how do you know when to stop...

[Scarlett175]

DD is 8 months old, BF exclusively until 6 months, and since we began weaning she has the following in a typical day-

7am- BF
8am-Brekkie, whole banana mashed with yogurt, crumpet
10am- BF to sleep (nap)
midday- 7 ounce bottle formula
1pm- Lunch, veggies/falafel, kiwi fruit
3pm- BF to sleep (nap)
6pm- 7 ounce bottle formula

I was/am quite happy to go with the flow and in no rush to stop BF- had mentally prepared to do at least 1 year, and love the experience of closeness with DD. But more recently have noticed she is taking less and less (except first morning feed), my boobs never feel 'full' anymore, and so I am guessing the small amount of BF she has is more comfort than nutrition?? Long term I know I need to find other ways to help her nap, I will be back at work in April and am panicking about how she will nap at nursery, and wether/when should stop BF. How do you know whens right??

My son will be two at the end of this month. I have been back at work since October 2009 and I thought bf would have stopped around that time but he refused cows and formula milk so he still has bf now! I do want to stop soon but he still wants it and it keeps him healthy and happy so I'm just going with the flow. He has at least one bf per day, more when I am off work and much more when he is ill and eating less.

can anyone else advise here...

guess I am looking more for advice on how to stop BF when its done more for comfort than food- DD has BF mainly to help her nap and with nursery looming I am panicking...

We just stopped. DS was 12mo, wasn't that interested anymore and was starting nursery. I introduced the cup I was going to give him cows milk in with water in it at lunchtime so he got used to drinking from it. Then I dropped the night feed and replaced it with the cup - he made a fuss the first night but I didn't give in and he went to bed with no BF. The second night he drank from the cup. A couple of weeks later I dropped the morning feed (would have been sooner but he picked up a bug) and he made no fuss at all. He only drank a bit of cows milk at first but is now taking about 7oz.

But, DS hardly took anything from about 9mo and we carried on. Mainly because I couldn't be arsed with formula. So you don't have to stop.

Perhaps adding some food at tea time might help as well?

I would add tea at 5pm, and maybe buy her a cuski. Does she fall asleep ok at 6pm without the feed? If so then don't worry about it. Just gradually reduce.

My DS2 sucks on his cuski to fall asleep at all sleeps.

DS2 is 9 months - his day looks like:

7am 7oz bottle formula
8am breakfast - fruit and readybrek
9.30-10.15 nap
12 noon lunch - meat and veggies & water from beaker
12-2.30pm nap (sleeps well is nice and full from lunch)
2.30pm 6oz bottle formula
5pm tea - veggies with cream cheese & yoghurt
6.30pm 7oz bottle formula

yep I have added tea, and at 6 she has a bottle, then bath and her dad puts her to bed, so she doesn't have BF, sometimes if teething needs a cuddle, but mostly settles in cot.

Guess I am just worried that at nursery she won't be able to nap without me but I think I am stressing about nothing...