How do I know if DD is weaning off breast or just not wanting it today?

[cerealqueen]

DD is nearly 16 months old and breastfed twice a day, morning and evening. Both feeds have been getting shorter and shorter. She has three meals a day and water and has a very healthy appetite. She has never had formula as I could not get her to take a bottle and does not seem to like cows milk now as she spits it out, though I have not offered regularly that much to be honest.

She always seems keener on the morning feed, less so on the evening feed which has dwindled quite a bit to the point where today she pushed my nipple away and said no quite firmly! She was unwell this weekend with a cold and the childminder said she had more water than usual, perhaps dehydrated.

Question is, is she weening or is it a one off? If its a one off and she wants a feed tomorrow, will I still produce milk for it? Should I not offer tomorrow morning? She may be keenner for that feed if she is thirsty, so perhaps I should offer her water or persevere with cows milk? has anybody had a baby not keen on cows milk been gradually won over? Lots of questions, thanks for reading and grateful for wisdom please! I'm OK about her weaning as I always thought I'd take the lead from her and be happy to continue breastfeeding as long as she wanted it.

hi there I bf my dd until she was 17 months old (and she would never take a bottle either), I only stopped because I was pregnant and shattered so I weaned her off (and was sad about it).

From one day only you can't really say whether she is weaning off or not but if you say she's been taking less and less in the evening then it looks like she doesn't want/need it any more. Are you happy with this? If so then I wouldn't offer it in the evening anymore and see if she asks for it. If fact, if you think you as well as your DD are ready to wean her then I'd probaby start not offering and only giving it if she asks. Your supply won't stop overnight. I think it takes quite a few days of not producing - and even then at a push think it would restart (not an expert there though sorry).

If you want your DD to drink more cows milk then try her with different cups. Honestly my DD would drink pureed sprouts if it was in a fruit shoot bottle or with a curly straw So maybe you need to experiment a bit and find a cup that she really likes for her milk drink.

Good luck with it - this is quite a sad time as it's sort of an end of that special bond and babyhood isn't it And well done you for bf so long.

My experience with DS was quite similar. I stopped bf him on New Years Eve at 17 months.

His feeds had been getting shorter and I was vaguely planning to stop around this time anyway. He was refusing more and more feeds and just messing about (hitting me etc) so I decided that I would drop the morning feed to see what happened. He barely noticed. He has never been bothered about cows' milk but started drinking a small amount once I had dropped the feed, especially in the morning. Two weeks later I dropped the evening feed as well and, again, hasn't really noticed! He takes a miniscule (2 sips) amount of cow's milk in the evening now.

Nearly two months on and he's just as happy as before and seems to be sufficiently hydrated with the drinks he has throughout the day.

I was really sad about stopping but I think it was the right decision for us at that time because I was upset about being hit at feed time and he wasn't really interested in the feed anymore so overall I am happier.

I don't think you can tell exactly what they want so it might be worth trying to see how your DD reacts.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do and well done

Thanks for these lovely messages of support. DD is more often than not refusing the evening feeds now so I think after today will stop offering. She is still more keen on morning feed but I think this will go too eventually. I have loved my time breastfeeding and was lucky that DD took to it so well. It will be quite nice thought to make plans, say at weekend and not have to think I have to be back in the evening to give that feed! I might even go out after work! I will miss the morning one more, love that first snuggle!

Ahh how sad to stop ... but think how well you've done ... and how yes you can go out now with no guilt (and drink wine)!!! Woo hoo! Well done you and good luck.

Hi cq, just wanted to say you may be surprised by how much she's been having you may find yourself getting very full! Also that my ds feeds some days and not others, skipping a day won't mean you instantly won't produce more iyswim, Congratulations too on doing so well.