Oh, can someone just tell me what I should be doing with my nearly 10 month old. Seem to be in a bit of a pickle re feeding, weaning, naps, er, everything. She's BF still....help....thanks!

[Klonky]

Can't seem to get her down for her naps at the moment (she was doing 2 a day no problem - short one in the morning, longer one after lunch). Not sure how many BFs she should be having at this age. She's not very keen on solids (although does ok at tea time) and she just seems generally quite discontented.

If I could just lean over and craftily copy what your doing, that would be great!

[Klonky]

you're

[happypiglet]

My DD is just over 9 months and has 2 naps a day one in am c 40mins and one after lunch for c 2 hours. With my DSs they dropped the am nap around 10/11m.
DD has 4 BFs a day with varying degrees of success! (see my thread about a 9m old dropping her BFs!) One on waking, one after am nap, one after pm nap and bedtime. But she does eat well solid wise. At least one good meal a day and then finger food for brekkie and tea. Could the discontentedness be teeth or separation anxiety? Does she feed herself solids? DD is much happier to eat if she does it herself!

[Klonky]

Well, that sounds pretty similar to what we're doing, so it's nice to know I'm not too far off the mark - except I give the BFs before her naps to help her nod off - although lately it has not been doing the trick! And she is still having at least one BF in the night too, so she must be getting enough milk.

I think you're right that teeth/separation anxiety are probably playing part in our recent troubles.

She does do finger food, but most of it ends up on the floor, except at teatime where she does pretty well. I was thinking maybe I should drop a daytime feed by now - I shall go and have a look for your thread!

Thanks for replying... sometimes I feel like I haven't got a clue what I'm doing!

[Nursejo]

Sometimes BF before a nap isn't as good as it seems,as baby doesn't get used to going from wide awake to asleep by themselves,as they get older BF doesn't make them as sleepy,and then you do your normal routine of putting them down straight after,the baby thinks what am I supposed to do now?How do I get to sleep? I was advised by my HV not to do this and it worked for me,obviously initially they are unsettled,but try not to rush in and pick them up,reassure them and leave quickly,eventually the trigger for sleep becomes being placed in their cot,not the feed.Also if a baby isn't showing as much interest in their food as they should,its often that they are having too much milk.A 10 month old definitely shouldn't have any night time feeds,over a couple of weeks you see there appetite increase when you reduce the milk intake. 3/4 - 1pint of milk is enough a day if they are having other forms of calcium such as Frommage Frais and cheese.

[cockles]

@nursejo - 'A 10 month old definitely shouldn't have any n ight time feeds' - nonsense. if she wants to and you don't mind, feed her. And feeding to sleep is a great gift you don't want to lose - ok if she goes to sleep easily any other way but if not, don't fret about trying to make her do so! Times between naps might be too short if she isn't going to sleep easily?

[Nursejo]

Oh well,everyones entitled to their own,just trying to pass on my experience,which has always helped with all my friends in our postnatal group. We all have different methods,just a question of how successful it is and how happy you are with what you are doing.Calling my opinion "Nonsense" is a little harsh and narrow-minded.If she was happy with everything she wouldn't be asking for other peoples advice.

[Klonky]

Well, I wasn't actually BFing her to sleep for naps - she is usually awake, but just nice and sleepy and settled. She would usually settle herself then in the cot after 5 or so minutes. I think what is happening now is that she bites me to signify she has had enough milk, and I have to somehow remove her vice-like grip, which usually ends up in her getting a bit upset! As a result, she does not go into the cot nice and settled!

I can handle the night feed, it's not bothering me too much and occasionally she goes through until about 5am, so she is sorting herself out on that one I think.

Cockles - what kind of gaps between naps should I be leaving? It's about 3 hours at the mo - so she wakes at 7ish, short nap at 10ish and then another nap somewhere between 1.30-2pm.

However, she seems to take longer and longer to go down for the morning nap, and when she does finally go - she wants to sleep for a longer time. Perhaps I should go with her flow and swap the naps round so she has a long nap mid morning and a short nap at about 3ish?

[happypiglet]

If it works for you you could swap the naps round. Or maybe she is ready to drop the morning one? My DD now bites me too when she has had enough but sort of pulls my nipple out and twangs it. Very pleasant not!
DD can manage without her am nap if we are out but gets very cranky at lunchtime...
My DS1 was still night feeding at 10m but it was starting to get me down so I stopped it and he was fine. (well a few nights of crying but he wasn't any more hungry!) But if you are happy carrying on I would. I sometimes wish DD would feed in the night cos its queit and she is sleepy and she feeds better!!
I know what you mean about feeling like you haven't got a clue I am on my third and still feel this way!