Does she need weaning? (She's 20 weeks)

[Sprogstersmum]

DD2 is ebf and has always fed v frequently - rarely goes more than two hours during the day and has two to three feeds at night. However she is now much less 'settled' than a few weeks ago - less happy, crying more, not napping much (although never been a big napper)and I'm really wondering if she's hungry. I offer her feeds v frequently and she's not always interested so don't feel I could feed her any more often than I do. I weaned DD1 at around 20 weeks (also ebf) and she became much more settled and content but it was easier to tell with her as she had bigger gaps between feeds until four months and then began to feed markedly more frequently. Any opinions?

If she was hungry then she would take the milk on offer surely? Perhaps it is teething rather than hunger.

I'd go for teething if she is refusing milk

Breast milk has more calories than food, so would continue as long as possible...

Good point re: teething. Also don't they do a growth spurt around that time?

I just weaned my 25lb totally breast fed 9.5 month old baby in the last week or so, so its up to you.

Agree with Humphrey, if it was hunger she'd drink the milk. Two hourly during the day is not unusual for a breastfed baby afaik.
Growth spurt and/or teething sound likely.

Hi Sprogstersmum... your post could be me!! Its exactly my situation, with a 20 week old dd and an older dd that was weaned early too. I too am holding off the weaning as long as I can, but since her injections (2 weeks ago now), things have taken a turn for the worst, and she is crying and fussing when feeding, and even worse at bedtimes, which were easy and cry-free before. I'm stumped as I did think it could be teething, but gums seem same as ever, and no sign of teeth as far as I can tell.... I too never get more than a 2 hour break between feeds in the day and always 2 feeds in the night (sometimes 3)
Please keep me posted how things go with yours!!

Sprogstersmum and ivedoneitnow

Please come and join our 4-5 month club

How's your eating? perhaps it's a growth spurt? overtired? teething?
Hope she settles soon..

serant, sprogstersmum's eating is not likely to be a factor in this...what was the link you thought might be there?

OP - babies are like this sometimes! It doesn;t sound like hunger or she would simply accept the breast more often. If she's healthy and not in pain or discomfort then this phase is likely to pass soon

I don't think I explained myself v well - she will accept the breast more often but doesn't seem to satisfy her - tend to feed every hour from mid afternoon to 9 in the evening now. She's not a big napper either which doesn't help - generally has around 3 naps of 25 mins each during the day then down at 9ish in the evening - three feeds during the night and up around 8am. My DD1 who's 3 and half sleeps more! DD2 was so cheery till recently and now she's quite wingey most of the afternoon and evening - I just feel sorry for her!

Ivedoneitnow - how's your dd doing?

Ok she's not teething and she doesn't need weaning - she has chickenpox! So much for natural immunity from breat milk.

I dont think breastmilk prevents chicken pox - my DS had it when he was still feeding (but only once or twice a day). It was much milder though and he didnt seem phased by it at all.

I think breastfeeding might reduce severity of it for some babies but not stop it completely.

axx