weaning off daytime breast feeds at 10 months

[LimesMum]

My 10 month DD is still having mid morning and mid afternoon bf's.

She will not take a bottle (have tried for 6 months), she will drink water from a beaker but only at meal times but spits any milk out!!

Just wondering how I wean this down as need to go back to work in early January and she is going to nursery.

I've tried just not giving these feeds but she become really irritable and cried at these times unless fed.

Thanks

[spritesoright]

Could you give her a bottle instead? I am at the same point (DD is 9.5mo and I want to stop breastfeeding). She basically has four feeds a day (and then 2-3 at night) so I was going to start replacing the day time feeds with a bottle.
If you don't want to start bottles you could try extra snacks.

[spritesoright]

Oh, sorry. Just reread and you've clearly said she won't take bottles. I think my friend uses those puree fruit packs or a yogurt just to make sure the baby gets filled up and she has just dropped the bf rather than replacing with a bottle.

[LimesMum]

Yeh sadly won't take a bottle. Yesterday I managed without the mid morning feed. I tried to give some Formula and a biscuit but she refused the formula but ate the biscuit.

I just worry that if I drop them she will only be having 2 milk feeds a day and not sure if it's enough?

[Littlef00t]

My dd dropped the mid morning bf herself by 8 months, so perhaps just replace with a snack and early lunch. I'd make sure she's getting lots of yoghurt, cheese etc and water offered regularly, but keep offering milk in sippy or bottle in case decides to accept.

[missknows]

You might find if you aren't around they aren't bothered by not having it. I went back to work when DD was 8 months and 2 days a week from then on she had only had milk upon waking and then when I return around 5pm. The days i don't work she will still have milk a couple of times a day.

[Singsongmama]

Hi,

DS will be 11 months soon and we've just weaned from bf. I did what you tried....he was offered sippy cup of milk instead of feed and if he didn't drink it he waited till next meal/feed. He soon got the idea after a couple of days. I'd concentrate on dropping just one until LO is comfortable with the new arrangement then swap the other too. have you spoken to HV about what milk she actually needs? They might have advice or put your mind at ease (depending if you have a good HV!!) good luck.

[BendyMum15]

When I went back to work after my maternity leave with DS I just replaced the bf with food. He wouldn't drink formula and I can't express much. I fed him before I left in the morning and before bed and continued this from 10 months until 18 months when he self weaned.
As long as they are eating and drinking they should be fine without breastmilk in the day.

[Iggly]

I didn't bother with dd. I went back to work 3 days at 9 months, she just fed more when I was at home. Then I went up to 4 days at 12 months. Again no probs. She never took a bottle.