To think an 8 month old can self-wean from breast?

[Olivetti]

My DD is not interested in BFing now. It's been a gradual process, so not a nursing strike. She just doesn't want it at all. Takes lots of solids, and has a bottle of formula at night. Most people I've observed on here seem to think it's unheard of for a baby to refuse breast before 12 months, but deep down I feel she has outgrown it .

*curious

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/07/risk-factors-for-early-weaning-from.html this is truthsweet's link from earlier. I think this quote from it is particularly interesting:

'I discovered infants are far more likely to wean early if the breast is viewed purely as nutrition, with another item (perhaps a pacifier or lovey) as their comfort and security.'

I night-weaned at the same time as day-weaning, after about 10 1/2 months. But mine didn't fall asleep on the breast much anyway, and wasn't that interested in night-feeding, so that may have been a big difference. She was exceptionally active in the day, and I hadn't dream-fed for a few weeks, just a top up first thing in the morning, then a doze.

I'm not trying to say most babies do this, or even some, but I was very surprised how much she was not just disinterested in breastfeeding, but actively didn't want to do it, and how long (2 1/2 months) I persisted, believing it would all fall back into place. I was very much pro keeping going and imagined it would continue that closeness, so was a bit crest-fallen to find she had other ideas. I had found feeding outside of the house very difficult before then anyway due to her being constantly distracted and not interested, before we moved to full-on solids. Some babies and older toddlers just seem to love breastfeeding and get so much from it, I have no idea why my first didn't and I did feel bad about it when it didn't fit with my plans.

I do think I could have 'made' her breastfeed again by cutting down on the solids, but ultimately at 9/10 months, that wasn't something I was prepared to do, which again, is a choice thing.