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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Help! Trying to Wean Off The Breast....

40 replies

wuzzlefraggle · 05/10/2007 12:27

Hiya Ladies

Right, the thing is, my daughter is 11 and a half months old and I've decided it's the time for me to wean her off the breast for good. She has been on solids for ages and drinks water through the day, but likes to breast feed when she is tired. It's for comfort, me thinks.

Today is day 1, and so far has not had any breast, (but has had water) and I managed to get her to sleep (is napping as I type!)with no problem at all.

How long will me breasts feel like they are about to burst for???? And how many bottles of alternative milk should I give her throughout the day, do you think?

Thanks in advance all

OP posts:
Original poster
wuzzlefraggle · 05/10/2007 13:05

or should she have it in her beaker?

OP posts:
Noodledoo · 05/10/2007 14:44

I found that for the first two days expressing an ounce or two when the breasts feel at bursting point reduced the supply really quickly. Obviously not as quick as going cold turkey but clearly more comfortable.

I also gave 3 bottles of 7-8oz with extra dairy in the diet (prob should have been beaker but dd took to bottles much better and I'm lazy!). Hope this helps!

fatslag · 05/10/2007 14:46

Go straight to a cup/beaker if possible. Decreases the risk of ear infections and drinking becomes a thirst quenching exercise rather than a comfort thing.

Original poster
wuzzlefraggle · 05/10/2007 20:32

thanks ladies wish me luck!! Will see how she gets on with using her beaker for milk.

OP posts:
moondog · 05/10/2007 20:37

Mine had no milk at all (apart from on cereal and in cheese and yoghurt) when he self weaned at this age.
It's a fallacy that little kids' need vast amounts of cows' milk which is,after all,for calves really.

Original poster
wuzzlefraggle · 05/10/2007 20:41

great...so I dont need to fret then about keeping her milked up?? lol

OP posts:
moondog · 05/10/2007 20:42

Nah.
Vastly overrated product (unless human)

Desiderata · 05/10/2007 20:46

I disagree. Cows' milk is great for kids. Mine drinks about three pints a day, and long may it continue.

We're all mammals, after all.

moondog · 05/10/2007 20:52

Feel free to disagree.
It is however not necessary.

Kids don't need udder milk.

Original poster
wuzzlefraggle · 05/10/2007 20:57

great. I've managed to get through today with only two feeds actually from the breast, so I don't think I'm going to have problems as far as cutting it out over the next few weeks goes

OP posts:
Desiderata · 05/10/2007 21:02

So, growing kids, at school, don't need 'udder' milk.

I hope they're getting enough calcium? Cheese isn't made from human breast milk, nor are any of the other invaluable sources of calcium that I can think of.

If you don't like them to drink mammal's milk, then how do you know they're getting their daily RDA of calcium?

Piffle · 05/10/2007 21:04

I never gave bottles of cows milk, yoghurts, cheese, sesame seeds are great forms of calcium
No way were they needing to suck the cow stuff though

Desiderata · 05/10/2007 21:09

But yoghurts and cheese are made from cows milk. Are you getting my drift?

Jeez, it comes to something when even cows aren't politically correct any more.

taffy101 · 05/10/2007 21:10

Hiya wuzzle, i'm at same stage as you but my lo not taking to cup or bottle very well so still giving him breast for hydration really.

When dd was this age i started giving her some cows milk (in a cup) after her afternoon nap and when she was one gradually changed morning and night feed to cows milk. Was so gradual change that boobs didn't leak or anything. DD still has cows milk morning and night and she's 4 now. I think this is quite good as she is a real fussy eater and I know she's getting calcium at least.

Piffle · 05/10/2007 21:12

MD said udder milk actually not poo poohing all sources of dairy sustenance

Desiderata · 05/10/2007 21:17

I know what MD said!

I just find it mind-boggling that some people have an aversion to drinking the stuff, but not eating the stuff.

We are of the order of the mammal. We should be able to imbibe the milk of any mammal.

'Tis all bloody odd, I tell ya ..

CastsSpellsWitchySpells · 05/10/2007 21:20

Desi - there are loads of other good sources of calcium (not that I've anything against cows milk, except that dd has been intolerant to it since birth) - sardines and dried figs are two that spring to mind instantly, but there are loads of others.

taffy101 · 05/10/2007 21:22

wuzzle your thread has taken a turn for the worse, duck now...

Desiderata · 05/10/2007 21:23

I fully accept that, but feeding a three year old dried figs is probably asking a bit much

Milk is the sure-fire way to ensure that children get enough calcium whilst growing up. As adults, they can make their own, more epicurian choices.

FrannyandZombie · 05/10/2007 21:26

Agree humans don't need cow's milk. The Dairy Council do a good job of persuading us that we do. You might be interested in reading this

Wuzzle glad it is going well - you do know, though, don't' you, that it is ok for your dd to breastfeed just for comfort? You don't have to stop for that reason. Some mothers stop feeding in the day time around now and just keep a bedtime feed going - your milk is still nutritionally useful for your dd, and breastfed toddlers get all sorts of benefits from continuing to feed, if you fancy carrying on.

CastsSpellsWitchySpells · 05/10/2007 21:28

My dd (19 months) likes dried figs!! This afternoon she ate all of my fig and prune bar [hungry mummy].

But hey, she also had her first taste of cows milk today, so it was a calcium packed day for her! Life's exciting when you're little .

Desiderata · 05/10/2007 21:31

Well, cows milk all the way for me and mine.

But do you not think it's hilarious that we're spending a Friday night, , arguing about fecking milk?

taffy101 · 05/10/2007 21:33

omg des ur so right teehee wot has happened to my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????

MrsCarrot · 05/10/2007 21:34

I stopped feeding DD at a year and she's never drunk cow's milk. She refused it in all forms. She has yoghurt and green veg and sesame and all the other alternatives. There are arguments for calcium in milk being poorly absorped by the body anyway, something to do with magnesium, I can't remember.

MrsCarrot · 05/10/2007 21:35

Is it Friday night? So it is.

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