Reducing Breastfeeds

[WildPeas]

My little one is approaching one year old and up until now has been EBF with some expressed bottles at nursery. I had a personal goal to EBF until 1yr and then look at introducing formula/ cows milk for the nursery feeds. I would like to continue our bed time feed long term and day time feeds are no problem for now, I'd just like to stop pumping.

There is so much conflicting evidence online! Some info says to stop bottles by 12m, others by 18m. Some say to go straight into cows milk in a sippy cup, others say to use a follow on milk.

My concern comes from the fact my baby has only ever had breast milk, usually directly from my breast (apart from approx 5 bottles a week since June). It feels like quite a big leap to now expect them to settle for a full day at nursery with just a sippy cup of cows milk? They still take on a large volume of breast milk whether it's from me or a bottle, around 3 feeds a day if I am not at work.

Writing this all down makes me realise I'm massively over thinking things! Any personal stories of weaning EBF older babies onto a different milk would massively help to ease my mum guilt of no longer wishing to pump for my milk monster!

Thank you 😊

I’ve breastfed three babies, at 1year they had a feed in morning and at night and maybe the odd nighttime feed if they woke. At this age I’d have already been offering a sippy cup at mealtimes of water. I stopped bf at 15months so replaced their feeds with cows milk in a sippy cup then. From 1 I would give them cows milk in breakfast. They never used bottles (except for top up feeds when really young). Although baby might take 3 daytime feeds they might not necessarily need it, it’s nice and comforting but if they are eating well then I’d reduce their feeds to twice a day.

I EBF 3 and all were different, none followed the rules though. Just follow what works for you and baby. Stop the expressing if you are sick of it