[Flutters]

My DD is 1 this week and I am thinking about weaning her. I have been back at work 3 days a week since the beginning of Jan, and she will push through and go without a feed on those days, drinking a little bit of cows milk for my MIL or mum, but it's only a few sips. So I'm wanting to get her down to one BF before bed (and overnight if she wakes) but I don't really know how to do it. Do I just offer her cows milk when I'm home with her and if she doesn't have it too bad?? She likes a BF to wind down before her naps so if she doesn't get it, then it's all on. Is it just a case of riding it out and if she doesn't want cow milk then she gets nothing? Someone suggested watering it down as it's thicker than my milk, but she still won't sit there and drink a whole cup of it.

Also she feeds to sleep for her nighttimes about 80% of the time...so I know I need to break this before I give up BFing all together. I have a copy of the No Cry Sleep Solution - is that a good thing to get ideas off for how to break this without going cold turkey?

Thanks

[Lucretia Borgia]

Hi Flutters

From my experience they will never take as much milk from a sippy cup as they would if you were giving them milk (formula) in a bottle or from breast feeding. I would continue giving her the milk as you are doing, i wouldnt worry that shes not drinking a full cup of it.

Is she good on solids? You can put more dairy in her food (if this is a concern).... Ie cows milk in her mashed vegetables, cheese etc. does she also drink water from a sippy cup?

Re feeding to sleep and weaning off the breast all together I won't be much help I'm afraid, both my boys self weaned from the boob at around 9 months and I had stopped feeding them o'nignt by then anyway...I'm a mean mummy, I control cried them...which I know from previous posts you don't want to do (fair enough!) .....I know many members recommend the No Cry Solution...is that Pantley? Elizabeth Pantley ? Some threads have mentioned " the Pantley pull off"... Or something like that...maybe google it?

Good luck! My LO is a feb baby too....1 today actually!

[ABabyPlease]

I worried a lot about weaning at one year too. I was told that it wouldn't be as difficult as I expected - this advice annoyed me a bit but it was true.

Just choose one feed to drop and offer a cup of milk. Start a bedtime routine and stick to it. Ours used to take one hour but now only takes 15 mins.

I found Sheyne Rowley , Dream Baby somewhat helpful - if you can handle lots of reading.

Feel positive and take it slowly!

[HurryUpAlready]

Hi Flutters. I'm hoping you get some helpful responses here, as I came in looking for the same info. I have already got Zara down to morning and bedtime feeds, but I'm ready to drop those too now that #2 is on the way. I'm feeling a bit drained so I'm ready (even though she isn't!).

During the day I just distract her and give her milk in a sippy cup which she takes pretty well. Does your DD drink out of a straw? If so, maybe try that as an alternative? Otherwise, as long as she is eating and drinking enough water, I'm sure she can go without milk during the day (Z does on most days, I only give her milk in a cup to distract her if she's after my boobs).

I have no idea how to wean her off morning & might feeds. The bottle worked at bedtime last night but not tonight. Sigh...

Good luck with it, I'll be stalking looking for answers.

[trishalishous]

we chose to night wean first and then cut out the morning feed. We still have a before bed boob.
I night weaned with Dr Jay Gordons method, and we cut back the day feeds with saying 'later sweetie' and distraction.