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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

1 yr old more interested in the breast than ever

13 replies

ninja · 13/05/2004 10:20

Is this normal? Is it healthy?

On a nursery day she feeds in the morning (well almost constantly on and off from 4 a'clock onwards and sometimes earlier), when I collect her, going to bed a couple of times in the night and then the 4 onwards bit - and screams if she can't. If it's not a nursery day it can be more often in the day. If I have a bath with her she just dives on and off at will

She's never been that interested in solids - she will eat them but how much she eats goes up and down (definitely in a down at the moment). We had thrush for 4 or 5 months stopping a couple of months ago so in some ways it's nice that we can enjoy pain free feeding. However, I had thought that she's be cutting down by now and I am starting to want my body, a bit of my life and a lot more of my sleep back!!

Any advice?

OP posts:
hercules · 13/05/2004 15:46

Nothing wrong with it health wise. Loads of people feed past one year. If you want to stop fine but if not then carry on. I fed ds for a long time but dont want to feed dd as long.

aloha · 13/05/2004 15:59

How do you feel about it? Would you prefer to feed am and pm but not in the night? The current situation sounds very hard on you, I think. You won't be getting enought sleep so I think it would be entirely reasonable to stop her night feeds now. She honestly doesn't need them. Offer a dummy maybe instead - even if temporarily - if you get desperate. But I think at this age she can live without the milk - you might have to send your parther in to cuddle her back to sleep while she gets used to the idea of no breastfeeds at night. I also think that it's not that surprising she isn't eating that much if she's feeding so much in the night. I think you should decide what you feel happy with and work towards that. Yes, it's probably normal and it's healthy enough for her (though I suspect she'd be better off if she slept more too) but it isn't reasonable for you to have so little sleep.

hercules · 13/05/2004 16:01

Sorry didnt read properly about the night feeding. Def send dh inand avoid going in youself.

fairyprincess · 14/05/2004 09:32

Hi Ninja,

I'd just go with it - my dd went through a phase when she was 17 months of just breastfeeding. Soon afterwards she stopped of her own accord!

Best wishes

Original poster
ninja · 14/05/2004 17:54

Thanks,

I feel guilty denying her of milk if she isn't eating much - but I guess it works both ways. I really would like to stop the night ones but she doesn't settle at all without - I will try and talk to dp but sometimes you just feel too tired to contemplate more sleepless nights! I even did try a dummy in desperation - but no not interested.

I've just noticed two molars coming through so that could be making it worse at the moment.

Anyone with experinec of stopping night feeds at this age?

OP posts:
Original poster
ninja · 14/05/2004 20:55

well I've spoken to DP and he doesn't have to work 'til Tuesday and so has agreed to settle her (well stay with her while she screams) in the night and we'll give the not feeding a go. I've got my ear plugs out and I think I'm ready to go

wish us luck

OP posts:
Manoo · 18/05/2004 12:52

Did you try it? How did you get on? I've got a (just turned) one year old doing a similar thing. He wakes loads throughout the evening and only my boobs will settle him back to sleep, which means I still haven't had a night out yet! He then sleeps ok from 11 - 4am, then seems to attack my boobs off and on 4-6, some nights better than others. I was fine with it for ages, but am just starting to feel a bit like you - wanting my boobs back! I'd be very interested to know how you got on.

Original poster
ninja · 18/05/2004 13:38

well - first night 2 hours of crying (but bouts of almost asleep in this) but I get that sometimes even with my magic breasts. Second night half an hour of a bit of grumbling at which point I though we'd cracked it. Third night woke up at 10.30 and SCREAMED for half an hour so I had to feed her and last night DP was too tired to go in so it was me.

In dd's defence she does have 2 molars coming throgh, a cold (and if I'm anything to go by a sore throat) oh yes and chicken pox! So experiment is now postponed.

However - the improvement in just 2 nights has fueled me on to trying it again, but I guess it will have to wait til dp's got some time off. She managed to find my boobs if I'm anywhere near her.

That couple of hours attcking in the morning is a killer isn't it? I didn't mind so much when she was on asleep and off

OP posts:
MsPoppins · 18/05/2004 13:43

I fed my DS2 for 2 years but by about 1 i restricted it to certain times. First thing in the morning, mid morning , mid afternoon and before bed (sometimes once in the night) Around meal times i would not offer it as he would be too full for food. If he was full up from a meal he would often only have a bit of breast milk at the alocated times. Some days or weeks though depending on teething/illness/tiredness etc he would just want it more. I think it is something they just grow out of. Try offering a beaker of milk/juice to quench thirst

aloha · 18/05/2004 19:40

Do try again. It is normal for the crying to get worse on day three - but if you can crack that it gets better fast. Really - if she was crying to stick her finger in the electric socket you wouldn't let her, would you? She needs a good night's sleep almost as much as you do. It's good for her health, it really is.

Caribbeanqueen · 18/05/2004 20:53

I am still feeding dd, 13 months, but like MsPoppins, do it at regular(ish) times.

At night, dh gives her a bottle, as she still wakes up once a night, and that usually settles her, but at the moment she is in our room as we have just moved and after her bottle she crawls to me for a sneaky feed. She only has the one feed a night though. Dh has always done the night feed, so she is used to it.

I think bf at regular times by this age helps her with solids as well, as I know she's not too full at meal times.

Original poster
ninja · 19/05/2004 18:50

aloha you're a harsh but wise women. I think we need to be sure that dd is well (well at least doesn't have a combination of illnesses) and we have a few consecutive nights that we can do without sleep. But I do think that you're right - when she's up sometimes for 2 or 3 hours anyway I think it's worth persevering with

Thanks

OP posts:
aloha · 19/05/2004 18:52

I'm very soppy with my ds really - but sometimes you have to think, can I go on like this? And then bite the bullet. The good news is, they honestly do love you just as much in the morning!

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