Weaning from the Breast

Updated on June 09, 2008
M.H. asks from Walterboro, SC
26 answers

i have a beautiful baby girl. she is six and a half months old - i startd her on jar foods about two months ago. i worry that i may be weaning her to fast or too soon - i dont want her to be totally weaned until she is one because i dont want to have to give her formula. she only nurses now in the morning around 4 and 7 and once in the afternoon around 1 and then at night after or during her bath. other times she gets her jars. i need someone to tell me if she is getting enough MILK so to say or should i cut back on the jars? she used to nurse every three hrs no matter what before the jar food. i guess i am just scared she isnt getting the nurtients she needs since she doesnt nurse. and what is the proper way and time to wean. can she rely on just jar food til she is one or if i stop nursing will he have to have formula????

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So What Happened?

thanks for all tips and i have taken them to heart. i want whats best for my baby - just like everyone else. i have talked to her ped. and she said as long as she is nursing and weting enough diapers and not screaming her head off constantly then i must be doing something right. thanks again

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T.L.

answers from Savannah on

I don't know about the weaning because I stopped breastfeeding my son after 10 weeks but I did start him on things like mashed potatoes and super soft foods that we eat at 6 months. Jar food is expensive too after awhile, just like formula.

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

It ok giving her baby food just keep on breast milk and baby food don't start giving her table food until she is one so that she do not end up becoming to over weight that only problem you would have to worry about.

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D.H.

answers from Atlanta on

She sounds like she is getting enough milk. I think we all feel like they should be nursing a ton more even when they are eating, but they don't. It's okay. I would offer her the breast first though and then the food.

As far as proper way and time to wean...let her wean on her own. If she is ready to wean at 1 year old, then so be it, if it's 18 months old, fine too; just let her give you the cues. If she happens to want to wean beforehand, you DO NOT have to give formula to the baby. I would personally give her goat's milk instead...much healthier than that nasty stuff from the store. lol.

My daughter stopped at around 10.5 to 11 months and I switched her to soy milk (not formula).

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K.L.

answers from Atlanta on

My daughter is almost 8 months old. At six months, her pediatrician recommended that she eat twice a day and not too close to the times that she breastfeeds so she would still be eager to nurse. Our schedule around your daughter's age was somewhat like this... breastfeed around 7:00 am., food at 9:00, breastfeed around 10, 1, and 4, food around 5:00 or so and then breastfeed about 7:30 or so before bed. It is still very important for milk or formula to be their primary source of nutrients at your daughter's age. With breastfeeding you do not know the exact amount of milk she is receiving but you could estimate. Our pediatrician recommended that she have 28 - 32 ounces of breastmilk or formula per day at 6 months old. If you want to breastfeed her until she is a year, I would cut back on the food a little and try to increase her nursings. The more food she has at an earlier age, the more likely she will be to wean earlier than a year. Good luck!

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C.E.

answers from Atlanta on

I have 2 girls. 2 and 8 months. I loved breastfeeding but now I have stopped. What I would tell you is this: formula nowadays has so many nutrients and it is great,fabulous and ok to give to your daughter. But if breastfeeding is going great-continue. She will tell you if she is hungry. She is fine. You are doing great. I would suggest breastfeeding and then doing solids. I give my 8 month old a bottle and then feed her if she wants-- the solids are not the important part now. It's all about experimenting for them. My daughter loves to chew on celery, breadsticks,cheerios, etc... Start some solids-- bake or microwave a sweet potato (make sure it is cool), mash it, feed it to her. Same with reg. potato. Also, bananas- my daughter even gets toast-- she just gnaws on it. I know she does not have allergies. I don't know what your case is. Mix rice cereal or some of the others with breastmilk or formula or water. Buy those puffs they sell for kids and put them on her tray. Kids are amazing. She will spit out the stuff she can't eat. Try the stuff- -see if it melts in your mouth. Hope this helps.
Oh-- weaning. Start with the day feeding (drop it). Then next day or after 2 days- drop another feeding. The last ones are usually morning and night. Replace them with formula (depending when you want to do this). Let me know if you want to know more.

