Weaning from breast to cow's milk - does this sound ok?

[Miaou]

Ds is 11 months now and I'm getting ready to finish breastfeeding and move him on to cow's milk. IIRC he can have it as a drink at this age as long as it isn't his "main" milk - is that right? Yesterday I replaced his 3pm feed (the smallest one - he generally spends less than 10mins on the breast) with cow's milk in a cup and he loved it (though he kept stroking my boobs whilst looking slightly puzzled and held his cup against them at one point!!). He is still having a feed last thing at night and first thing in the morning, but has cut them right back, so he is not actually getting that much milk anyway. Not quite sure what I'm asking really - guess I'm a bit concerned because I feel quite guilty about stopping (it's so we can ttc).

Any thoughts/comments anyone?

[moondog]

It sounds like it's going well.(How sweet he sounds!)
Fwiw,mine never really replaced b/milk with cows' milk,apart from in cereal and in yoghurt and cheese.

I think we all drink too much milk anyway.

Best of luck with the whole ttc caboodle and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

[charmkin]

I have just done it and we were fine. Do it gradually, one feed at a time. We got down to 2 feeds and avoided feeding during the day, just morning and night. Then replaced the morning feed with a bottle. The night time was the last to go.

I think that at this stage, cows milk is better than formula because you want them on normal, plain, family food and to me, this seemed more of a progression than going on formula after a year of bf.

[Miaou]

That's the thing charmkin - having got this far without either a bottle or formula passing his lips I certainly wasn't going to introduce it now - but as this is something I am doing for me not for him I wanted to get some reassurance that I wasn't doing it too soon! Dh is confident that he will be ok swapping one feed for cow's milk (after all developmentally there is little difference between 11m and 1year I guess).

Moondog - thanks for your kind words . Ds loves his water and eats plenty of cheese/yoghurt/milk cooked in stuff so I'm not worried about his dairy content in his diet.

[Miaou]

bump - any more thoughts/opinions welcome

[mrsteacher]

I keep trying ds2 with cows' milk just tp try to introduce a bit of flexibility rather than giving up breastfeeding but he HATES it. every time ds1 has a cup of milk, ds2 wants some. Puts the cup to his lips, then shakes his head and says boo boo

[hunkermunker]

Sounds fine, Miaou - I agree with MD. DS1 sometimes has milk in a cup if he fancies it, but I've never given him structured milk feeds (even when bfeeding!) - it never really occurred to me to offer him milk when he stopped bfeeding!

What a sweet little boy he is - and good luck with ttc

[bramblina]

Hi Miaou, my ds was also faffing on with his daytime feeds so when dh took him out one morning about 3 weeks ago and they returned for lunch, there was no time for a bf so we just left it out. The next day he had 3oz cow's milk (in a bottle, he has ebm in a bottle so we're leaving at as milk from bottle and water from cup) and was absoultely fine with it. He now has that every day, and I'm considering doing the same for the afternoon feeds within a few weeks. I don't know why but I really don't want him to have formula, I just think it's unneccessary (sp?) if they have a good balanced diet.

I felt really guilty the first day I gave him the cm- I thought if the bm is there, why not give him that? But I always planned to bf till he was around 1. (Though think we'll carry it on till we get back form Canada in Sept) So if it helps, I'm with you on the mixed emotions.

Here is a link to a thread I posted on a while ago, there's some good advice. Hope I haven't rambled too much (again) and HTH.

[bramblina]

And FWIW as you know our dss are of similar age.

[Miaou]

Hiya bramblina, thanks for the link, just had a quick look through and am very encouraged by what tiktok said on your thread too. I think we (ie you and I) come from the same standpoint re formula and giving up b/fing - nothing's ever simple though is it?

He is still loving his milk from a cup - dh bought him a new one yesterday and he is mighty pleased with it (I was highly amused to see that it pink - probably never crossed dh's mind). I however have Rock Boobs once again and am not intending to drop another feed until they settle down!

[bramblina]

Miaou, you got me thinking too, and check out what I started! other thread I only got 1 1/2 oz today and got myself all giult ridden over giving it up. You're right, it's never easy! If I had rock boobs like you though I'd be delighted to carry on but it seems we are not alike in that depaertment. I look at mine now and wonder how he gets anything from them! Or maybe he doesn't

Anyway, how are you going with it today? Thinking about replacing any more feeds? Ds hardly took anything from me tonight, he would be no probs at all if I stopped right now! It's just me and the emotions/guilt. Wish we could swap boobs and reasons! (IYSWIM)

[Miaou]

Hiya bramb, just added to your other thread - I have still got Rock Boobs!! Argh. So not intending to drop another feed yet otherwise I might end up with mastitis.

(btw perhaps Pebble Boobs would be more appropriate )

[bramblina]

Ah, yes, pebble boobs v. appropriate. And as I have added- another feed has gone today too!

LOL!

[kate7]

I am still breast feeding my soon to be 14 month old. She is on solids and reluctantly drinks cows milk and water at nursery, but is still breast fed in the evenings and often once at night also. I would welcome any ideas on how to go about completely weaning her!!! I am especially worried about the night feed as we have an older child and I don't know how to avoid disturbing her. Also, the little one is so reluctant to drink anything else I am unsure what to do! Any ideas most welcome!!!