Weaning My Baby

Why would you want to wean him from that at 7 months? He has been fasting through the night and is hungry. Plus, he's still young. I guess if you're dead set to wean him early, the don't use water, and certainly do not make him wait.

Hi K.,

I'm just at the end of the weaning process. I still have one more feeding to get rid of. It's been hard because my son never took a bottle or binky so we are going straight to a sippy cup. To get rid of the morning feeding I had to let him cry for the first 20 minutes while I tried to distract him with everything under the sun.....his favorite toy, favorite song, taking him outside, anything I could do. Then I would give him his sippy cup along with filling him up on his favorite foods bananas, stawberries, cereal. He still cries in the morning but it's getting a little shorter everyday! Good Luck. Distraction & Food are the key!

SAHM with 3 boys 7,5,1

If he is sleeping through the night then he is probably hungry. Is there a reason for you to wean him now? 7 months is still pretty young. I wouldn't start the weaning process until 9 months and when that comes feed him cereal first in the mornings.

K., Why be in a hurry to end this one thing that only YOU can share?

If you really want to refuse breast milk for him, just make up your mind 10000 percent and move that direction. The best way to wean is to have your hubby respond to your baby because your baby KNOWS you have milk and WANTS it! :o)

You may even allow him to nurse for shorter periods of time and offer other things right after that you know he enjoys. Make sure you increase your cuddle time because a portion of the value of breastfeeding is the "forced" cuddling and skin contact that babies (humans) need.

Why would you want to wean him from his morning feeding? Isn't that his breakfast? Most people do eat when they get up for the morning. Maybe I don't understand. Is is just that you want to stop breastfeeding? If that is the case then just replace it with a bottle cause after a nights sleep he is probably hungry in the morning and you have to feed him something.Also, you CAN nurse when you are pregnant. No biggy. I have friends who did it and it was fine. Please give the baby breastmilk for as long as you can.

the first question is WHY do you want to wean him from nursing when he wakes? there's no reason at all to not nurse him first thing in the morning. the american acadamy of pediatrics recommends nursing through the first year, supplementing after six months with solids, but this is just a SUPPLEMENT, he should still be tasting food, even through the end of the first year. and in fact, it usually works best if you nurse baby first and then offer solids. if you're needing to replace this nursing because of work or something else, then i'd suggest pumping and giving him a bottle first thing, but if you're only wanting to replace it because you think he shouldn't want to nurse at this time or because someone else said something, then there's no reason at all to stop this precious morning time with your baby.

Why do you want to ween so young? He should have just started solids at about 6 months. It's your call but nusing at least a year will give his immune system that much more time to develop.

Why do you want to wean him from your breast? Is it because society told you? You want to do it for you? Or do you think it is the best choice for him? You should be making your decisions about him based upon what you truely feel is best for him. Now, it is true that in the USA we are often pushed to stop breastfeeding early because boobs have become a sex symbol more than their intended purpose of feeding our children. Still studies show it is very beneficial for both mother and child to breast feed as long as possible. Formulas is hassel and is an alternative for breastmilk, but will always remain substandard. It can not replace breast milk. Do you think it would be easier for you to get up in the morning and make a bottle for your child than pulling out a free and healthy food anywhere at any time? Lastly, breast milk is a full food source. It should not be thought of as just a drink. A child at 7 months should be drinking breast milk as the main nutrition in their diets. So, I ask you again, why do you want to wean him?

Are you just wanting to stop nursing all together or that time of day? I would say if he is sleeping good at night, then of course he is going to be hungry in the morning!! :) I would say too at 7 mos he needs to eat after sleeping and if you want to stop nursing give him formula, never water.

It is your choice as far as when to stop breast feeding completely!!!! I understand. I weaned my daughter after 3 mos (difficult circumstances) and my son at 5 months. BOTH ARE VERY HEALTHY. However I did give them formula and at that age they will want to still eat during the night and first thing in the morning. It is a good time too to try and give some cereal for breakfast when he wakes up too.

I would make up a batch of formula and put bottles in the fridge so at night and/or first thing in the morning there were already bottles in the fridge and I didn't have to make them.

I would say if you want to wean, don't nurse him back to sleep as it will be a habit for him and he will use that to soothe himself. If they are hungry they are hungry. Just lay him back down awake if you are wanting him to sleep longer after he eats.

