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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To still bf my 11 mo

42 replies

KD0706 · 21/03/2011 09:02

Im posting in AIBU to get a range of responses. Please please don't anybody turn this into another bf v ff thread...

Basic history, DD was prem, fed through tube, I expressed, worked v hard to establish bf and since established we've had no problems bf.
Since she got home from hospital she's never had a bottle always just fed straight from me.
She starts nursery four days a week in four weeks and I've allowed her to reverse cycle so she won't be looking for bf while at nursery.
Rough feeding pattern: 8am, 4.30pm, bedtime, 2x overnight.
Also she's BLW and not great with her solids.

DH thinks I should stop bf or at least mix feed. He thinks this will make her sleep better at night and allow him to share the load more. I also think he feels a year (ish) is long enough to bf a baby and doesn't want me feeding her longer term.

I want to keep bf because I enjoy it, it's easy, it's the food tailored to DD personally, I think why start with bottles now (she takes a little water from a Sippy cup but nothing like a full feed), it won't be forever and she's only little once. And (although I had a little tantrum last night) I don't hugely mind getting up inthe night to her. Plus since she starts nursery so soon I don't want to mess with her routine more than I need to.

Sorry this has been long!

I'm going to show this thread to DH. Mumsnet jury - who is right??

OP posts:
Meglet · 21/03/2011 09:03

yanbu!

You are 100% right! Smile

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 21/03/2011 09:03

If you and she are both happy, then carry on. I BF my DS until he was two.

Bananamash · 21/03/2011 09:04

YANBU!!!!

I am still BFing my 18m old!

nethunsreject · 21/03/2011 09:08

Yanbu.

winnybella · 21/03/2011 09:11

YADNBU.

Bloodymary · 21/03/2011 09:13

YANBU.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 21/03/2011 09:19

YANBU - but I would cut out the night feeds, at 11 months she doesn't need to be feeding in the night. Ask him to support you and go into her in the night when she wakes up, as soon as she realises milk isn't on offer she'll stop waking.

Snowdropfairy · 21/03/2011 09:19

I would carry on bf and get your husband to feed your DD and to give her milk in a sippy cup at night.

Night wakeing could become a habit so i would give milk at these times only and try to get DD to sleep throu or get her self back to sleep.

But then i think its up to you and your DD no one else - its your chose and you have to deside what you want to do and your DH should support your chose.

LoopyLoopsChupaChups · 21/03/2011 09:23

What ChippingIn said.

twilight3 · 21/03/2011 09:26

I BFed DS until he was 5 and a half, nothing to do with anyone but me and him. If you don't mind being the only one getting up in the night carry on. If you'd like a break from it give her some fresh cow's milk (she's old enough to not need formula).

BTW, I was mix-feeding DS since he was little because I couldn't be bothered to be the only one getting up, and he'd wake up at niht until he was 4, so didn't make any difference, don't be certain that she'll sleep through if you ff her. (some kids just wake up at night for yearts no matter what you do)

deaconblue · 21/03/2011 09:27

you are right but an 11 month old shouldn't need to be fed at night at all. I think your dh is right that you could do with getting her to sleep through, My dd fed til 13 months (gave up on her own account) but was down to morning and bedtime by about 10 months. Agree no need to start with bottles, just try to get her more interested in water from a cup.

redstripeyelephant · 21/03/2011 09:29

YANBU but agree it would be good to cut out night feeds.

I am still BF my 9mo (literally - she is feeding as I type!) my plan is to drop it down to morning and nightime feeds only when she is 1 and offer cows milk in a sippy cup during the day.

Do what works for you and your DD, noone else.

Original poster
KD0706 · 21/03/2011 09:36

Can I just check, when people say she shouldnt need night feeds, is this irrespective of her solids intake (or lack thereof)?
I've been thinking that because she's not been eating much in the way of solids, she still needs the milk, if you see what I mean?

OP posts:
CognitiveDissident · 21/03/2011 09:40

No! Don't drop the night feeds. Breastmilk is more rapidly digested then cowjuice, so BF babies get hungry and need feeding more often. Also you're doing reverse cycling so she's getting the bulk of her milk at night.

Also, as she was a premie, she's less mature then the average 11 month-old IYSWIM. Her stomach and digestive system will be more akin to an 8/9 month-old.

Your breasts, your baby, your rules :)

nethunsreject · 21/03/2011 09:40

Physiologically she may not need the milk, but there is a lot more to bfing than that, isn't there?

However, I would reckon she is old enough for night weaning if you want to.

MaryThornbar · 21/03/2011 09:41

what ChippingInMistressSteamMop said. You will probably want a full night's sleep if at all possible when you return to work.

reallytired · 21/03/2011 09:45

Cow juice is fine once your baby is a year (corrected for prematurity). At that age a child is getting a varied diet and a bit of cow juice is just another food. IMHO

The WHO recommends bf until two. My dd self weaned at 22 months. She got more interested in the world around her and wanted to interact with her mummy in a different way to bf.

Arion · 21/03/2011 09:45

She might not be eating much solids because she's full of milk. She shouldn't need a feed at night although she might want one due to the closeness of feeding and the warm feeling of a nice warm tummy full of milk!

Agree with other posters, totally up to you about bf. I'm sure it's recommended for first 2 years by world health organisation (definately for first year).

MalkieFraser · 21/03/2011 09:46

yanbu - WHO guidelines state 2 years.

CognitiveDissident · 21/03/2011 09:46

Cow milk shouldn't be given BEFORE 12 months. In the case of a prem baby this would be 12 months after the EDD.

Whatever the arguments of BF vsFF; the fact still remains that your baby needs specialist milk until AT LEAST 1 year old (age corrected in the case of premies)
If your husband wants you to faff about with bottles and formula then suggest that he takes over the feeding

Arion · 21/03/2011 09:47

X post with many others!! Grin

Bearcrumble · 21/03/2011 09:47

It's entirely up to you. I still BF my 13 month DS (also prem tube fed at the start).

Caz10 · 21/03/2011 09:48

Feed her at night if you are happy to!! This "she's old enough to do without" crap winds me up. Yes, physically she maybe could, but she doesn't have to, and I'd imagine bf even more important given that she had a difficult start.

feistychickfightingthebull · 21/03/2011 09:51

yanbu, I am also still breastfeeding and my DD is 20 months. I shall probably stop when she is two

StealthPolarBear · 21/03/2011 09:53

Carry on feeding at night if it suits you :)