When do feeds reduce?!

[clouddoveland]

EBF one year old. First baby so I really don't know what to expect. I thought by now she would've started reducing her milk feeds but NOPE! She seems to be feeding more than ever. Is that normal? I've tried upping her solid intake but she's just not interested.

For example, she fed a lot last night which is normal for her. We co-sleep so she is on and off my boob during the night. I offered her porridge when we got up. She had one very small spoonful then cried to get down from her chair. We resumed playing and then around 10 minutes later she was tugging at my top asking for milk. We got ready for the day and she was on and off my boob during that whole process - 5 times at-least. We then went out for a walk, came back for a nap, I offered her a snack - she said no but then wanted another long milk feed before falling to sleep. This is all before lunch time!

I used to do a morning feed, before 1st nap, before 2nd nap and then bed. But it seems now that as-well as having these feeds she's also wanting it 50 times in between!

At what point did your little one reduce their feeds or did you have to instigate it?

I’m not sure how I feel about refusing her request for a feed if that's what she wants but it seems like she's filling up on milk all day / all night and not really touching her solids.

Watching with interest as same situation here :)

I've bf my first two until 2yo each and currently bf my 6mo too so some experience.
I'd say - first of all, try some gentle night weaning. If she wakes, try to re-settle without feeding. If she takes longer than 10 minutes to fall asleep again OR if she wakes within the hour, then feed but you may be surprised how quickly she will settle without a feed (I was when I did this with dc1 - genuinely thought it wouldn't work as he seemingly couldn't sleep at all without bf-ing, and he absolutely could!).
I think it's fine to start suggesting she waits for feeds now. In your example, I'd have popped her back in her chair to have more porridge once she tugged on your top. Plus getting ready for the day, no reason she can't wait if she's just had breakfast and a bf - 'in a minute dd, let's get our clothes on and brush our hair first' and carry on getting ready. Especially if she's popping on and off - she sounds like she's just playing really, which is fine if you're chilling at home not doing anything but when you need to get on with the day then she can wait.

I fed both of mine to natural term and found feeds dropped off around age 2. Left to their own devices they will feed a lot because it's so much more than food, it's comfort, antibodies, a drink, a cuddle with mum... More solids just doesn't compare!

But also agree about introducing nursing manners, and being able to wait, etc. Your consent is important. It's a relationship so you both need to be happy.

DS1 was like that until he was about 2, but my other two had reduced feeds by about 8/9 months. It was a bit embarrassing TBH, I don't know if it's any different now, but back then everyone thought you were a total weirdo for feeding them past a year at all let alone multiple times an hour so the constant requests at toddler groups were difficult to manage.