I just read the other responses and yes, it is that important that you breastfeed your baby! Sorry, I do not believe that it's an option (only in life threatening emergencies). We as a culture (including our lobbied pediatricians) are still recovering from an all out propaganda campaign from formula companies.Nurse your baby! That is why you have breasts.

People, people. Why is everyone so judgemental about breastfeeding? 7 months is a lot longer than most people go! I don't think you need to breastfeed for a year. Yes, it's better than formula and all that jazz, but once they start eating solids and start producing their own antibodies it's not as big of a deal. If she wants to wean, give her some suggestions on weaning, not a lecture on why she should continue breastfeeding. Just because you did doesn't mean everyone has to. I wish as moms we could just accept everyone at where they are at and what they are doing for their kids instead of giving lectures that everyone as already heard a million times. Sorry...I'm just a little frustrated because whenever anyone asks a question about breastfeeding or weaning people jump down their throats unless they have fed for over a year, and even then they'll get comments from people who think you should nurse even longer.

K.,

I believe it is perfectly fine to stop nursing after 6 mo. My ped. would say that it's not that beneficial to nurse after 6 mo. so don't feel pressured to do so. I would start by pumping and replacing his feedings with 1/2 formula and 1/2 breast milk. Unless he has been introduced to formula- then this is not necessary. Offer cereal(Cheerios are great) to help get him on the right track for eating breakfast. Do still spend a few minute of cuddle time each morning. Until he will not let you anymore. - This happens way to fast so enjoy him ! You do need a little piece of your life back as well don't let others make you feel guilty! :)

L.

Mom of 3 - 18,8,2.

It's true that his main source of food for the first year should come from milk -- breast or forumula -- but good GRIEF if you are ready to wean him, then don't let other people's advocacy of breastfeeding and condemnation of stopping or condescention about it stop you. Breastfeeding is a wonderful bonding experience and provides many benefits to mom and child but when you are ready to be done with it, you are, and the last thing you want to do is continue to do it because other people think you should - if you're anxious to be done, resentful about continuing, etc, then your experience (and your baby's) is telling you that it's time. Formula is an alternative used by educated and informed women, doctors, and nurses every day. Seven months is a great start for your child, and frankly it's longer than most of the women I know breastfed. Talk to your pediatrician and make your next move (or don't) but do not be bullied into continuing breastfeeding by over-eager advocates who do not know your circumstances.

Hi K.,
If you want to wean your baby, go ahead. It's not going to hurt him! I just started giving my daughter a bottle of breast mild for a week or two and then switched to formula. She never even batted an eye... Now I give here a little fruit and then a bottle and we're on our way. :-)

Is there a reason you don't want him to nurse in the morning? The pediatric association recommends breastfeeding be the staple of your childs diet until 12 mos. of age.

At this age babies should still be nursing 5 times per day. It is very normal for them to want to nurse when they wake, especially when they are still so young. As he gets older he will be able to wait a little longer. Do you want to start weaning him? Formula is the next best option to breastmilk. Water is not an adequate substitute as he still needs most of his nutrition from you (or formula). Otherwise hang in there- in five more months he will be a year old and you can start weaning to whole milk. It might seem like forever but in hindsight the time goes so fast and I miss the quiet moments when I used to nurse my son (now a very active 2 and 1/2 year old!).

Best wishes,

J.

Why do you want to wean now? He will nurse less often now and you could do the whole first year then wean. I highly reccomend contnuing nursing if you can, I did all three of my kids and they are so healthy!

My daughter nursed every morning right after she got up and would be cranky if she didn't. To wean her I just immediately set her down to eat breakfast and didn't offer the breast. If she fussed and clung when I went to set her down I would nurse her, at first. Then after a while I nursed her only every other day. Then every 3 days, then 4. She would get fussy and clingy and that would be my signal that she wanted to nurse that morning. After 3 weeks of it she was completely done. She was on whole milk and drinking out of a sippy cup so it was easy to do the transition.

Why would you want to "wean him from that?" Cuddle up with him, lay in bed with him for awhile, start the day being close to your son. Before you know it, he'll be up and out the door running to school, and these morning feedings will be a memory. Enjoy them while you can!

