If you stopped bf-ing at 12ish months what did your LO drink and how?

[nm123]

I'm going back to work in dec when DD will be 12mo. I think I'm happy to continue morning and bedtime bf-ing but need to cut out the daytime ones (of which there are 2 usually at about 11am and 3pm).

She has a tommee tippee cup for water but tips it everywhere so not sure that would be best? And I'm guessing there's no point pitting her on a bottle now?

Also if I want to get her onto cows milk when should I start?? Should I use ebm in a sippy until she's a year then use cows milk? And when do I start weaning her off the boob anyway? Do I just pick a day and a feed (prob 11am one first) and give her the sippy instead? What if she insists on the boob?

I know its probably all quite simple but I can't get my head around weaning and how long it'll take at all!!

[lorisparkle]

We introduced cows milk in a doidy cup at mealtimes when our DS were 12months. They were not impressed but with perseverence they all love their milk now. We decided on meal times only for milk because of the mess!

I also kind of stopped bf in the day at around 12 months when I went back to work. The advice I was given was 'don't offer but don't refuse' when you are weaning them off. I introduced a drink (water) and a snack (rice cakes / bread sticks etc) at mid morning and mid afternoon.

It all worked out in the end and because I was only working a couple of days DS just accepted the no BF when I was not there.

I find these changes in routine are a real worry before you do them but once you make the decision and do it it is fine.

[nm123]

Thank you! I know what you mean about worrying before you make the change and then it's all fine and you wonder what you were worried about!!

I go back to work the day after DDs first birthday so I think the fact that no cows milk before 1yo is making me wonder how to do it as ideally I need her to be used to no bf-ing by then, rather than starting to get her used to it then...

DD would make a right old mess with a doidy! But I guess practice makes perfect, we've got one somewhere, I'll dig it out.

Thing is as well we're potentially moving house the week before DDs birthday, I'm going back to work (3 days pw) and she's starting nursery too! So the tjought of weaning her partially then is making me

[lorisparkle]

Sounds like a busy time. I found with BF they take what they need when they get it. DS1 decided at 4months to stop BF in the day and although I could convince him to have some when he was due for a nap or waking from a nap he took what he needed in the morning, evening and night and grew very well. DS2 and DS3 were still BF in the day at 12months and I was very concerned about DS3 as he was very keen on BF. However he accepted a snack instead very easily. At a year they are getting most of what they need from their diet and if you are using cows milk in cooking and she is eating yoghurts etc and having a good diet generally I would not worry, just carry on BF in the morning and evening. You could try EBM in a cup if you are worried but I am very much of the idea that at this age if you are offering a vaired diet and BF when you can they will take what they need.

[BakingBunty]

I went back to work the day after DS's first birthday, and had exactly the same concerns (and exactly the same feed times!) as you when I was six weeks out. I dropped the 11am feed first. As others suggested, I replaced it with water (through a straw in our case) and a snack. Was totally fine. I dropped the 3pm feed the week before I went to work and again it was fine for both of us. I've now been back at work for coming up for two months and am really enjoying the morning and evening feeds. DS has refused cows milk until this week, when he has started guzzling it from a tommy tippee cup. So I now know that I could give up BF if I wanted to (DS was a major bottle refuser, so it's the first time I've felt I have the choice, IYSWIM). Funny thing is, I don't think I want to stop! In short - don't worry, it will be fine .

[nm123]

Thank you BakingBunty - just what I needed to hear! I was discussing today with DH about which feed I should drop first and we decided the 11am one would be easiest... DD usually naps until about 11am so I think I'll be able to distract her when she wakes and hold her out until 11.45/12pm when we'll do lunch. I figure it might be an idea to start a "snack routine" so that she knows what to expect (I'm sure the baby books would consider DD to be "spirited" so she seems to resist things until she realises it's all familiar if that makes sense).

She has cows milk on cereal and seems to be ok with it... Will hold off a bit with introducing it as a drink as per guidelines but need to get a non-spill beaker and get her used to that (as the tomee tippee is used more for chewing on and tipping upsidedown!). And I presume the snack should be fairly hefty - ie a whole banana rather than me gobbling half too... Any other snack suggestions welcome please!

I'm glad it's all worked out for you - I totally understand about the bottle being refused too - DD was the same until she was 4 months and was generally feeding every 2 hours during the day so even going to the hairdressers was stressful for me as I had to feed-feed-feed, run out the door and then make it back for the next feed or leave her knowing she might be screaming with hunger whilst looking outraged when DH or DM or someone would put a bottle near her!!

I'm still a bit confused about what/how she'll drink at, say, bedtime if I stop BFing? Can't imagine she'll just go to bed at 7pm after having dinner at 6pm when she's, say, 15mo?? Or will she swap the boob for a beaker of cows milk then? How long will she drink cows milk for? Perhaps I should have a chat with our HV but find mumsnet peeps give more realistic advice actually..

[lorisparkle]

We tried - with no luck - to give DS1 cows milk to drink at bed time. In the end he just had cows milk at tea time (5.30pm ish) then bed at 7pm ish. We did have to do sleep training with him (gradual withdrawl / gradual retreat) to get him off BF at bed time. My DS all still drink milk at meal times (DS1 is 6 then DS2 is 4 and DS3 is 2) We should have our own herd of cows the amount of milk they drink. I'd rather they had milk or water than anything else so not complaining!

[LarkinSky]

Went from bf to cows milk in a bottle on her first birthday, as she didn't like doidy cups so much. She lovedher bottle, funnily empugh, agter a uear of refusing bottles of ebm in favour of a boob!

We got her to swap bottle for lidded cup during her second year. She still adores cows milk (from a mug these days!) at 3,5yrs.

[BakingBunty]

Oh the stress of going to the hairdresser when you have a bottle refuser... I recklessly got some highlights done when DS was 6 months or so and had to leg it home with dripping wet hair - was lucky not to end up looking like Sharon from Eastenders!!

I'm also wondering how we are ever going to drop the bedtime BF. I'm not at all worried about the morning one as DS isn't terribly interested - just wants to get downstairs for an emotional reunion with his stacking cups. I'm going to have to stop the bedtime feed pretty soon as often travel for work (have successfully stalled so far!) and do worry about how DS will settle. DH and I were discussing this morn, and think I will stay out for the eve whilst DH settles DS (hopefully!) after a beaker of cows milk. I'm sure it will take some adjustment for us all but fingers crossed it isn't too stressful.

Re snacks - I wouldn't give as much as a whole banana, especially if DD has an earlyish lunch. DS likes apple wedges (fry apple slices in butter and cinnamon - freezes brilliantly) or breadsticks, rice cakes etc. Or maybe try a babybel or something if you want her to have more calcium if you're cutting feeds?

Good luck with it all and keep us posted!