I have a almost ten month old daughter, I breastfeed her and we supplement with 3 - 4 bottles of formula a day. She is also eating many new foods everyday probably 1 - 3 small meals a day and of course she loves her goldfish and cheerios snacks too. Lately she semms less and less interested in breastfeeding. It seems as though, if given the option she will take the bottle over breast. I am only breastfeeding her 2-4 times a day always in the morning and in the evening once or twice in the afternoon and usually a night feeding. She is my first and I don't know what to do when it comes to breastfeeding I guess my question is could she be trying to ween herself from breastfeeding? I would like to make it to at least 12 months of breastfeeding. I also have noticed that she is really into everything she can possibly get into and them some. She is very close to walking and is VERY curious about her world. Is this a phase? Let me know what you think.
Thank you. Cher
I would keep trying to breastfeed. She might like the bottle because it comes out faster or she can move her head around and it follows her. Breastfeeding is such a wonderful thing.
It's most likely not a phase and most people will tell you that formula is more satisfying, which is why babies start to prefer it. However, the truth is that it's because forumla is sweetened - it's been designed to hook babies on the bottle instead of the boob.
Switch to a formula that is unsweetened if you want to prolong your breastfeeding experience. You can read the labels as to the corn-syrup/sugar content and choose the formula lowest in sugar (hopefully WITHOUT corn syrup at all - as corn syrup is an allergen and a nervous system stimulator).
Also, eliminating the corn-syrup will have a more profound effect than you can imagine: she will calm down and explore the world from a relaxed, naturally energetic perspective instead of on sugar-overload.
My kids became very nosey as I called it at 9 months. A phase that doesn't seem to stop:) My youngest is now able to concentrate but she's not on me longer than a minute it seems unless it's sleepy time.
My first was given the bottle more and more because she caught a cold and refused to latch on so we substituted and after 3 weeks of trying to latch her at each feeding I gave up on breastfeeding. I read that kids can self wean at about a year but this is what I just found and you may want to read the stuff in that link I'm giving you.
At around 11 months or so my milk supply dropped off and the milk turned more watery and I heard that is okay. I stopped my afternoon feeding around a year and have been on am and pm feeding since about a year. She'll be 2 in September and we do am, nap, pm and whenever she taps my breasts or pulls up my shirt. I'd keep offering it to her 2-3 times a day. She gets most of what she needs from solids at this point but if you can make it to at least a year that is best. As long as you can is good. Good luck!
True SELF-weaning before a baby is a year old is very uncommon. In fact, it is unusual for a baby to wean before 18-24 months unless mom is encouraging weaning. However, it is very common to hear a mother say that her baby self-weaned at 9 or 10 months old, or even earlier. How do we reconcile these statements?http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/babyselfwean.html
If you want her to keep nursing then offering a bottle isn't consistent with that. Babies at that age *are* easily distracted and may seem disinterested, so in my opinion, by offering a bottle you are definitely nudging her towards weaning. Babies almost never wean themselves at that age, it happens due to external factors. Check out La Leche League's book on child-led weaning and good luck!
http://www.amazon.com/How-Weaning-Happens-Diane-Bengson/d...
My son tried to wean off the breast at that age and I just stayed consistent (I did not want to end up starting formula for just 2 months). I only breastfed him in quiet places during that time. Also breastfeed at the times when the child is most likely to be hungry. Cut back on the formula (or completely skip unless there is some unusual reason you Have to provide formula) until breastfeeding is reestablished.
Take her lead. My first daughter became uninterested at 9 months. My son then nursed for a year and then my 3rd child was done at 10 1/2 months. I, too, wanted to nurse all for a year. It became a long drawn out process to get the 1st and 3rd to nurse as they were interested in other things while nursing and just didn't seem to have the time for it anymore. You may stick with it for a bit longer just to make sure it's not a phase but I'm thinking not. It's sad to not nurse anymore, but far better than feeling like it's taking an hour to get a couple of ounces in her or becoming frustrated - which doesn't benefit either of you.
She's gotten great nutrition and added benefits from nursing for 10 months!! Congratulations!!!
C.,
If your daughter wants to breastfeed less take her lead. You can continue to breastfeed until 12 months but you don't have to do it so often. Just do a wake up feeding and a bed time feeding. This will also make it easier for your body because then once she turns one you could go down to one feeding and then none. I did this with my daughter and I never had soreness and she hasn't missed it at all. You should feel good about going 10 months. Good luck to you!
It sounds like your weening your daughter. She probably prefer the bottle over breast because it's easier. It flows faster out of the bottle then the breast. Plus the less you breastfeed the lower your supply.
I've always had problems with mine because It was hard for me to juggle solid food and breastfeeding at the same time. They get impatient and can't take time for breastfeeding.
Good for you! I know it gets frustrating, but you can make it 12 mo at this point. 10 mo is prime for distraction and playtime. I would suggest sitting is a quiet spot where there isn't much room for distraction. You can do it :-)