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L.C.

answers from Atlanta on

If you stop nursing, she WILL have to have formula, until the age of one. I would cut back on the baby food. My girls NEVER had baby food until at least nine months, and even then, it was more of a snack. I say, lose the baby food and just continue nursing. The longer you nurse, the better it is for your baby girl.

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A.H.

answers from Savannah on

Hi M.!
Breastmilk/formula should be the primary nutrition of any baby until they are a year old. Most pediatricans recommend waiting until a baby is 6 months old to start solids. Usually most moms start with rice cereal and then gradually add in other foods.

You said that your baby is only nursing 4 times a day. Is she having plenty of wet diapers? Is she gaining weight? At that age, both of my girls were nursing every 3 hours or so....probably more like 6-8 times in a 24 hour period.

If I were you, I would back off of the solids a little bit. Make sure that you always offer your breastmilk FIRST before giving her any solids.

You also asked about weaning. My goal has been to nurse until 12 months of age. With both of my girls, I found that they lost interest in nursing and weaned on their own. My youngest quit nursing cold turkey at 10 months of age. I had to pump and supplement with formula.

Your baby needs breastmilk/formula until she reaches the age of 1. Baby food will not meet all of her nutritional needs. If/when you decide to wean, you will have to buy formula for her. I found it to be very expensive, especially when I was used to nursing for free.

Good Luck!
A.

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M.J.

answers from Charleston on

Hi M.!
I have to agree with Liz. I personally think you began baby food too soon. She sounds like she is not ready to wean. I would at least try to go to at least a year before pushing the food over breast. If you do stop, I would give her formula or goat's milk (with added nutrients). 12 months is not a magical time to stop formula. Babies bodies/bones are radidly developing at this time and they really do need the added nutrients in formula(if not breast), even past 12 months. There are a few organic companies that carry formula and theres are at a highter standard than most. Check them out if you dont want to use the others. Please dont ever use soy as her primary source of milk. It will totally distrub her hormones now and reck her body in the future. There is tons of research on this!! Good for you for being such a great mom! Keep up the good work. But the jars to rest and look for her clues! Best of luck to you guys:)

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M.G.

answers from Atlanta on

She is naturally needing less breast milk as she moves to solid foods. Don't worry at all.
By the time she is about 9-12 months she will naturally wean and pretty much only use you for comfort. Sad but true!

That being said, this would be a wonderful time to introduce her to sippy cups! Try pumping some of your milk & putting it in a sippy. Again, this is and should be a gradual process.

Don't worry about her not getting enough. When she is hungry, she will feed. If she is gaining weight and growing, all is well!

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V.E.

answers from Sumter on

All three of my children did exactly what you daughter is doing at the same age. They nursed 3 times a day beginning around 7 months and the other two meals were baby food - lunch and dinner. Eventually the baby food changed to finger foods and table foods. I weaned my oldest two from breast to bottle at 7 1/2 month - just because I wanted to stop nursing. They then drank 3 bottles a day instead. My youngest nursed 3 times a day until about 10 months and then we went to 2 times and by 11 months one time. We were introducing whole milk then also. Keep in mind that when it comes to nursing or formula, babies need between 24-36 oz until about age one. My girls were always closer to 24, my son closer to 36.
Also, anytime they were sick, or we were somewhere that feeding baby food was not practical we could substitute with breastfeeding or bottle.
Hope this helps good luck.
V. E.

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S.C.

answers from Atlanta on

at this point breastmilk is much more important that the jar food. make sure she's nursing enough and if not then cut back on the jars. breastmilk is best for your baby and you don't want to have to do formula if at all possible. good luck hopefully your baby won't wean herself before age one.

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D.W.

answers from Charleston on

If you want to have jar food as a "snack" that's cool, but nurse her first and nurse her on demand. When she gives you her cues she's hungry, nurse her and then give the jar food. Even at a year old, I still nurse my baby first, then go to table food.

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A.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Always start feeding her with breastmilk and if she is still hungry then feed her solid food. Breastmilk is superior and this method is the method recommended by LLL and WHO. Your milk supply will be where it needs to be and your baby will be getting the correct mix of milk and food.

