How often should I bf my 11month old?

[gemmeg]

Hi!
I've been wondering how often to bf my 11 month old....he eats 3 meals a day plus snacks but I'm just not sure how much milk he should have in addition. I bf him first thing in the morning then before he goes to bed ..... until today I also fed him once during the day but he didn't demand it. Usually he wakes in the night and I feed him once sometimes twice. Last night he didn't wake at all which is highly unusual so in 24 hours he only had 2 feeds. Is this enough? My boobs wanted to explode!
Thanks in advance! :-)

Is your 11 month teething or ill? My children had three feeds a day at that age. However it varies from baby to baby. Some children self wean at eleven months.

I found it varied massively, but I did offer first thing, mid morning, mid afty and bedtime plus he fed about 40 times in the night at this age.

I had one that had practically self weaned at that age (went on to feed until almost 5 so obviously a phase) and one that was pretty much EBF at that age, so it really does vary on the baby. I try to be demand feeding at that age and not add it up too much, just make sure they're getting plenty of solids too.

Thanks for all of your replies! When he's teething or ill I notice a marked increase in the number of times he feeds ( we had both of these situations last week!). Last night he woke at 10pm and had a good drink then at 3am for a short feed but this morning before breakfast he didn't seem interested-maybe because he knows breakfast is coming?? I was kind of working on the basis of don't offer don't refuse but I'll offer him maybe one more feed a day-he'll definitely not refuse! I forgot to mention that I did let him feed very very briefly y.day when my boobs felt so full but didn't want him to have too much as we were about to eat dinner. I'm going to my La Leche group today so I'll also see what the opinion is there too.Thanks again for all your help!

Both mine only wanted morning and evening feeds by 10m and both had self-weaned by 11m - they're getting much more nutrition from solids at this age so milk feeds aren't as essential as they once were and both mine had lost interest. They were having breastmilk in a cup out of the freezer by this point.

It's amazing how differently everybody answers! Just goes to show that where children are concerned there is no right or wrong! @Asmywhimsytakesme-I really enjoy our group meetings. As a first time mum I get a lot of reassurance....I live in Austria and all my family and best friends with kids are in UK so it's nice for me to have somewhere to get help and advice. I'll let you know what they say! :-)

DS was on 3 feeds a day at this age - first thing in the morning, after his lunchtime nap and before bed. We dropped the afternoon feed when I went back to work. He was totally unbothered so think he was ready!

My DS is 11 1/2 mths and still feeds up to 6 times a day but not in the night at all now.

I have noticed he doesn't seem to want proper feeds when out during the day now, just a little drink. Makes up for it with up half hour feeds morning and evening though.

I have started offering drinks of water and cows milk with meals also.

So, I asked the same question at my la leche meeting and was told to follow what my ds wants i.e on demand. She also made the point that ?on demand" can also take into account the demands of the mother... meaning that if I feel uncomfortably full I should offer him milk to alleviate discomfort. I offered him a couple more feeds today which he gratefully took!
@TheToadLessTravelled- I also notice that when we're out and about my ds doesn't seem to need a feed.I think that's the beauty of bfing a baby of this age.... you can do it when it's more convenient for you and if it's not then they can be distracted with a bit of banana or something! It's nice to know there's milk on tap if it's needed though!

My 11 month old DS feeds more when he's teething, unwell, upset or bored. So if we're out and about a lot during the day he'll usually just want milk when he's tired (and has no hesitation in just pulling my top down - in the middle of Waitrose last week!). If I had to guess I'd say he feeds about six to eight times in an average day, and about the same number overnight (he's a brilliant feeder, terrible sleeper).
I love breastfeeding. I love how easy it is, how it solves so many problems, how it's so good for him. I want to feed him til he's at least two, then plan on the 'don't offer, don't refuse' approach you mentioned. As things are at the moment though, I predict I'll be breastfeeding for quite a long time to come as I am fairly confident it is DS's most favourite thing in the world :)

My initial reaction is "As often as he/you like!"

You're right there is no right answer, no prescriptive formula to follow. Follow the cues of your baby (and yourself) and you can't go far wrong.

I found that shortly after a year or so DS stopped feeling full up from milk so it wasn't an issue to feed around mealtimes etc.

Definitely offer other drinks but I wouldn't be looking to replace feeds or restrict feeding times at all, unless you want to wean of course.

My DS (1yo next week!) has been feeding just twice a day since 10m. I feed him first thing around 7am and just before bed at 7.30pm. He's eating loads at every meal and not waking at all at night and growing in front of my eyes so seems to be suiting him. Now just working out how to stop completely