12 month old, increasing demand

[milkyway1304]

I've been back at work since my dd was 10months and we had fallen into a pretty good routine of early morning feed, one on my return from work and a bedtime feed. She turned one last week. She seemed pretty ready to drop the morning feed as she had little interest. She no longer feeds to sleep and eats well in the day. I recently completed some night shifts and so was away from her for longer stretches. For the past few days she has been looking for milk whenever she sees me. Thankfully she hasn't started waking at night but yesterday she fed about 6 times. My supply has certainly dropped but I was ok with that thinking it may encourage her to eat more solids. My husband thinks it's probably just a reaction to our recent separations and to go with it for the moment. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

[morethanpotatoprints]

I found you languishing in unanswered so will bump for you.

Sorry, I haven't any answers for you.

[Writerwannabe83]

I returned to work when my BF DS was 10 months and due to working shifts for three days a week I only see him for 30 minutes in the morning and I give him a BF.

Prior to me going back to work we had a set routine of a BF when he woke up, another before his afternoon nap and then a final one before bed.

DS is now 13 months and over the last month in particular he wants to feed all the time! He comes over to me at all random times of the day and starts pulling at my top and crying for milk. It may be his reaction to the fact that for 3 days a week I don't really see him, but there is a very marked difference in his feeding pattern.

My milk supply has gone overboard due the frequent feeding on the four days we are together and it's reached the point now where I'm having to take my breast pump to work to relieve the discomfort whereas only a few months ago I could easily go 24 hours without feeding him.

[milkyway1304]

That's interesting writer, I wonder if it's an age thing or just a desire for closeness. We've never had a strict routine but had settled into a pattern of 2-3feeds a day. I really don't want to start pumping at work. And we had such a difficult time establishing solids that I don't want extra milk getting in the way of that. Do you try to distract your DS in the day or just go with it? I'm inclined to think it's more comfort as she doesn't look for milk when we are out

[Sansarya]

DS is 14 months and he too now wants to feed whenever he's near me. I think it's to do with adjusting to being away from me for most of the day and am hoping it'll pass.

[Writerwannabe83]

I tend to go with it if he wants it but I thinks that because I miss him so much on the three days that I don't see him that I feel I have to shower him with more love and attention on the four days I do see him

[milkyway1304]

Haha writer I think I'm the same! Have a horrible week ahead now- 4 8 hour days followed by 3 13hour nights. Thankfully a week off afterwards to shower her with love and affection! Although I'm spending it with my parents so expect to hear a lot of "isn't she too old for that (breastfeeding)?" and other such nonsense.

[Writerwannabe83]

Various members of my family are very anti BF'ing but they have stopped asking me about it as they order to think I don't do it anymore in an 'ignorance is bliss' type manner.

You have my sympathies!!!!

[milkyway1304]

It's amazing how many people have such strong opinions on how babies get their milk! My mother keeps saying she needs a bottle as "they always take a bottle when sick". As if my little bottle refuser could get more comfort from a bottle than a breast!

[Writerwannabe83]

My grandparents in particular were very unsupportive, my nan used to make little (but still hurtful) comments whenever I went to visit them. Apparently breast fed babies get dehydrated because they aren't having milk. And according to my FIL giving babies a breast feed isn't the equivalent as them having a drink so they need bottles of water and squash too otherwise they get thirsty

[Sansarya]

SQUASH???

[milkyway1304]

Ha, my mother had a bee in her bonnet about giving water too. Apparently otherwise they fill up with mucus!

[tinymeteor]

I'm coming to this a bit late but could it have been a growth spurt? My DD is just one and having a mahoosive growth spurt, eating like a horse all of a sudden, solids, formula, increased night feeds, the lot. It's gone on a good week this time. I finished BFing a month ago and rather glad I did it she'd be sucking the life out of me now!