Self-weaning at 11 months?

[MrsC]

R turns 11 months on Friday and is nursing way less. Over the last couple of days he's gone 6 hours between nursing sessions during the day.
I offer every 3 hours or so (which was his schedule a couple of weeks ago) by signing "milk". If he's interested he signs back but he usually shakes his head no and sometimes ask for "wawa" instead - water. He gets a little water from a straw cup with food and he eats a lot! He's constantly asking for food.
The only time he's really interested in nursing is at bedtime and if he wakes for a comfort feed, which usually lasts a minute or two.
I know milk should still be his main source of nutrition so I'm not sure what to do. I always try to nurse him before food or offer at least. He will pull away after a minute or say no. He is around the 80th percentile for height and weight so that's not a concern thankfully.
Hes very into playing right now so I know that's part of the problem. Any thoughts on whether this is just a phase or could he be self-weaning this young?


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[spotty_dog]

This is a very common age for nursing strikes. I'd keep offering. http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/babyselfwean/ http://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-...breast/#strike

[Thirteen]

This is a very common age for nursing strikes. I'd keep offering. http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/babyselfwean/ http://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-...breast/#strike

Yes.


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[Bittersweet]

Self-weaning at 11 months?

I know it's very commonly a phase and can be worked through. With that said, my youngest self-weaned at around that age. I probably could have pushed through but it was getting to the point where I was having to practically force him on the boob, which I wasn't comfortable with. So, yeah probably a phase unless you want it to be a weaning.


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[SoonerTexan]

At that age most of my kids were getting very little milk. I know this for sure because I was pumping at work and my supply would drop dramatically. Like from three or four 4oz bottles a day to one. With #2 there wasn't even a letdown anymore by 11 months. All were big eaters and all got to the point where "nursing" was grabbing at me and sucking for a few seconds distractedly. That's the point where we were done. 14 months for my oldest, 12 months for my 2nd, and 14 months for my 3rd.

[MrsK]

K1 self weaned at 11.5 months. He quit cold turkey. I suspect it was because I was pregnant and my milk tasted different.

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[MrsC]

Hmm, so it could be one or the other or both. He's never had a nursing strike before, interesting read! He has been gradually losing interest over the last couple of weeks.
I don't think it's a supply issue because I'm hurting if he goes over 5 hours between feeds.
I'll definitely keep it up. My goal is one year and we have a few weeks to go. Although I learned not to push it this evening when I tried to get him to latch back on and he bit me, little stinker.
Should I cut back on water? I worry about dehydration when it's hot out. I guess I could give pumping a try too.

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[gcuthbe1]

I'm definitely not the best source for this but just to throw in my two cents. My 3.5 mo will sometimes go longer than expected without nursing if he's really intrigued by his surroundings. So it could be a distraction thing. And like you said, he's on the high end of height and weight so nothing too worrisome. Also I've noticed my guy already gets most of the milk out very quickly, so although yours is only latching for a seemingly short time, he may still be exhausting the majority of your current supply.

I love Kelly mom!

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[MrsC]

I just saw this thread and I laughed because he got down to only night time nursing at 12 months and we've been stuck there since. He is almost 19 months.
I am so ready to be done. He nurses at bedtime and when he wakes around 5 and I bring him into my bed, just so I can get a little more sleep. Should I just stop at this point? I feel like he would sleep better but he won't even let DH bring him up to bed, just screams for me. I can get him back to sleep just holding him but that initial bedtime he loses him mind and I feel awful. I did get him attached to a stuffed animal that gives him a little comfort at least.

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[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Would he take a bottle instead? Although it's not great to transfer to another habit that you'll then have to break.

I'd make myself scarce at bedtime (like leave the house) and it'll pass quickly. I know it seems so pitiful but I dreaded it all 3 times and it went fine.

[MrsC]

Would he take a bottle instead? Although it's not great to transfer to another habit that you'll then have to break.

I'd make myself scarce at bedtime (like leave the house) and it'll pass quickly. I know it seems so pitiful but I dreaded it all 3 times and it went fine.

You're right, I just have to pick a day and do it, after I get DH to commit to putting him to bed. It feels cruel but I know he'll be fine.

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[gcuthbe1]

You're right, I just have to pick a day and do it, after I get DH to commit to putting him to bed. It feels cruel but I know he'll be fine.

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Did you have to sleep train at all? Currently daydreaming of this schedule... 12 mo nurses 6-8x in 24 hours including 2 overnight.

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[MrsC]

Did you have to sleep train at all? Currently daydreaming of this schedule... 12 mo nurses 6-8x in 24 hours including 2 overnight.

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He completely lost interest in daytime nursing once he started walking, then I got him to take regular milk from a straw cup and he's happy to take that. But, a lot of it is due to him being too busy following his brother around. Night time has been a lot more difficult because he wants to catch up on time with Mommy. We did a little sleep training. I find that he doesn't respond well to the wordless soothing the books advise. When he wakes I go in and explain that I'm just in the other room and he should lie down and cuddle his bear and go to sleep. He'll say ok and may cry for a minute but usually goes to sleep. If he cries for 10 minutes, I repeat and he will sleep then.

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[gcuthbe1]

Thank you! I'll countdown to walking and see; he's still cautious so I think he'll be closer to 14-15 months... but last week he decided he absolutely could not do 2 nap days anymore and so we're transitioning to 1 already which is interesting... maybe the lil bonus grumpiness from this new schedule is making him extra needy in the boob dept... we saw the pediatrician and she says bump up to 3 meals 2 snacks a day so I feel like he won't have time or stomach space for so much milk anymore... we shall see. Sorry to go off on a tangent on your thread. This is what breastfeeding brings out in me lol

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[MrsC]

Oh no worries. Breastfeeding is not easy! R went down to one nap around that age too and that really cut down on nursing because he usually just falls asleep in the car picking C up.
He knows the end is near with nursing though. Now he asks nicely at bedtime. 😆

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