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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

When did you know you were ready to stop?

22 replies

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 16:55

Just that really, my ds is nearly 7 months and I can believe I'm still feeding, plan was 2 weeks then 6, then 3 months then Xmas and now it's going back to work in 5 weeks, but I'm just not sure? If I'm honest I guess I'm scared how I'll be able to settle him without boob! But I'm absolutely exhausted, still feeding 2 hourly during the night and can't take much more but I'm so afraid I'll regret it when I'm finished? Do how did you know you / baby was ready?

OP posts:

Bumpsadaisie · 07/02/2014 19:19

With DD I went back to work when she was 7 mths or so. I gave up and that point and went onto bottles - it coincided with weaning and I didn't want to do all the expressing etc to keep feeding her (though I guess I could probably have still fed her morning and night).

With DS I went back to work when he was 12 mths and I think I was still feeding morning and night. But it got to the point where I didn't like feeding him anymore, he was very distracted, it was sore as although he didn't bite somehow his teeth made a difference. It got to the point where I was just fed up with it so I stopped. He went onto bottles too at that point.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 07/02/2014 19:22

I just never felt that stopping would be easier than carrying on once we were in the swing of things.

Stopped when he stopped asking, when I was pregnant again and feeling very weird about it (DMER probably). But we were down to one feed a day by then.

That was the same with each of DC1 and DC2. DC3 is going strong at 13w tomorrow.

eltsihT · 07/02/2014 19:28

My ds is 8 mo. At 7months I had had enough of him waking at 10,12,2,4 and 6am for feeds. I decided it was time to night wean. He now sleeps 7-6. But my supply fell dramatically. So I introduced more formula (he always had a bottle of formula at 6pm).

I now only feed at 6am and 3pm and am much happier not sure when I will stop but life is much better.

Antidote · 07/02/2014 19:29

I stopped when I was pregnant for the second time (after a miscarriage). DS was about 2.4 and it was so so sore. We were only really feeding once art bedtime by then.

Still feeding DD as I type, but she's only 5 months

Original poster

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 19:45

Eltshit can I ask how you managed to do that, sounds exactly like what I need!! Baby is now on 3 meals and formula bottle before bed but night feeds start about 10:30 and can be hourly after that, mostly habit I think !

OP posts:

Original poster

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 19:46

Just realised autocorrect changed your name, sorry!

OP posts:

eltsihT · 07/02/2014 20:02

We did it over Christmas so dh was not needing to go to work the next day.

Firstly we gave formula in a bottle instead of bf. If he refused the bottle I would walk with him and shush him, sing to him, stroke his face etc. Till he went to sleep. Next time he woke dh would do the same.

For the first week I bf once when he woke after 2 am then the 2nd week I dropped that feed.

It was really hard and I couldn't have done it without dh helping. But it worked for us. We have a 2yo as well and I was being very short tempered with him so I knew it was time to stop bf through the night

Worst night it took us 3hrs to settle him but me and dh swapped after an hour and tried to sleep.

I am pleased we did it though

eltsihT · 07/02/2014 20:03

My name does that a lot I should just write my usernames forward!

Original poster

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 20:19

Ok might have a chat with dh, need to do something, we also have 3 year old twins so I know the feeling!! Thanks for that

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 07/02/2014 20:22

I stopped when it totally did my head in

DD was three and I was over it when she was 2 years but I carried on anyway

If you're ready to stop then that's the point that you do

rubyslippers · 07/02/2014 20:22

You need the no cry sleep solution book too

UnionofMultitaskers · 07/02/2014 20:28

I gave up at 7 months. Was soooo ready!! She then went on to 3 bottles a day. 7am,3pm and bedtime. Which meant she was in a better routine and slept better.

Original poster

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 20:33

Sorry eltsiht can I also ask were/are you co sleeping, want to break that habit too

OP posts:

eltsihT · 07/02/2014 20:40

Every time he cried I lifted him from his cot and brought him into the spare bed with me and fed to sleep, I normally dozed off too. If he was asleep when I woke or the feed finished I would put him into his cot.

We always put him down at 7ish in his own cot.

We sorted out all out sleep difficulties at the same time he now sleeps through most nights. Just when he was asleep we put him down into his cot. Once we had him not looking for feeds we would try to settle him in his cot without lifting him.

Good luck x

PurplePidjin · 07/02/2014 20:53

I night weaned at 9 months for similar reasons thoroughly fucked off with broken nights by substituting cuddles in the rocking chair for feeds, which over the course of a week became just a nappy change, drink and switching Ewan back on. Sometimes he needs his hand held while he drifts off but mostly he goes straight back. I prepared for it by offering every 1.5 hours all day and making sure he'd had plenty of solid food; that made me confident he was feeding because he didn't know how elto go to sleep

He then gradually dropped from 4 to two feeds a day over the next month, dropped the morning one a month ago and might be dropping the night one (hasn't fed to sleep for 2 nights now) at the moment. He's coming up 15 months and is currently sleeping 6-6 then playing and dozing in his cot till 8ish please please let it last!!!!! although that's because he's getting knackered walking, it was 6-6:30 with a nappy change (teething wee, which reeks!) in the early hours.

Pick a time when you're reasonably sure there's nothing else going on for him - teething, illness, growth spurt, separation anxiety - and try other ways to help him settle. If it doesn't show improvement within 2-3 nights, try again in a few weeks. They do all get there eventually though!

PurplePidjin · 07/02/2014 20:55

Sounds like we've done pretty similar things elsihT :) although i didn't co-sleep beyond the first few weeks

Original poster

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 21:01

Thanks for that, nice to know it's possible, really don't want to finish due to tiredness but couldnt see anyother way, will hve a good chat with dh

OP posts:

CPtart · 07/02/2014 21:19

After feeding two hourly for three months. Enough for me I'm afraid.

PurplePidjin · 07/02/2014 21:29

I have several friends with 1ish yo babies still breastfeeding (one with twins) and in all cases night weaning hasn't affected day feeds although food weaning obviously causes a drop :)

Original poster

Twinnies10 · 07/02/2014 21:38

I had read night weaning wasn't a possibility until at least age 1, delighted it could be done earlier!

OP posts:

lookout · 08/02/2014 15:33

I night weaned at 1 but carried on feeding twice a day until about 20m. Went down to one feed until 2y2m when I'd had enough. It was just time for me, and as a pp said, you just know when it is the right time for you. But I didn't have to go back to work, so the decision was very different for me.

PurplePidjin · 08/02/2014 16:40

everything is possible the question is whether it's right for your child

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