Stopping/ reducing breastfeeding at 10months

[PrehistoricMother]

My LO has almost been exclusively breastfed except the odd formula feed here and there, mostly at the beginning. He is now almost 10m and I am getting so tired with breastfeeding although it’s very convenient, I feel I am done.

I have started reintroducing formula (one feed a day) but getting anxious about it as he is still very much searching for the breast. Do you have experiences of starting formula at that stage? Is it worth it? Should I just wait to switch to cow’s milk? And how much would each feed be?

He has 2-3 meals a day but not eating a lot of quantity yet so I still feed him 4 times a day and 2 times at night. He will be starting nursery at the end of April.

Any advice really appreciated! Thank you!

I think whatever you do it will all work out in the end, so really no need to worry about it (though of course we all worry in this way!). Your BF baby seeks out your breast for much more than sustenance. Your breast is safety, comfort and love. Introducing a bottle of formula at this stage will go in the same category as solids as far as your baby is concerned (ie a source of sustenance but not a replacement for the breast). All babies are different. Some will stop breastfeeding when they no longer need it for sustenance, but most will carry on BFing at least a little bit for comfort for much longer, given half a chance. That doesn't mean you shouldn't stop - BFing is a partnership and both partners need to be willing to keep going. At this stage if you want to stop quickly you will most probably have to gently redirect your baby and accept there is likely to be some crying. I stopped both of mine before they would have chosen to - my DD at 18 months, my DS at 22 months because I'd had enough.

Introducing formula is fine but I think you may he giving a but too much milk? Could you think about cutting down on the daytime feeds a bit?

Maybe stop the first one and go straight to breakfast?

Have a look at this guide. From page 77 it gives you information on feeding from 10 to 12 months and it gives suggested menus and portion sizes which be useful.

I stopped BFing at eight months. I found that dropping the first-thing BF and going straight to breakfast really helped my baby's appetite. Weetabix with whole milk is an easy way to get dairy/calcium into them.

Thank you for your suggestions! I went straight to breakfast today instead of breastfeeding and he wolved his Weetabix!

Thank you! I have seen this guide before when started weaning but got scared of it as the menus seemed a bit too elaborate but will have a look again, as he is now eating more.

Are there any ways to distract from breastfeeding that you would recommend? Thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Thank you, that’s reassuring. It does seem to be such big part of my life now although I never planned to exclusively breastfeed and now I feel anxious, good to hear your experience.

Are there any ways to distract him that you would recommend? I know that snacking on solids isn’t yet recommended and would like to avoid it. 🙏🏼

For distraction I fed in one seat only then just never really sat down much especially there! You can try the don’t offer/don’t refuse method? So you don’t for instance offer a feed on wake up but instead go straight to breakfast , easier if your DH/DP does this as you’re not holding them. So you don’t offer a feed but give one if they want one.