weaning an 11 mth old off breast

[andihl]

Hello. I am due back to work in 3 weeks and am currently still exclusively bfing my ds 3 times a day .. and sometimes a sneaky one at night. I want to wean him off bf but don't know how best to do it. Cold turkey? Gradually ? We have tried bottles and beakers off and on over the last few months but he is not interested in any of them. He is more interested in seeing how far he can spray the milk around the room. He eats solids v well and I think the bf is as much about comfort.
Any advice? I am loath to continue feeding because I think I will be exhausted and want to share things about more with dh when I return to work.

[browncat]

i've got a 10 month old and have cut back recently as i'm going back to work. he now only has one feed in the morning, (am reluctant to give it up as its a cuddle time ) i dropped the feeds gradually (one at a time) and that seemed to work, body took a few days to adjust but its back to normal now. Quite nice not to feel so tired all the time. Good luck!

[casbie]

do it gradually - otherwise you can end up mastitis and a very grumpy baby!

distraction works best with mine, unless really tired or upset.

hth

[andihl]

Thanks. Do you think it really matters if they take very little milk at 11/12 months of age - if they have plenty of yoghurt and milk with cereal? I can't ever imagine him glugging down a bottle or beaker full of milk.

[casbie]

nope - cows milk isn't essential for development - no matter what the old milkboard says!

baby will bve fine with yogurt etc

my boy hatede cows milk (BF) until he was two, still not keen on cheese.


hth