Nine month old going off milk

[Loops81]

My breastfed baby will be nine months next weekend she's hardly drinking any milk lately. She never asks for it so I take the lead but she usually has a bit of a nibble then gets distracted or bites me and grins - she just doesn't seem hungry. I recently cut down to four feeds a day thinking she might drink more at each feed but she doesn't.

I'm also trying to get her to take a bottle as she starts nursery soon but she went without for an entire day rather than take it - and didn't seem upset at all!

She is eating three small meals a day so I know she's not going to starve but she's quite little (25th centile) and I don't like the thought of her not having milk too. She doesn't really drink water so she must get thirsty. Friends' babies seem to gulp down huge bottles of milk alongside their food. Aside from this she's doing well - happy, full of energy and sleeping through the night. I just can't figure it out! Should I be worried?

All of my bf babies stopped around 9 months.

I gave them drinks from cups and bypassed bottles completely from around 6 months old (just water while still bfing)

If you're happy to stop it might be the time.

My DD has drunk milk from the moment she stopped BFing. HV wasn't happy but our GP was very supportive. He was of the opinion that as she had a good balanced diet there was really no problem. I take care to make sure she has plenty of other sources of calcium and she stay well hydrated. She is healthy and happy.

You might want to check with your GP but I wouldn't worry too much.

My aunt always told me babies take what they need, my DD didn't take milk after cutting down on B/F, and none when we stopped. She's a perfectly healthy 6 year old and able to say she doesn't like milk, she's also on the smaller size but completely normal!