Hi all. I have a 13 month old daughter who I was nursing once a day - first thing in the morning. The rest of the day she gets bottles or a sippy cup of regular milk.
Then about a week ago she got a real bad cough, cold and ear infection and would not nurse. She could not breathe at all while nursing so she preferred her bottle.
I have been pumping, but since I was only BF'g once a day my supply is low and I was pumping less each day! I have tried to BF her the last 2 days and she has a meltdown. She has no interest whatsoever.
I wanted to continue the once a day session til she was 18 mos, but it looks like she may have weaned herself?
I am very sad - is there anyway to resume our once a day feeding?
Thanks!
Hi G.,
My son did the same thing. He decided he was done. It was sad but he was ready to be a big boy. It is amazing that you have been able to BF 13 months- Be proud. Maybe you can set aside 10 min. a day to read to her instead so you still get that close time.
My son weaned at 14 months. No big reason-- just one day, he was done and preferred milk from his bottle. I was sad, like you, but you have done an amazing job nursing your daughter this long. Celebrate by making a huge pitcher of margaritas and getting drunk!
congratulations! sounds like she's weaned herself. usually there's no going back. you're doing a great job in that she's secure enough to wean herself and move on to a new phase in her life. for you, if you miss that bonding time i would suggest filling it with something else you two can do together, like snuggling and reading a book, snuggling and listening to music, singing songs etc.
G.,
I'm sorry to hear your daughter has refused to nurse. I have a friend whose daughter, 10-1/2 months old, just refused herself. She didn't have a cold so there really wasn't a reason just refused to nurse. It first happened in the middle of the night and my friend like you started to pump figuring that her daughter was just out of sorts and that she would go back to it but it has now been a week and her daughter cries when she offers the breast.
The ped said to make sure she is getting enough liquid ie. formual/water but as long as she is having the wet diapers and eating she is ok.
Basically if she decided to wean there really isn't much you can do about it. Just know you gave her the greatest gift you could.
Good luck,
L. M
Sounds like she's weaned herself...congratulations! This is actually a great thing considering it can be quite tough to do, it can be very bittersweet and you were very fortunate to have had the 13 months. Instead of nursing her in the A.M. try holding her close for story time while she has her bottle. You've done great and this is the beginning to your relationship!
Oh hugs G.. Sounds like she has decided it's time. You do deserve a pat on the back though. Nursing for 13 months is no easy task. I was made to stop bf my 13 month old when he was 3 months old and I was so bummed. I was angry too, but that was mostly at the jerk of a doctor we had. I don't think you want to force your daughter to nurse though. That will just be miserable for the both of you. And maybe she knows that you really don't have much to offer her anyways as far as your milk supply goes. It's always hard when they move onto a new phase though. You'll find another way to have that closeness with her though. Cuddling with her before bed or playing with her in the tub.
M.
Give your self a big pat on the back for nursing for over a year that is great! My daughter out of the blue 2 days before her 1st birthday weaned herself. I was taken by surprise but felt that it was best that she had done it herself and must have been ready. But not having that time together is hard, try and find something else that gets you that close time.
My girl did the same thing around that age. We were just nursing in the AM and she said "no" and turned away when i offered. I still pump once in am and once in pm and give it to her in her bottle but i miss the nursing.
Hi G.,
I think she might like the independence of a bottle and being able to play at the same time. I think you did great lasting as long as you did. One thing you might try to do, right now, is to try transitioning in the sippy cup in place of breast-feeding. My 14 mo old just fully transitioned to a sippy cup over this last weekend, and it only took me 2 weeks to do. She's been on whole milk only since the weekend after she turned 12 months, and she's doing great. At this stage, she only drinks (and needs) only about 16-18 oz of milk per day, and she eats table foods great, so I think your little one is just ready for the transition.
I know it's sad when that closeness is gone from breast feeding. My little one won't even let me hold her while she drinks her milk! In fact, she rarely lets me hold her. She just wants to be on the ground playing. That's just how it goes. They want a little independence, and we gotta give.
Hope all goes well with you.
Good Luck!
Mari
Not sure if anyone else suggested this - can you pump and give her breastmilk in a sippy cup so she still gets the benefits for a few more months?
