Are my BF days over?

[NosyRosie]

DD is 9 months old and I had always hoped that I would BF her until 12 months at least.

She has never slept through and I'm beginning to wonder if it's because she's hungry. We co-sleep (mainly because she was waking so frequently it became the easiest option) and so she latches on whenever she wants to during the night. I BF her at bedtime and she has bottles during the day (never more than 4 oz at a time), although sometimes I bf her if she's unsettled.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm providing enough milk for her at bedtime. Before she was on solids we tried the odd bedtime bottle rather than boob to see if that made a difference to her sleeping but it never did. Will that change now she's on solids?

Her eating is fairly erratic which I'm putting down to teething and learning to crawl, so I need to make sure she's well topped up at night.

I don't know what to do!!!

Sorry if this makes no sense. Last night wasn't much fun!

Aw, my sympathies. But to be honest, it sounds more like a sleep issue, not a feeding one. Many babies don't sleep through until 12 months or later, breastfed or not. As they get older, past 6 months, I think sleep is more to do with development than what's in their tummies. They'll sleep through when they're ready - have you read No Cry Sleep Solution? It's got some tips for co-sleepers.

Keep on BFing, you're doing very well!

the more bottles you give your baby the less milk your boobs will produce 'cause your body will think that she is not so hungry, my advise if you want to continue bf is to cut down or stop the bottles, this will natrually increase your milk supply, I have had 3 children and bf them all till past 2yrs and there was hardly a bottle in sight. you gotta remember also once a baby is on solids then their whole eating pattern changes anyway. As regards the sleeping arrangement, i think its cute she in bed with you, this is a tiny bit of her life that wont last forever, one day she will be to big to snuggle up with you, and you will look back on those 'inconvienient' nights where you didn't get much sleep and hanker after a little cuddly warm 'dolly' to cuddle up with. Being sensible on the other hand, maybe if it is really exhausting you, get her in the habit of perhaps starting off in her own bed, get her only when she wants you, and once she has finished feeding put her back in her own bed, you can then take it from there, ie stroking her to try and get her back off, i remember one of my friends had this prob with one of her babies and what they did was this, the husband would go to the baby with a bottle of water, it would sort out the baby if it was thirsty but also let the baby know that night times is for sleeping, the bottle was just a quick drink. anyway, i really hope you have a better night tonight, and please just remember, she wont be doing this forever, all babies goes through funny stages of being a bit difficult, so please try not to worry too much.

Thanks both of you.

I haven't read the No Cry Sleep Solution but have heard about it. Might just have a look.

funkydubs she does start every night in her own bed and her first waking can be anything from 7:30 to midnight or even 1am. I tend to bring her straight in with me (if I'm already in bed) rather than try and settle her so might try putting it off a bit.

It's not so much for my benefit that I'm concerned. I want to be doing the right thing by her and to know she's getting enough. I suppose it's the visual thing: if I can see how many ounces she's had then I know she's getting enough IYSWIM. DH always worries (has done all DD's life) that I'm not producing enough for her. I know that the more she has the more I will produce. Some days my boobs are much smaller so I worry I haven't got enough for her.