I am not sure I understand your question. Is he only nursing once in the morning and has a bottle the rest of the day? then just replace it with the same bottle you have teh rest of the day. He is on;y 7 months old so he should still be eating basically on demand about every three hours a day. Mine just began to sleep through the night and were fed at (3 am occassionally until about a year), wake up, 6 am, 9:30, nap, 12 noon, active time, 3 pm, nap, 5/6 pm with dinner and a small amount about 7 pm before bed. When i did wean fully from nursin to sippies and bottles, it was at 9 months. Mine started sippies during the day/ meal feedings. Then I used a half formula and half brest pumped, gradulally getting to be more formula. I dropped the before feeding first by deluting the formula and reducing the amount gradulally over a month about 11 months. By 12/13 months, mine were using sippies and dropped feedings other then meals and two smaller ones as snacks, one in am and one in pm...these became juice or water.

i started giving mine breakfast right away so they'd forget about nursing when they woke up, then distract them with playing soon after eating. but mine were 14 months when i began weaning them, so that might not work in your situation. you could try a little solid food and a bottle of formula and then distract with playing afterwards. good luck!

Your post is a little confusing - is this the only time he nurses during the day, or are you just eliminating this feeding? Are you already using formula at other times? If you are weaning completely, don't do his favorite feeding first (or last). He does need nutrition at this time of day, so you can get him up and do cereal or oatmeal right away (if you have started solids), but he will be thirsty, so nursing or formula would be next. Please reconsider weaning at 7 months. You have gone this far, can you stick it out until he is a year?

I left formula with a babysitter once and my son REFUSED to drink it. Breastmilk is sweet and formula tastes yucky, so he may not be receptive to it, especially first thing in the morning...He could stop sleeping well, be less happy, etc., so look for a learning curve.
Good luck!

I had to wean my son at 17 months because I was pregnant with his sister and it was just too much, honestly. His morning "latte" was his favorite nurse, and my hubby finally had to get up with him at 5 a.m. and take him downstairs every morning rather than into our room. We did this over Thanksgiving break so we could nap in the afternoon. :-)It was so hard, especially the first morning - Thomas was making his usual happy noises until he realized he was going downstairs with dad, and then he cried on and off for almost an hour while dad snuggled him and I stayed upstairs (and wasn't too happy myself). After that week, he was fine and actually slept a little later and then went straight to breakfast. Good luck!

Why would you want to wean him from this at such an early age? Most babies nurse when they wake up, especially for at least the first year. Your baby is only a baby for such a short time, and your milk is the perfect food for him. I would encourage you not to replace this special time with a substitute. Your son is not nursing only for food and nourishment from you; he also receives comfort, security, closeness, love and so much more when he nurses. Keep doing the best for your sweet baby! :)

Why do want to wean him? He has gone a long time without eating! If you don't want to nurse him when he wakes up then use a bottle with formula in it. He's still very young. All of my babies nursed first thing in the morning until they were at least a year old.

I am not sure how to respond, as of course it is up to you and really only you when to wean. I am not clear why its a problem that you son need to eat immediately upon waking up. This seems perfectly normal to me especialy at this age when you are just introducing solids and solids are not their main source of nutrition... milk is. So if it's that you don't want to nurse him first thing in the morning then you need to move to formula (I don't recall when water is introduced, probably a little with solids).. but definitely DO NOT replace nursing with water... your child is likely to be hungry and needs food, calories, nutrition.

If you can nurse (at least part time) till your baby is one that is awesome but again... if it helps to begin to introduce formula you should. I supplemented with formula around 6 months.. it allowed me to nurse until my son was a little more than 2 (a personal choice but I was glad to have formula).

Until your child is one their main source of calories and nutrition come from milk (formula or mommy) and the introduction of food is to learn how to eat and experience tastes and flavors and textures...

I don't know how to wean (I am still nursing my 7 month old) but I would say replace the morning feed with formula so he still gets nutrients. Also,I know kellymom.com has a whole section on ways to wean. Good luck!

At seven months old he should still be nursing when he wants as much as he wants, breast milk should be his primary form of nutrition. Don't worry about it for a few more months and then just start offering solids everytime he asks to nurse.

If you're planning on trying to get pregnant, I'd keep nursing since it's better. Chances are when your milk sours, he'll wean himself naturally. If you don't get pregnant as soon as you'd like, you could wean then. Until a year he needs the nutrients from either nursing or formula.