13mo, bf, weaning debacle

[ApolloSmintheus]

I don't think my DS is eating enough and a few people have now suggested it's because he has too much breastmilk.

He'll typically have the following in a day:

half a weetabix with cow's milk
small packet of raisins
1.5 cheese finger sandwiches
Baby biscuit
Small chunk of banana
Small portion of dinner (whatever we have usually)
Yogurt
(*note the lack of fruit and veg, this is not through lack of trying. I offer it at every meal and he refuses it.)

The problem is that he is fed to sleep and still has 2 naps so he has roughly 4-5 bfs a day (am, napx2, pm and in the night). Should I be worried? Should he be taking more solids? Is it the milk or is he just not a big eater?

Other babies his age whom I know eat much more, but they were also ff and are pretty much weaned off their bottles now.

Argh. Help! I want to keep feeding him but he only wants it when it's sleepy time. If I break him of the habit I suspect he'd wean completely.

Get book by bumgarner mothering nursing toddler. Helped me immensely. Don't compare your child to non being peers or even at all. He will cut down naps and therefore nursing. I faced similar dilemma at this age. Eventually ds2 only had nurse at bedtime and no naps.

My Ds is 14mo Blw and bf (but not for naps) and eats a lot more than yours, but I think there is a wide range of normal.

Have you checked out the baby led weaning forums? They are very good :)

Hi, no expert advice but just to say I am in a similar situation with my 14 month old and had similar concerns, and just in the last month he has dropped down to one nap so is feeding less already.

Mine has always seemed an enthusiastic eater, but actually eats very little at lunchtime, and gets by on a few snacks and bits and pieces throughout the day. However, he is happy, alert, strong and full of energy, so have made the choice to try and relax about it and let him lead things, not easy I know!

Another thing, is he teething? DS has molars coming through and has been refusing things he used to like, certain textures etc, and I think the breastfeeding is soothing, so may just be a tricky stage in that regard as well.

Thanks all. Will check the BLW forums for help.

I think he is on the verge of dropping a nap so we will see if that makes a difference. I should add that he's on the 91st centile for his weight and height, so I'm not worried about his weight, more his overall health. He does seem happy and healthy enough but presumably, at this stage, he should be upping his solids and reducing his milk intake.

My toddler only eats a little more than that and she has no milk at all she's a little chubster too.

Hmmmm am now worried about her! Seems like a reasonable amount to me perhaps everyone else is overfeeding

That's good to know Softly! I'm sure your DD is fine and I'm worrying over nothing. I think it's because we regularly see another baby who scoffs literally everything in front of her and then tries to steal DS's food!

They are such polar opposites and, of course, I start thinking it must be DS who is not eating enough, rather than the other way around!

He is definitely leading the way and I'm trying to trust him with it. He must know best what he does and doesn't want to eat. It's so hard though.

sounds like he's just not a big eater. my ds barely ate a mouthful before he was 1, seemed to get all his nutrition from breastmilk. he's 4 now, not bf since 2, but still only eats a few mouthfuls at each meal, occasional snacks. he's wonderful and thriving. my dd is 2 and will eat gallons of whatever's put in front of her, and is still bf loads. they are all just different. kids are very good at self regulating what they eat according to what they need, so I'm a great believer in putting healthy stuff in front of them and letting them have what they want, and not making a fuss or worrying otherwise. (it took me 3 years of being bonkers about my son's eating habits to realise this, btw . ooh, I do give them a vitamin supplement too, because I can never be sure they've got the fruit and veg they need in a day.