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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

9 month old not wanting boob

16 replies

P0mbears · 01/03/2023 19:56

Just wondering if anyone has any advice please? For the last couple of nights my 9 month old has not taken the boob at all at night. He's milk/solids routine is vaguely as follows.. is this normal? Should I try and give him formula before bed? I don't want to stop breastfeeding if possible!

7.30am - Big breastfeed
8/8.30 - Breakfast (Porridge/Toast and banana/Eggs or whatever)
12 - Lunch (Pasta/Sandwich/Whatever I'm having)
3/4 - Breastfeed
5pm - Dinner (Chicken curry/Lasagne/Fish pie)
6.30pm - Offer boob but not interested

He sleeps through and eats loads of solids, but I'm just a bit worried that he's only on 2 breastfeeds a day now really. Should I stop the afternoon feed in the hope that he'll feed before bed?

Any help much appreciated

OP posts:
Flittingaboutagain · 01/03/2023 20:10

This sounds like a nursing strike. Do not offer formula and see what happens over the next couple of days. Some babies just like to keep us on our toes! My 19m old is on 2-4 feeds a day still on demand, but many like less by the time they reach one. Until one your breast milk is still the main source of nutrition and baby may well go back to normal tomorrow. Teething illness or change in routine etc can also provoke a strike.

Original poster
P0mbears · 01/03/2023 21:01

Thank you, I do hope it's just a short strike. I do offer the boob but he is so greedy with solids and loves water with meals too so I genuinely think there's no more space for milk by bedtime and he just wants to go to sleep. He literally eats more than double what my 3 year old eats. He's so bloody greedy. It's also hard when they say the main source of nutrition is milk, but then obviously the ultimate aim is for them to move to solids eventually and I don't want to limit solids now so he takes more milk. It's a tricky balance

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 02/03/2023 18:17

Two BFs a day at 9 months is fine. Baby will regulate how much they take Wink

Original poster
P0mbears · 02/03/2023 20:21

Thank you, he didn't want a night feed again tonight 😭 I guess it does make things easier in terms of me getting a bit of a life back again but I'm sad that my breastfeeding journey might be coming to an end sooner than I'd hoped

OP posts:
Napmum · 02/03/2023 21:48

I agree. 2 feeds a day is enough when he's eating solids, so well. At this stage, the breastfeed is starting to become more of an additional than the main sustenance

Original poster
P0mbears · 08/03/2023 22:41

Just to update... He hasn't had any breastmilk in the evenings for the last week or so now. I have still been offering but going to give up now. I tried to give him formula one night but he only had a few sips.

Other than making sure he has enough calcium in his diet is there anything else I should be doing?

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PritiPatelsMaker · 09/03/2023 07:18

Other than making sure he has enough calcium in his diet is there anything else I should be doing?

Yes, you need to make sure he gets enough good fats and protein.

So boys can have oily fish up to 3 times a week, that's a good start.

Original poster
P0mbears · 09/03/2023 13:15

Thank you. He eats well balanced meals, with protein, veg and carbs. He's been eating lots of fish too, so I don't think I'm worried about the protein. I guess he's getting everything he needs from 3 meals a day plus 2 breastfeeds. But it still worries me a bit that the main source of nutrition before 1 should be breastmilk/formula

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 09/03/2023 15:30

But it still worries me a bit that the main source of nutrition before 1 should be breastmilk/formula

He will still get plenty from 2 BFs. If he was on formula it's only advised to give them 450 ml a day from 10 to 12 months so I'd really wouldn't be too worried.

Groutyonehereagain · 09/03/2023 15:42

Sounds like my youngest. He gave up the breast altogether at 10 months, preferring to eat what his brother was having! He’s always been a good eater and is very healthy. Don’t worry @P0mbears every child is different.

Emmamoo89 · 09/03/2023 15:45

Napmum · 02/03/2023 21:48

I agree. 2 feeds a day is enough when he's eating solids, so well. At this stage, the breastfeed is starting to become more of an additional than the main sustenance

My baba has between 6 and 7 breastfeeds

Emmamoo89 · 09/03/2023 15:46

Napmum · 02/03/2023 21:48

I agree. 2 feeds a day is enough when he's eating solids, so well. At this stage, the breastfeed is starting to become more of an additional than the main sustenance

He's a 11 months. He's a boobie monster. That's when I'm at work. Also gets 6/8oz bottles and when not at work gets about 10/11 boobies

PritiPatelsMaker · 09/03/2023 15:49

My baba has between 6 and 7 breastfeeds

Again normal but you might want to look at staring offering food before a BF so that he gets more of his nutrients from solids Wink

Original poster
P0mbears · 09/03/2023 16:02

Groutyonehereagain · 09/03/2023 15:42

Sounds like my youngest. He gave up the breast altogether at 10 months, preferring to eat what his brother was having! He’s always been a good eater and is very healthy. Don’t worry @P0mbears every child is different.

Glad to hear others are similar. I breastfed my oldest for a long time, he loved the boob and would still have a few big feeds in the day on top of solids

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poppet131 · 10/07/2023 13:38

@P0mbears my BF’d ds is also starting to pick up solids too (but only just starting to eat more but is quickly dropping feeds. He’s 8 months old. Did the nursing strike last long for you? Did droppping milk ever affect his weight gain/centiles?

Original poster
P0mbears · 16/07/2023 21:27

@poppet131
The nursing strike didn't last too long but he did stop breastfeeding completely at 12 months. His weight has always been pretty consistent around the 25th centile. He absolutely loves food and still isn't interested in milk at all (other than in porridge/cereal etc) he just doesn't drink cups of milk

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