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J.I.

answers from Atlanta on

She seems to be right on track. By the time she is a year old she will only nurse twice a day most likely. The thing you want to watch is that you don't just give her jar food. She needs to learn to eat textured food so that she doesn't develop a "pickiness" toward texture and foods in general. She can now eat things like ripe mashed bananas, mashed potatoes, avocado, puffs, cheerios, etc. As long as she can sit up. So many parents complain of picky eaters when their children get to be toddlers but what they don't know is that it can be prevented. One trick to the process is to understand infant eating and that it can take a baby up to 15 tries of the same food to determine if they like it or not. Also many infants have trouble with tongue thrust, which doesn't seem like a big deal to us but they really have to learn to use their tongue while eating so that they don't gag on the food. If they don't learn this effectively they will need therapy for either their eating habits or speech. This is extreme but happens more and more these days. A start for infants is to put a bit of jam or jelly (not strawberry) around their lips so they can lick it off. This helps with the thrusting motion they need to eat properly. Children with extreme gag reflex and children with reflux benefit from this the most.
The trick is to be a bit more adventurous with you infants food than just jars. They can really start to mush up a lot of the food on your plate by the time they are a year old, with or with out teeth. I was fortunate and lived with my father-in-law for the first several months of my daughter's life, he is a very admired pediatrician in the NYC area and the time I spent with him was invaluable.

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J.G.

answers from Atlanta on

Sounds like you have made a great weaning transition. I don't know what you have against a good formula and you may want to ask your doctor about the nutrition issue of no formula and just jar food. Being concerned about jar food, Make your own food or use baby food from the health food store only. If your doctor says she is OK with just jar food, then leave this alone. Get connected to a health food store that has personnel who can assist you with infant nutritional issues or give you a practioner for babies. You are doing great. Enjoy your baby. J. Gordon

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M.B.

answers from Columbus on

I can't answer the nutritional question as to if she is getting enough milk. But I can say that with both of my boys the same thing happened.. I was able to keep nursing the 3-4 times a day until they dropped them off themselves.. Which was around 13 months for both. They just little by little stopped wanting them. But again I was able to keep going for 13 months. So even if it is only 3 times a day if she is eating more during those 3 times, then it might be the same amount of milk as before just in 3 big meals rather than 4 or 5 small ones. I have a Military chart for children and it states Age 4-9 months - 3-4 feedings a day and Age 5-12 month Quantity taken in Individual Feedings 7-8 oz. And the average growth for 6-9 months is 15gr a day or 1lb a month. I hope this helps. Both my boys are healthy 50% chart kids. Your doing a great job just wanting to give here the best nutrition out there.. Your Milk..

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J.G.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

It sounds like your doing a good job to me. I would continue to nurse on demand (when your baby wants to). She will probably not wean unless you start giving her something like formula in a bottle or cup. Many babies slow down on the nursing once they start getting around, but you can go months and months nursing just in the morning or evening and not have your milk supply dry up. Keep up the good work nursing for at least the first year.

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R.W.

answers from Savannah on

my daughter is 9 1/2 months old and still nurses, while also eating solids. it's my understanding that they need milk, breast or formula, in addition to any solid foods they're eating. Right now, my baby eats solids at breakfast, lunch and supper and nurses after each "meal", but also nurses between lunch and supper and at bedtime, sometimes in the early morning, too. so she's still nursing 5-6 times a day, although only for about 10 minutes now at each session. i would still try to offer the breast after she eats solids, even if it's just a little bit to "wash it down". i think they still need the nutrients they're getting from breast milk while eating solids. as for weaning, this is my first baby and we're not there yet- i'm trying to nurse until she's one, also. good luck!

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C.H.

answers from Augusta on

I think your worrying too much about it.If she wasn't getting enough then she would let you know by wanting to nurse more.If she seems content with the schedule now then don't change it and be happy that she is learning to wean herself off.Sounds like your the one who is not ready,not her.And children need the formula or breast milk until their a yr old.If your still breast feeding her at 1 then it's up to you and your baby when it's time to stop but if you stop and go to formula and a bottle you have to take the bottle away at a yr old.

