Do you think this is self-weaning?

[Habbibu]

DD is 15 months, and has one breastfeed at bedtime. Lately she feeds briefly, sits up and says "bed" but will take the other side if offered. Tonight she was in a funny mood - really sad and screamy, which is unusual. She did exactly the same when breastfeeding, but then got really upset and screamy again. If she wakes in the night (which isn't very often) she likes a cup of milk, so we offered her one this evening - she downed it, held it out and said "more"! I'm quite happy (well, tiny bit sad) to stop if she wants to, just not sure exactly what the signs of self-weaning might be. I suspect if she was offered a cup at bedtime, she'd be perfectly happy, as she's more obsessed with books than anything else, so I can't quite decide what to do. Any thoughts?

Sorry - should have said she did her usual breastfeeding briefly then "bed" thing tonight.

bump - please?

Plaintive bump. I know you're all on the GMTV thread.

I don't know what to say, but wanted you to know I read your post.

Thanks, Babies! Well done on the GMTV forum, by the way - you were a one woman beacon of sense.

Here is Kellymom's stories and articles on self weaning
Here

Bless you

Oh - should have thought of that. Many thanks.

my youngest self weaned at 11 months, could be argued that it was a strike but she was only on one milk feed a day and she wanted a cup like her big sisters

CarGirl - what happened? Did she just refuse? DD doesn't refuse, but she seems to be less interested and keener to get to stories...

yep would lay down together and fuss really quick drink but just not interested in actually having an boob was quite happy just to get her grobag on and go to bed. When I did give her a bottle instead (like I said she had no other milk at all) she downed it so quick it was very excited about it she is the youngest of 4 with her siblings being 2 years, 3 years and 6 years older than her she seems to truly believe she should be treated the same as them!

I have been reading 'Mothering your Nursing Toddler' by Norma Jane Bumgarner and I recall that she says that between 9-15 months (ish) babies become very distracted and need reminding to feed. However, if the mother wishes to wean, this is an ideal time.

I guess it depends upon whether you want to continue feeding?

If you want to continue feeding, perhaps seek some advice from the bf helplines??

Sorry that I can't be more help.

Sorry above message didn't really add anything- but i did really like the book.

I'm happy to stop, tbh - the sad bit's just an "end of era" thing, but I don't want to push it until I'm pretty sure she's ready. Thanks, anyway, and you too CarGirl.

Mine stopped when she was 14 months. By then she was having a feed in the morning and the evening, one morning she just refused the breast, the next day she refused it in the evening.
I tried offering for a week just to make sure, but she just wouldn't latch on, she would just squirm away from the breast.

Like you I was quite happy to stop I was just surprised at how sudden it was. I guess the distraction thing wasn't really an issue, as I would normally nurse her quietly at night and morning with no-one around. It was more like 'that's it, I'm over this'.
It was sad... My little one isn't little anymore!

boo hoo I get so I wanted to feed mine until she was at least 2, felt a bit cheated!

I don't know if this helps at all but my dd is self-weaning at the moment. She's 3 next week. She has gradually cut down on her feeds, dropping from every day to every other then to every 3 or 4. It's now been about 10 days since she last fed. It has been a very very gradual process. From what I've read I think it is unusual for a child to self wean before 18 months. Is it possible that she has a mouth ulcer or something? - just thinking about her being sad and screamy - dd1 stopped at 18 months because of an ulcer and it was very sudden.

Lots of hugs to you if she is self-weaning because it does make you sad whenever it happens. It's a very bittersweet feeling