4 month old self-weaning from breast?

[SuperMonkey]

Has anyone else experienced this?


The problem is that he seems to have decided that BFing is cramping his style - now that he's getting more alert he's looking around all the time and when he's BFing he seems to get fed up of only being able to look at my chest. He will take for a couple of minutes then pull away and refuse to go back. He's clearly hungry because if I give him a bottle he'll happily take a full formula feed (with me chasing his mouth as he looks around the room.)

If I don't give him a bottle then he's awake all night feeding. He'll happily take breast at night when he's sleepy and there's nothing else to look at.

DS has always had a bottle for a dream feed and recently I've started to give him a bottle at bedtime, so he's always been used to having a bottle.

I just don't feel quite ready yet to give up BFing! Selfish me.

I've tried feeding him in a quiet dark room and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I just know that, if I stop trying with the BFing then the arse will change his mind next week, want breast milk again and surprise surprise it will all have gone.

I know the answer really is to express and feed him ebm by bottle in case it's a phase, but to be honest I can't be bothered with the hassle - I've always found expressing really uncomfortable and I've only done it in emergencies.

He also may be teething, if that makes a difference?

Not sure really if I'm looking for any answers, just curious whether anyone else has had this at such a young age?

[superalienstitch]

no, the ansewer is not to express,but to accept that your baby doesnt want to reastfeed for much lner.
ds1 stopped,ie refused point blank at age 4.5 months. he wsmix fed,and started solids at four months. (he is ten now, that was the advice at the time) he just couldnt be bothered with the time taken for breastfeeding anyore. enjoyed his solids, ad his formula.

dc 2 and 3 didnt have a bottle till 7 or months old, and both stopped breastfeeding by 8.5 months old.

[SuperMonkey]

Thanks for that, it's useful to know that he's not just being difficult! It's just the emotional side that I need to get over - I'm obviously more attached to it than he is!

[ProjectIcarusinhercar]

it is perfectly normal at this age. He will feed when he is hungry. Chasing him with the teat isn't a great idea as you are encouraging him to eat when he doesn't really fancy it. If he was really hungry he would down the bottle without faffing about.

They do really cut down during the day at this age, unfortunately they do make up for it at night .

[SuperMonkey]

Funny you should say that because he was awake for food at 10:30pm, 12:30am, 3:00am and 5:00am then, surprise surprise, didn't want breakfast.

I don't force him to take the formula, he does feed vigorously and quickly, it's just that his head is darting around all over the place.

[JodieG1]

www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/babyselfwean.html might help

[becklespeckle]

DS2 started refusing to BF at 4.5 months when he started on solids. He did exactly what your DS is doing! He had been exclusively BF up until that point (and never taken a bottle) but he just got to the stage where he wanted to look around while he ate and was much happier with a bottle!

I was sad about stopping and did cry a bit but following his lead was the best thing I did, he was much happier being able to be nosey!

[JodieG1]

Oh and you should wait until 6 months to start solids as well, his main food now should be milk and milk only.

[JodieG1]

I'm still feeding my almost 8 month old ds2 and yes he did and does do what you say, looking around etc but he still wants and needs breastmilk. I find on busy days he'll just nurse more at night which is fine.

[jorange5]

Sounds like you have a very bright and alert baby. I never found an answer to this problem although a baby-proof necklace helped (from mothering rocks) a lot for my LO to play with. For ages she fed minimally through the day then woke every 2 hours at night.

The world is so facinating to some babies that they don't want to miss any of it looking at mummy's chest!

My LO is 10 months now and pinches, pokes and pulls at me all the time while feeding, I'm always covered in bruises and cuts.

[SuperMonkey]

Thanks for all your encouragement - I am going to persevere, he's been a lot better this afternoon than he was this morning. It's such a comfort to him (and to me) when he's upset that I really don't feel ready yet to give up BFing completely.

[3madboys]

all three of my boys have been like this, and its a pita, i foudn that havinga ring sling helped as if they were tired or grizzly i could put them in the sling, potter about and they would relax and have a feed.

i also used to drape a muslin cloth or thin sheet etc aroudn them to try and stop them getting distracted.

i ditto the necklace that is really helpful

they do tend to eventually grow out of it tho, but it can take a while.

good luck, xxx

[3andnomore]

Hi
I think you should bite the bullet and not offer any Bottlefeeds....just offer the breast and your lil one will soon get the message.
Thing is, a bottle often is easier taken, i.e. less hard work is demanded....
depends on teat etc...I suppose...
however, if you are happier to ff and that is the way you want to go, then just go with that, I suppose.

[spiritofstlouis]

Hi- I could have writen this post a few weeks ago (DS is now 4.5 months).
I was wearing myself out expressing several times a day so I could give him a bottle to try to cut down the night feeds. Then I tried breaking the latch during the night feeds as soon as he got sleepy so he wasn't having a full feed each time... not sure if that helped but it did mean he had a proper 7 am feed... I think the best advice was that it will pass- after a couple of weeks he's gone back to one night feed, hooray!