to satisfy him (wish I'd known about BB and the ABA back then) and he eventually just wanted the bottle because it was quicker.

So yes, some babies do wean before 12 months of age :)

My Mum was right into breast feeding. She was even a member of the old ABA (i think it was called the nursing mothers association.) She told me that my brother and i weaned at 9 months, and my other brother happily fed until beyond 12 months. So yep it does happen. :)

Hi,

In a culture where so many babies are prematurely weaned, ny mums ask the same questions. Babies and children are designed to breastfeed well into the second year. (and beyond, actually) Babies under 12mnths old don;t "decide" they don't want it.
There are certain touchpoints, I think, in our breastfeeding experience, due to our baby's growth and development. The usual course of events I see is that baby's pattern changes - they have a few days where they are grumpy, hard to settle or hard to feed. Around 4 mnths they are so *excited* by their growing awareness of the world around them. They can hardly bare to keep still and feed. At 9-10mnths they are so "busy" they want to interact with their friends and the world. Mother introduces a bottle (often on the advice of friends or family.) Baby displays the same action with the bottle as with the breast - he arches and pulls away. But, the parents just follow his head with the bottle - plug it in, and he has to "drink or drown" He also discovers that he can walk still play and see while he drinks a bottle. Milk supply falters as baby takes less from the breast. Although mother said to herself "It will be just one bottle", she's busy, the phone rings, so just ads in "one more bottle". Milk supply falters even further. Any sensible baby will choose food from a bottle over scant pickings from the breast. When asked, mother tells her friends the short-hand version "He decided he didn't want it anymore - he wanted a bottle". The long version is often too painful to recount. Thus the myth is perpetuated, and the next mother is lead to believe that some babies "just don't want the breast".

Hmmm...well I battled with DS2 for a month before I finally conceded he'd had enough. He started by biting me which I'm sure is a stage a lot of bubs go through. Then he eventually just kicked and screamed and flat-out refused to take the breast. Never in this time did I offer him a bottle or cows milk, I wasn't looking for the "easy route", I really tried to give it my best shot. It was when he was almost 11 months (after persevering for a whole month) that I finally gave him cows milk in a cup. I didn't force it upon him and he took to it happily. So I really do believe that some babies do wean themselves based on my own personal experience with DS2.

:hug: Trish. I know how hard it is when our babies wean before we are ready. Both of mine did too (although luckily for me we at least made it beyond 12 months each time).

Barb is talking about the majority of cases Trish and certainly means no offence to you. Babies rarely self-wean before 12 months unless they are on other milks. But of course there are always exceptions to every rule. I do think Barb makes an important point though, as many mums do mistake a fussy period with weaning so it is helpful for them to understand the difference.

You have done a great job giving your babies a great start to life with bm, and in many other ways hun.

:hug: i certainly remember how hard you tried Trish. I admired your perseverence. x

I think for many Mums it's hard to tell the difference between 'breast refusal' and 'self weaning'. 'Self weaning' is very, very uncommon before 12 mths, but 'breast refusal' is common. With the right advice on getting past breast refusal, most babies will go back to the breast happily after whatever the issue was has passed or been resolved. Another problem is that when most consult a medical professional when baby is a bit older they are told that their baby is weaning (incorrectly) as most don't have much experience working with mums bfing older babies and toddlers. :(

There are exceptions to every rule, but it's only going to be a very, very small percentage who self wean before 12 mths.

I gotta say :clap:

I would have given up getting to were we did if it wasnt for Barb and MR when we were BFing. I to confussd breast refusual with self weening..its tore my heart in two..I continued for 2 months until it wore me down :( and I gave in......at almost 8 months BUT I would not have achieved the first 6 months with out the guideance, and gentle words of encouragement not just given to me to, but to others. Yes I stalked the BFing threads....listened intently and took on all I could. I felt frustrated at myself but in the end it only made me worse for wear. Sometimes and much as we try the 2 dont connect and we have to take a different road but still its were we started in the first place that is important :).

Thanks everyone, I didn't mean to sound defensive, just wanted to share my own experience. I don't want anyone to feel like a failure because their bub weaned/breast-refused (whatever the correct term is ;)) before 12 months. I just felt it was a bit generalised to say that mums are so quick to switch to the bottle, some of us try really hard first IYKWIM.

I am really happy DS2 and I made it as far as we did, I had just hoped to go that little bit further as I'm sure lots of us do :)