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Help! I need advice on how to wean my son from breastfeeding.
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DBrowner
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| My son is 9 months old and I am attempting to slowly wean him from nursing. I don't want it to be a traumatic experience for him and would like to do it gradually, but he is not interested in taking a bottle from me at all and if Im even in the house will not take the bottle from his dad he'll just wait out until I just nurse him. He also just started to eat foods like last week, he is a very picky eater and was just solely drinking breastmilk but now finally is eating fruits and veggies. Just wanted to see if anyone had any tricks or suggestions of how they weaned their baby. Thanks |
Anonymous
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Why the rush to wean? Especially since he can start cow's milk in three months - it's not long to wait.
I personally would just wait until he is getting more of his calories from food - it will make it much easier. As my kids started getting more nutrition from food, they lost interest in nursing. They then only wanted to nurse at night and in the morning, then eliminated the morning feed. It really isn't hard to wean when you don't force the issue. |
Anonymous
| If you weaned now, you'd have to wean him to the bottle as breast milk or formula are supposed to be the primary source of calories for the first year - especially for finicky eaters! So if you did try go to bottles, you might end up making more work for yourself in the long run. Not to mention, if he won't take bottles then you could run into dehydration and weight gain issues. I have a one year old and really wanted to wean, as well but I've decided to hold off until he's drinking cow's milk from a sippy, it won't really be that long. |
Anonymous
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I completely agree with the PP's. If there is no urgent medical reason for weaning, then the best thing would be to wait until he is 11-12 months old, then introduce a cup/sippy cup with cow's milk. Get him drinking well from a cup before you stop breastfeeding, so that you know he will still be getting plenty of fluids. There is no sense switching him to a bottle or forumula now, when in just a few months you can go straight to cows milk. In fact, you can start teaching him the sippy sup now with just water. I also agree that if he is a picky eater, then he still really needs the breastmilk for proper nutrition.
Is there a specific problem you're having with regards to breastfeeding? Maybe it is something that we can help you with. Hang in there mama! You can do it! |
Anonymous
| That sounds like too many changes at once for a little guy, remember to try and stick to one big life change at a time in the first year. If he just started eating food last week, a good three months or so behind schedule, wait until that is well established and then begin the weaning process. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| I weaned around 9 months too. My little guy was too rutchy and I didn't really think he was getting too much, because he would always rip off at the slightest noise and try to see what was going on. I was pretty lucky... because I know this doesn't work for everyone but I just started to give him the bottle. What if you pumped breastmilk into the bottle and gave that to him the first few times, slowly introducing the formula as you go. This is totally selfish on my part - but I was also ready to reclaim my body. I think 9 months is a good amount of time. |
Anonymous
| I would wati it out and skip the whole formula thing. In three months he can have milk, maybe he will take it from a sippy cup by then, there are two steps you could skip, formula and bottles. Never did either myself. It seemed easier that way, but everyone's life is different. Good luck Just remember breast is best. If you can, and have the time, 3 more months will fly by. |
Anonymous
| Hi Everyone, this is the Op Thanks for all your input. I've decided that Im just going to forget weaning and let him decide when he wants to stop.I think it will be easier for both of us and a lot healthier for him to continue to nurse. Thanks for the advice. |