Tips for cutting down daytime breastfeeds for an 11-month-old

[Moremelanzaneparmigiana]

I exclusively breastfeed my baby who is 11 months

I'm trying to cut down his day time feeds but I'm struggling so much, I either get pain or I just feel he needs it( if he's teething or struggling to settle for a nap etc)

I get so much relief when I do actually feed him and I'm also struggling with weaning hormones feeling so moody atm

He's feeding a few times in the night and wakes super early but I can cut that down later it's more the day time ones I want to do first

He currently feeds
First thing before breakfast
Before or after nap
After 2nd nap
Before bed

Has anyone got any tips on how they cut down feeds?

I've tried offering solids first, I'm wondering if maybe he is just not ready and I should wait another month

Why are you trying to cut down? It doesn't seem to be working for either of you.

Had a similar situation it's hard! I think I reduced it to just before bed and although never gave a dummy before got a dummy just for soothing. I think you do need your boobs to get used to it a bit, if it gets too much do a very small amount of expressing. But be careful with that as it can stimulate supply.

To be honest, that sounds pretty standard for a breastfeeding toddler (it’s basically just before and after sleep). That is still the breastfeeding pattern I have with my almost two year old although he can skip if dad is doing bedtime or gets him breakfast first thing.

Once they switch to one nap that’ll automatically drop another feed - is there a reason you want to cut back more than that? If it’s helping you both with teething and staying calm isn’t it a positive?

If you want to cut back because you’re done then that’s totally fine, but just checking you’re not feeling pressured by how often you think a one year old ‘should’ feed.

I guess I do feel a little pressured I've had people say oh he won't be having much milk anymore etc and by one he doesn't need it as much.

I've been invited to go away with friends and they don't understand I'm not ready to leave him and it's complicated when you are BF and not pumping regularly

As he's on 3 meals a day I was thinking I should cut down but I think I'm going to just go with the flow and hopefully it will get less naturally

Ok, so this isn't that you're that you're fed up, it's just that you've had some daft advice/comments. Keep breastfeeding, darling, you and the baby will both feel better. There's plenty of time for it to reduce naturally and at the moment both of you need it. At 12 months, I still got quite sore after a day apart from DS. Now at 16 months, we sometimes feed during the day, sometimes don't, and I'm good for about 24h before I get sore. I like that I'm still going because it's the only way he'll give me a cuddle! I do offer if I need him to sit still for 5 minutes too, and he's still getting teeth (and smashing his head on stuff) so that he needs the comfort sometimes.

Sympathy, it's hard when you feel you are going it alone, especially if you feel the pressure to cut down because you have been invited to go away.

You could drive to the weekend if that is feasible and only go for a shorter amount of time. Or, take the long term view, they are only this little once and go away in the future. It's very hard around now, there can be social pressure to stop, try and do what is right for you.

Thankyou

They are really helpful comments I appreciate it

It can be hard when you’re surrounded by families that maybe haven’t BF can’t it.

Feeding only 3 or 4 times in the day at 11 months is actually pretty good.

I’d keep in as you are with the day feeds and maybe start some gentle night weaning once he reaches 12 months.

The problem with cutting down on day feeds before you cut out the night feeds is that he may just wake more for feeds at night to catch up on the fewer calories he’s having in the day.