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T.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

i would contact your local la leche league (www.llli.org). your breastmilk should be her primary source of nutrition at this age and at least through the first year. its all about supply and demand with breastfeeding. if you want her to nurse more, cut back on solids and offer her the breast more. if she does wean, you will have to do pumped milk in bottles/sippy cup or formula.

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L.A.

answers from Augusta on

I agree with those who said to cut back on the baby food. I was always told to wait for the baby food until about 9 months. Of course, since you have started, you should give it to her after you nurse. Breastmilk is very important now and still should be her primary source. My son is about a week away from one and he eats regular food with us but nurses about 4-5 times a day (two for naps, one at bedtime and then random snacking through out the day). Even though he doesn't nurse a whole lot still, he is very much enjoys nursing and I don't think he'll be weaning soon. I doubt your baby will be weaning soon either. She is probably just getting full from the baby food.

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B.F.

answers from Atlanta on

According to most pediatricians, breast milk should be their primary source of nutition until age one. How many jars of food is she eating at each meal? I think at this age it should only be about a jar per meal. Both of my children nursed 3 times per day until they were 17 months old and then weaned themselves. I don't necessarily think that most babies wean themselves before 1 year. I have several friends that nursed each of their kids until age 2.

Ultimately, choosing to wean is a personal decision but you have to give formula until age 1. If you decide to this I would recommend using a sippy cup instead of a bottle. It's one less battle you'll face later on down the road.

I have noticed you are getting a lot of differing advice. I would also recommend speaking to your ped. They are there to answer your questions and their job is to help you keep your baby healthy.

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J.B.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

There are Leaders in your area that you can talk to and monthly meetings your can attend to find support.
http://www.llli.org/leaderinfo.html

Taken from www.lli.org (La Leche League International)

How long should a mother breastfeed?
A mother and her baby should breastfeed for as long as they wish to breastfeed. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently (2005) recommends: "Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child." * As solids are introduced, usually around the middle of the first year, your baby will shift his primary source of nutrition from your milk to other foods.

All the benefits of human milk—including nutritional and health—continue for as long as your baby receives your milk. In fact, as your baby takes less human milk, these advantages are condensed into what milk is produced. Many of the health benefits of human milk are dose related, that is, the longer the baby receives human milk, the greater are the benefits.

HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS. I NURSED 4 OF 5 CHILDREN. MOTHER'S MILK WAS OFTEN THEIR SOLE SOURCE OF FOOD FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR, BY THEIR CHOICE. THEY WERE INTRODUCED TO TABLE FOODS ALONG THE WAY, BUT MAIN NUTRITION STILL WAS BREASTMILK. LA LECHE LEAGUE WAS AN INVALUABLE SOURCE TO MY MOTHERING AND PARENTING PHILOSOPHY. I RECEIVED EDUCATION AND SUPPORT AND LATER BECAME A LEADER MYSELF. REACH OUT AND EMBRACE WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU. YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. TRUST THE INSTINCTS THAT GOD GAVE YOU. MAY HE RICHLY BLESS YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

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J.H.

answers from Atlanta on

I started introducing solids to my son at this age, but I always breastfed him before sitting down to some solids.

One thing that helped me not stress to much about solids at this age was to think about introducing new foods as more of a game than a necessity. For instance, I would offer smashed banana around now, but looked at it as an opportunity for my son to feel a new sensation with his hands and/or mouth. I say continue on with the breastfeeding, because it will do nothing but good and look at introducing solids as more of a learning experience than a way to provide nutrients. Your baby is getting everything she needs from you! Good luck!

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S.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Just because you are feeding your daughter food does not mean that she can't still breastfeed. At 6 months, she still needs milk at each meal. I was advised to let me son have one breast, then stop to give him food. In the beginning, he went to the second breast. Now, at 8 months he does not. He eats enough food now to fill him up. I have to pump after each feeding. You could also pump and feed her a bottle, letting her eat in the middle of her bottle!! My milk supply has now adjusted and I do now have to pump, just alternate breasts.

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C.B.

answers from Columbia on

Hi, My personal exp. has only been w/ child-lead weaning and my daughter nursed until she was 3yr. I am a R.N. and involved w/ the local L.L.L. chapter, They are great for breastfeeding education I'm sure they could answer all your questions(LalacheLeague.com) Kind regards...

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