Any advice on how to whean my 10 month old from breasfeeding?

Question

My daughter is 10 months and I would like to stop breasfeeding soon. She does not like a bottle or cup with a spout at all. She has never taken a suthor (although I've tried) she just chews the nipples. I'm noticing that when she nurses its only for comfort till she falls asleep and during the night she only uses me as a suthor. I'm starting to feel the effects of lack of sleep. Any advice? Oh and she still sleeps in bed with mom and dad I think she slept in her crib once in 10 months. I know I did it to myself!!!

Answer 1

You have given your daughter the best start-I'm sure you feel in need of a break by now. Try contacting the "La Leche League" they are very sympathetic and will help you more than I can say. They have a website www.lalecheleague.com or .co.uk
As a Mum you always have to do what works for you, never mind what everyone else says,so accept no criticism !
Best wishes to you all
M

Answer 2

Well Done, you come a long way! You have been following your daughters lead, in terms of meeting her needs, and that's great. For you to stop nursing her "cold turkey" will no doubt send her mixed messages. All along you've been attending her needs and all of a sudden you will cut off something that she still really needs.....not such a good idea IMO.
If you can persist until at least 12mo, you can avoid all the fuss with formula and bottles etc. Weaning is best done slowly & gradually...it benefits you and the baby much much more. If you stop too quickly, you could become painfully engorged and possibly get mastitis. Your baby could get really frusterated and be even less willing to take any other food source, and could learn to not trust you anymore.
Try a gradual and slow start. Offer your baby breastmilk in a cup with a straw, or try some of the softer-spouted sippy cups.
Co-sleeping with your baby is wonderful! Please don't feel shamefull for providing such a comforting sleep enviroment for your family. You have definately gotten more sleep than a Mom to has to actually *get out* of bed to nurse or warm bottles. Try putting your crib "side-car" against your bed and begin her transition that way.
A 10mo is still a "baby", so don't expect her to willingly stop nursing. Maybe you need to take a step back, get some help from family so you can rest during the day and try and enjoy the wonderful gift you are giving her :) Think of it this way, Moms who give formula, HAVE to start solids etc because Formula is nutritionally inadequate. Breastfed babies can begin soilds much more relaxed b/c breastmilk is nutritionally perfect!
Even if your daughter is "nursing for comfort", is that really such a bad thing? She was attached to you and completely comforted for 9 months in utero, you need to expect it to take at least that long to begin slowly detaching. If you except what wonderful job you are doing with your daughter, maybe you will take it slow and enjoy however many nursings are left.

Please, contact your local La Leche League. The meetings are free to attend and you will definately find other supportive Moms who have been right where you are now. The meetings are held by experienced breastfeeding Moms and attended by other local Moms who just need support in their often "criticized" choices.
If you can connect and ground yourself, you will enjoy where you're at in your mothering journey and not feel so rushed to get to the next step.

Good Luck to you!

Answer 3

You will have to start putting her in her crib. Feed her while in a chair and then stay with her and hold her hand while she is lying down in her crib. Do Not Give In!! You may have to do this for a week or so, but she will get the idea soon. After she is used to sleeping in her own bed, then start weaning her from breastfeeding. She is going to fight you on this, but stick with it. At first, just dont breastfeed her in middle of night. She should be sleeping all night. When she wakes up, change her, hold her in a chair, and give her a bottle of water. If she refuses the water, just put her back to bed and wait for her to go to sleep. You will be losing sleep for awhile longer, but hang in there and you will get the results you want. You have to stop her habits and change them. Change takes time.

Answer 4

You are going to have to break her of more than one habit it seems.
1st thing. The breastfeeding. You are going to have to make her take the bottle. Wait til she is really hungry. Then try it. She will take it if she is hungry enough. The best Way to wean is to replace a bottle with the breast one time the 1st few days, and 2 bottles per 2 feedings the next couple of days. And so on. Its the only way unless you wanna be nursing a 4 year old.
The bed thing. You need to put her in her crib. She will cry, and I know its heartbreaking, but do it. Leave her in there for 5 minutes. Don't go in there, don't hold her, do not take her out no matter what. After 5 minutes (she will still be crying) pick her up and calm her down a while, then put her back, she will eventually fall asleep. This is going to take time. But if you don't do it, you will be sleeping with a 4 year old who still nurses.

Answer 5

First, start to put her in her own crib: you and Dad need some privacy. Try to get her to sleep all night; there may be some crying the first few nights but be brave and let her cry and she will get with the program . Also, sleeping with baby in the bed can have some tragic consequences if one of you rolls over on her or she falls out of the bed. She is too old to sleep in the bed with you. She could crawl out of the bed while you are sleeping and fall off the bed or get into something that may harm her. Cribs have rungs on them for a reason: to keep the baby inside; you do not have that protection if she is just sleeping on a regular bed.

Second, 10 months is not that long to breast feed. If you resolve some of the sleeping issues you may get more sleep and feel happier about breast feeding.

You can wean her gradually. Yes, she likes the comfort of the breast; it was intended to be this way. Let her have her comfort and when she starts to eat more food you can give her a cup and just forget about bottles. My son went straight to the cup when he was a year old and never looked back.

Answer 6

The World Health Organization recommends a child nurse for at least two years.

It is not only comfort that she nurses for - she will continue to get good nutritution as well as comfort from your milk for years. When she is sick, nursing is invaluable. And hello - what's wrong with comforting an infant?????

It's good to have her in bed with you,you've not done something wrong. The constant sucking will happen when she is undergoing a growth spurt or a cognitive leap. This will not last long.

Let her wean herself as nature intended. No need to put her in a baby cage or to feel bad because you haven't. (remember, wean her and she still wakes up, but now you don't have what she's wanting....)

Answer 7

infants NEED full fat milk for at least 12 months! Don't wean her on to a poor sustitute. She may be "reverse cycling" and nursing at night for food, not just comfort.

Give her few more months. The World Health Orginization recommends breastfeeding for At LEAST 2 years! No need to introduce a fake nipple that you will have to wean her off of, when yours is still available.

Answer 8

Hi, my name is Mary. I have a 13 month old son that is still breastfeeding. He uses me the same way that your little girl does you. I have asked many doctors and they said that it is a comfort thing..... My son will take a cup but only if it has water in it. I try to limit him during the day, and let him just snack, that seems to work. The doctors told me that as long as he is taking solids that it is ok. A nother thing you might try is Gerber Oatmeal Ceral and Gerber yourgt drinks to subsitute for mike. That works really good, just mix the ceral with milk instead of water....And one more thing, she wont want to take formal so if her body can digest mike ok then start her on milk...it she likes it......

Answer 9

I breastfed my children. I have three daughters. The first and last child accepted coming off the breast much easier than thje middle child. I fed her for 16 months. I know a lady that breast fed her son for three years.

The truth of it is, when you decide to stop, it may take a few days(as was the case with my middle child). They will get hungry and will eat what you give them.

Answer 10

Just do it! She should eventually take the bottle, If not then it's about time for a sippy cup. You did a great job to go 10 months be proud of yourself. I am. Great job, but mom's got to have a break not only for yourself , but your child.