Help! I'm trying to wean...

Gold Member Joined: Jun 29 2010 Posts: 2086

I really want to wean my 13 month old. On days that I work, I nurse her once in the morning, once when I come home from work, and once before bed time. I recently eliminated one feeding btwn my homecoming and bedtime, and offer her milk instead. The most she takes is a few sips. But the real prob. is when I don't work, shabbos, sun. etc. She expects to nurse all day even though she takes a bottle or two of formula by the babysitter every day with no problem. If I don't nurse her, she just goes to sleep at naptime without drinking. She refused to even touch the bottle, just sucked her thumb and went to sleep. Help! I cant wean if she refuses to replace the nursing and just goes without! ( I give her solids, but she's a very poor eater, and doesn't increase food intake too much either) Any advice?

Posted: Sun, Jun 05 2011, 12:38 pm Post subject:

Just a thought, it's possible that she is not drinking that much volume from you either at this point, it might just be comforting. When they eat solids, they don't necessarily keep taking in as much fluid nutrition as they did before.

It might be a good thing that she can go to sleep without nursing, if your plan is to wean...

Gold Member Joined: Jun 29 2010 Posts: 2086

so you're saying you wouldn't worry about her not drinking the bottle? the dr did say she doesn't need formula anymore, and shld drink milk, but she doesn't like it , and only drinks a drop.

Posted: Sun, Jun 05 2011, 1:06 pm Post subject:

My son was exactly like this - never drank milk and never took a bottle from me, and sucked his thumb when he couldn't nurse. He was also a really picky eater and ate very little solids. So I nursed him until he was 16 months old because I was worried about him not getting enough nutrients. Then I got pregnant, my milk dried up, and he self-weaned at about 18 months. He ate yogurt and I put milk in his oatmeal, and the pediatrician said that was enough dairy.

The only advice I have is to try to introduce a sippy cup which she may be more open to than a bottle coming from you. If she prefers formula to milk, try mixing in a little milk with the formula, and slowly increasing the amount of milk. Never worked for my son, but it may work for you DD!

Executive Member Joined: May 26 2009 Posts: 321

If she is getting other dairy -- yogurt, cheese etc. it should be fine -- no need to replace with formula/bottle. That's what my dr said at least. Offer sippy cups of water throughout so she does not get dehydrated in the summer.

Gold Member Joined: Jun 29 2010 Posts: 2086

she gets other dairy, but my dr told me to give her sixteen ounces of milk a day. That just aint happening.

Active Poster Joined: Mar 25 2010 Posts: 48

why don't you want to nurse when you're home? I am in the exact situation as you are. I was fully nursing and he is also 13 months and I went out to workl full time. So I nurse just like you, morning, when I come home and at bedtime. I wish I can nurse him more. Whenever I'm home though, on shabbos and sundays I nurse him fully. I don't mind because I am so much away frm him, he misses me and I miss him so I don't mind. It's bonding time:)

Gold Member Joined: Dec 16 2008 Posts: 1148

I double checked the date and poster on your original post to make sure it wasnt me, a few months ago! I was in the same situation, I felt it took so much out of me to nurse her constantly on weekends, and she started saying 'nurse!' and lifting my shirt, but wouldnt take a bottle from me at all. one day when she was 15 months I offered her a bottle of milk after about two months of not showing her a bottle, and she took it! I wpouldnt let her nurse at all from then on. hugged her and snuggles, but told her the I was 'broken' when she tried to nurse, and gave her a bottle while I held her. I didn't nurse her any more from that point on. she is now obsessed with bottles at 17 months, for better of for worse. she has between 16-24 oz of milk a day now.

I hope thing turn around for you soon. maybe stopping to nurse cold turkey will turn on her interest in the bottle? I totally understand your hesitation, though.

hatzlacha!!

Gold Member Joined: Jun 29 2010 Posts: 2086

thanks, be good, for the chizzuk! I felt much better after reading your post. Brighteyes, im really finished with nursing. I cant take it that the minute I cme home from work and im hot and exhausted shes jumping on me and begging to nurse. I really find it draining. And with the hot weaather coming.... Im glad it works for you. Ill have to bond with her in other ways.