What does your breast feeding journey look like please?

[Dfjackson]

Hi,
I have been EBF my LO for 12 months.
Solids are now finally going well - 3 meals (quite small) but also the odd snack too throughout the day fruit etc.

Up until now my LO was still BF every 3 hours to be honest! Including feeding to sleep for naps, bed time and still throughout the night. So essentially getting a lot of milk and solids.
Suddenly we’re going 4 sometimes 5 hours between milk feeds. Is this normal? Is she just really distracted or something? I have panicked and started actively offering more feeds (worrying as we do) but she still doesn’t want any which I completely respect but I’m just wondering what’s happening (first time mum)

Is this what self weaning looks like?
Is this normal for her age?

Any help appreciated x

Following as am in a similar boat. I think I read that their growth rate slows down massively so they cut down on the calories they need.

I returned to work at 12 months and baby did not take a bottle so they would go about 12 hours between feeds during the day. They ate and drank well when away from me and then a few feeds in the evening before bed where we coslept and fed when they wanted. On weekends I only fed to sleep for naps during the day otherwise they weren't interested. It's pretty normally for day feeding to dip at this age when food takes over and main source of nutrition.

I would just feed however works for you and your baby 😊 if your wanting to start to wean I would just not offer / not refuse and just let them lead the feeding journey for as long as your happy to! But in terms of nutrition I wouldn't worry about the reduction in feeds at all if they are eating well. Much like younger babies just keep and eye on nappy output to make sure they are well fed and hydrated.

I was EBF, went back to work at 12 months, expressed milk for a couple of months and sent it to nursery but eventually stopped as he wasn’t drinking it. At 24 months we’re still breast feeding to sleep, overnight if he wants it (but in the last couple of weeks touch wood this has finally reduced to very occasional overnight wake ups or when he’s sick), usually first thing in the morning and sometimes pre-nap once a day. I think 4-5 hours between feeds is pretty normal by that age, she’s getting a lot of nutrition from food now, but still needs her mummy sometimes, too!

Thanks so much for the replies.
The worry lately that my LO hasn’t been getting enough has drove me crazy.
breastfeeding is so hard but at least you know they are getting all the goodness! Now on solids I’m stressing so much about every meal making sure it’s as healthy and good as can be in comparison to breast milk so now breast feeding is getting more spaced out I’m panicking even more on the solids.
No one said feeding a little human would be this difficult lol!

I BF DD until 26 months, I was back at work at 13 months so feeds were reduced to morning, evening, night and gradually reduced but didn’t stop.

Normal to reduce at around 1 if eating well, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end either (depending on what you want). I introduced cows milk at 1 because of nursery but we still kept up BF as it helped us both with the nursery transition.

Yeah I feel you on stressing whether each meal is nutritious enough. Driving myself crazy (doesn't help mine has multiple allergies so can't have the usual egg, cheese, yogurt etc). It was easier when he was breastfeeding all the time.

My LO has allergies too, finally outgrown the dairy but egg intolerant still!
Ive never cooked so many vegetables in my life! I try all the superfood stuff - avocados spinach blueberries that sort of thing x

I’ve been reading online it’s really uncommon for a baby to self wean around 12 months and it could be a nursing strike?
LO is teething on and off and does really struggle - her latch is terrible when she is getting a new tooth she doesn’t cope well at all bless her

Anyone dealt with nursing strikes? Could this be one and what do I do just keep offering?

Thanks in advance x

I did but when LO was much younger, maybe about 4 months! It was over as quickly as it started to be honest but was a tough few days and obviously they weren't eating anything else! But this was very obvious, I mean screaming at the breast when I was offering it. I had to feed in a dark room while rocking untill it passed.

I don't think it sounds like self weaning if they still fed every 4-5 hours sounds normal for the age 😊