my eight month old baby is exclusively breastfed (no formula ever. when she was about six mos., i began incorporating solids into her diet (which she absolutely LOVES). however, it seems like she wants to breastfeed less and less. is this normal? i guess maybe it's the natural transition from milk to solids but i can't help being concerned. i plan on breastfeeding until she's well over a year old (i'm hoping she'll simply wean herself when she's ready)--but i don't want her to wean herself right now (8 mos. seems too young)! at any rate, she's breastfeeding fewer times per day and seems to take less milk as she frequently will feed from one side only and refuse the other side. i always feed her milk before her solids (per dr's recommendation). when i worked yesterday, her grandmother said she took only 2 oz. of milk the entire day and refused to take any more (although she ate a lot of solids). Is this normal and what can i do to prolong breastfeeding?
2006-12-12 01:03:31 · 6 answers · asked by Manders 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It's extremely rare for an infant (under 1 yr) to self-wean. It sounds very normal to me. I would continue to nurse as much as your daughter wants. Sometimes when babies start solids, they start drinking formula or nursing more at once--meaning alot at night or alot in the morning. You could try offering to nurse her mid-morning or another down time.
My first daughter was only nursing about 4-6 times in a 24 hr period around 8 months. My younger daughter nursed alot more, but she was not as interested in solids.
2006-12-15 14:49:54 · answer #1 · answered by theresa4104 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NEVER think you have to switch to formula!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ignore that!!!!
You are doing a wonderful job breastfeeding!!!
It sounds like your daughter loves solid food :) When you feed her solids, does she have a sippy cup or bottle with water or juice in it?
If she is breastfeeding less, I wouldn't give her any other liquid on the side....
Try cutting down the food, you can put her on a schedule, breakfast, lunch, dinner....
And if she is already on a schedule, then maybe take out one meal, but not dinner, because you want her tummy to be full for night time!
2006-12-12 09:30:41 · answer #2 · answered by mrs. ruspee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like she is weening herself from breastfeeding, which can be normal. But if you want to prolong it and she is not wanting it there isnt much you can do. You can try to cut out her solid food a little bit so she is more hungry when its time to nurse or have breastmilk, that way she has an appetite..and when she realizes she's not getting the baby food she'll nurse.
She's getting a taste of what "real" food tastes like so breastmilk is not her favorite thing anymore like it was when thats all she ate.
2006-12-12 09:08:44 · answer #3 · answered by alexis73102 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
How much does she get in the way of solids? Breastmilk should definately still be most of her diet, with the solids mostly being for fun and practice.
I only have a couple of mins, but check out the links below as they might be helpful to you.
2006-12-12 09:06:55 · answer #4 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is normal because she is eating more solids. Just continue to breastfeed when you can. My daughter did the same thing but I still breastfed her untill she was a year and a half
2006-12-12 11:46:27 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would switch to formula. my auyt breastfed before and it was a pain in the butt. she would have to get the milk ready before she took the child to a babysitters. Maybe shes getting older and doesnt want any milk anymore
2006-12-12 09:13:50 · answer #6 · answered by Cavegirl948 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