Weaning from breastfeeding question please

[SJMBABYLOVE01]

Hi,
Ds is almost 20 months breastfeeds on demand other than when I'm working and although feeds are short they are frequent.

My question is that when my other dc has milk in a beaker before bed my breastfed child shouts and points like he is desperate for this cows milk.

What should I do, take it he is telling me he wants to wean, or just let him have a small cup and continue bf which I would love to do. However I don't want to force him to bf if this is self weaning.

Has anyone experienced this where the little one wants to copy the older child. Little one still happily feeds after this temper tantrum.

Thanks in advance x

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have you managed to sort anything out?

[SJMBABYLOVE01]

Hi,
Thanks for asking, not really, we are just carrying on as before I'm thinking it's a phase as dc is at that age. . However I do want dc to truly self wean when ready.

I was hoping someone could offer advise if they have been in a similar situation.

Many thanks x

[Zahrah5]

True self-weaning happens around 3.5-4 years of age or higher. Looks like your child just want to have the cup because the other one has, what is normal. This is no way self-weaning.
Would he drink it if you give it to him, or just hold it? You could also consider give him water in a cup instead of cows milk? Or replacement milk like almond, coconut milk etc.

[SJMBABYLOVE01]

Hi Zahra,
Thank you, that's helpful. Yes I think you are right if I gave it dc would probably throw it around although he does like sips of water. I just want it to be a natural process where dc is as happy, healthy and emotionally well as he possibly can be.

Thank you

[Highlove]

Why not let him have a small cup/sippy cup of cows' milk if it's what he want? He may get bored and decide he doesn't want it or may decide he wants to keep having it but either way, doesn't necessarily mean he wants to wean fully. No reason you can't continue to BF the rest of the time, if that's what you both want. Self-weaning can start from 18 months (see Kellymom for info on that) although I think that's st the early end of the spectrum.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree with the others, I'd give him a little amount of cow's milk in a cup once a day. I did this with DD from about 18 months and she didn't wean until another year and that was on,y when I more or less forced her.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I'd give him a cup of milk and see how he goes. I'm not sure my DD would link milk in a cup and BF, even though we call them both milk. I'd imagine he'd probably drink the milk and then be quite happy to BF as well.

[SJMBABYLOVE01]

Thank you yes good point jiltedJohn'sJulie probably makes sense to get him used to some now. Thank you

Tea and biscuits, thank you. That makes sense about not linking and as he has always been rather greedy, rarely turning anything down he will probably have both.
Many thanks allx