I need suggestions for weaning my 11 month-old from the breast.?

Question

- ALWAYS refused bottle or soother
- does not like to use sippy cup or straw
- takes a sip here and there from an actual glass
- I'm worried she won't get enough liquid
- I've eliminated her afternoon feeds but she's not taking any liquid other than what's in her food

Answer 1

Sounds like she is not ready to wean yet.
Is there a specific reason you are wanting to wean her?
12 months is the *minimum* amount of time the AAP suggests to nurse.
Give her a little more time. Go slowly and gently. Encourage her to try drinking from a cup when she has her solid meals.

Answer 2

If there isn't a real need to wean her then I would consider letting her continue.
My first and 3rd children were hard to wean. My first was done has 13 months old. I offered her a cup from about 7 months old. I played with different types of cups/nipples/tops. I had to stop with her because she face an eating disorder really early and needed a high calorie diet.
My third did not wean untill 18m. Between weaning and taking a cup I gave her a bottle. She did good with this and accepted it after a few times. After I just changed it to a cup and she also did just fine. She was ready to let go.

Answer 3

Did you ever think about pumping your milk? I breastfed my daughter for 15 months and started to limit one feeding every week. The night time one was the hardest to stop which took the longest. But throughout me breastfeeding I always pumped and stored it, I would mix it in her cereal or her father would give her a bottle of it. If your child is getting cereal with some kind of milk and other foods, your child will not be dehydrated. As far as I see you just gave up afternoon feedings, maybe she is not thirsty, Breastmilk is more then liquid its their sustenance.

Good Luck :-)

Answer 4

If your child is not ready to drink from a cup or glass, then allow her to feed from the breast. Apparently she needs to do this, maybe for a variety of reasons. If you can allow her to do this, then sit back and relax, be close to her. This is a very special time and you won't get a second chance for it with her. It is not unusual to breastfeed until 2 years of age or even older for some children. In some countries, children are nursed until they are five or six, even. I guess what I am trying to say is, don't let our culture get in the way of what your child needs. Take the cues from her. If she wants to nurse, then let her. She will wean herself when she needs to. Enjoy!

Answer 5

I'd get someone else to feed her, so she won't smell your milk, I however had a lot of problems and spent a fortune on different teats and cup attachments until I found one she liked. If you are worried about not getting enough liquids you can always spoon feed her boiled water, it's a lot of work but better then her dehydrating... Good Luck!

Answer 6

My son was the same way initially. He would refuse to drink fluids of any kind out of anything if I was within smelling distance. To combat this, his father would feed him with a bottle in another room. Try giving your little one a cup and don't give in when the tantrums start. This is the only way they will do it. Once they realize that you will not give in, they will go ahead and drink from the cup.

Answer 7

You can call a lactation consultant nurse. Call your doctor and ask for a reference. They are AMAZING people who can help with all breast feeding questions. Also, consult your doctor on the question. Ask them just how much liquid they need in a day. You will have a hard time of it, but you will do it in the end!

Answer 8

She is not ready. Allow her to wean her self. I nursed my son for over 2 1/2 years. He weaned him self off of me late April and the day after Mom's day we found out that I was pregnant again with our 2nd son