Breastfeeding a 9 month old

[Ami100]

Hello all,

My son started biting during breastfeeding around 6 weeks ago due to colds, teething, dropping feeds and being way more interested in eating solids. I really struggled trying to stop it and couldn't. So in the end I decided to breastfeed last thing when he's sleepy (far less bitey) and during the night feeds. This was around 4 times in 24 hours and then I give 2 formula feeds during the day.

However, the night feeds seem to be stopping and the last two nights he's only woken once. My concern is I would like to breastfeed as much as possible up until my son is 12 months old. What can I do?

Offer the breast again during the day instead of formula. If he bites say ‘no!’ and put him safely on the floor and step away for a moment to train him out of it. If he has tooth pain give him something else to chew on.

My LO has been similar, she is 9 months. I find that unless she is pretty sleepy, she either bites or just stops feeding and gets distracted. I am not giving her formula though, just her normal food and water during the day and then offer breast at nap time, bed time and through the night. I think she is waking up more at night to make up for not really BF much during the day. She's growing steadily and seems happy/well so I am not worried about her not getting enough but to be honest I'd like a bit more sleep at night! Perhaps if you give less formula he will want to feed for longer/more at night.

@Keha that's good to know it does seem like a very common problem. How many breastfeeds does your baby have? I did a 'dream feed' around 6.30 this morning just before my son woke up which seemed to work well so I didn't give formula when he did wake up. Are you on maternity leave? If so when do you plan to go back to work?

@GirlCalledJames I tried this for weeks and weeks he just never got it :(

Watching with interest...my 9 month old bites, I yelp, and he smiles..so naughty

I dont count feeds but she is often going 4/5 hours between breastfeeding during the day and then when she does feed she'll often stop after a minute or so. I'm only really getting a good feed in before her morning nap, at bed time and then shel seems to be waking up 3/4 times for quick feeds at night. I am on mat leave and when I go back in January, I expect she'll go through the day without a feed but we'll probably give her a bottle of formula then during the day.

Im in a similar position to you with DS (also 9 months). However I am trying to get him to not feed at night! I’m currently waking once to BF him at night but I’d love for this to stop. My aim is to breastfeed him for the first feed of the day (6/7am) and for the bedtime feed. He is having a bottle of formula otherwise. I find he gets so distracted during the day that BF is quite unsuccessful. He latches on then pulls off, leaving me with milk squirting everywhere! I much prefer a bottle for daytime now.
I would say it’s quite typical for kids of this age to start drinking less milk. BF twice a day seems quite normal to me.

Also just to add, if you want him to have more breast milk you can always express. Sometimes DH gives a bottle of formula in the evening and I’ll express a bottle for future use.