How to Wean My Son?

Take away one feeding every two to three days and that should do it. The melamine scare was in China, NOT in the US. Here's the FDA link about it: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/melamine.html. Good luck!

I started weaning my son at 11 months, and my dr. said it was fine to wean to whole milk (which he didn't like at first!). They did suggest mixing breast and whole milk until he got used to the taste (I had some from pumping previously). I found that it didn't take him long at all. I weaned one feeding a week and that seemed to work great for him AND my body adjusting. I think I may have waited an extra week or so before I dropped that final evening feeding, but he was starting to use me as a jungle gym! He didn't drink much at first (like maybe 8-10 oz milk TOTAL in a day, and maybe some water), but dr. wasn't concerned and said it would pick up. It certainly has! He's 15 months now. He's still not a big morning drinker, but lunch and dinner he soaks it up and is between 2-3 cups most all days. Good luck!

I'm so sorry that you're in so much pain. I hope you feel better soon! I can't tell you about weaning, as we haven't done that yet (son is 9 months old), but I wanted to chime in about milk. Dairy is generally not very good for us in high quantities and is best when high quality (organic) and in limited quantity. I am allergic and have been since I was very small, and, while not everyone is as allergic as I am, it's still best not to have to much. I would consult with a midwife, doctor, or lactation consultant about the weaning and a naturopath or nutritionist about what to do for a replacement. Good luck to you!

I would not change to whole milk unless your child has suddenly become a baby cow. Cow's milk is for baby cows, formula and breast milk are for humans. I think that it's best to switch to formula for another 6-12 months or so and then wean to an all food diet. Good luck, I can't imagine having to wean at 11 months, but I understand the pain of mastitis.

I am sorry to hear you hae had so much trouble with nursing Maybe try La Leche Legue, they'll come to your house for free! Or try a naturopath to help you deal with why you're getting mastitis, I would just hate for you to have to wean before you were both ready. If you need a good naturopath referral, I know a few really great ones that could help you. good luck!

Your son does need some kind of formula or milk but he isnt ready yet for cows milk. If you can wait untill his first birthday he will then be ready for whole milk. GOOD LUCK!

He's ready for whole milk - no need to go to formula. When I weaned, I skipped a new breast feeding every three days until she was done. When she went to milk, she needed it slightly warmed at first though because cold milk just wasn't in her world yet! Good luck and I hope you feel better.

11 months old is OK for whole milk. I would use a sippy cup, instead of a bottle. Because if you start with a bottle that's another habit you will eventually have to break. Not sure how you should start, my youngest son gradually lost interest so weaning was a mutual thing. The only feeding that he still wanted was before bedtime and we avoided that by having my husband hold him and cuddle him for a few nights. Then he seemed to forget about the whole thing. Good luck!

He can use a sippy cup, and he is close enough to one for whole milk, just start slow to watch for allergies. In order to get him used to the taste I would start by putting a small amount of milk in with breast milk, and then slowly increase the cows milk while decreasing the breast milk. Many babies will not take milk if it is offered full strength right away.

Oh my gosh, that sounds TERRIBLE. My heart goes out to you. I suggest contacting LaLeche League - they are experts in breast feeding to see what you could do. I would also contact a naturopath and a midwife. They can help you stop getting this awful illness.

I've never suffered from it myself even with 3 babies and 5 years total of breastfeeding - I guess I've been really lucky - however most of us suffer illnesses when our immune systems are down. See if you can get a naturopath to build up your immune system. They can do that safely while you are breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding helps baby's brain up to 2 years of age. Formula doesn't come close in the nutrients babies need for brain development. This issue is important enough to "bother" doctors with helping you so that you can continue breastfeeding. Naturopaths have the expertise to help you stop getting mastitis. I used to get bronchitis 4 times a year until I went to a naturopth. Since they treated me 10 years ago, I haven't had bronchitis since!

I'm like you, I am not a formula fan either. I weaned my son at 1 year (so 11 mo isn't really a problem to start). I dropped one feeding at a time for a week at a time and he adjusted perfectly. If you are feeding him a variety of foods when he is eating solids then he is getting plenty of nutrition in that. I gave my son whole milk with his breakfast (in a sippy cup) and then water the rest of the day. I would make sure that his breakfast and lunch were ready as soon as he got up so that he had food to distract him from his need to nurse and it worked great. I'm sorry for you pain. I have faith that your instincts will tell you what is the right thing to do. I hope I haved helped. God Bless.

Hi A.,
So sorry to hear you've had such a difficult time with mastitis. I had one bout and it was no fun.

I don't have advice on how to wean - my 13 month old and I are still going strong. But a great website with tons of info is kellymom.com. Here is a link to info on weaning:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html
I bet since you've had multiple bouts of mastitis you'll wanna go really slowly so you avoid another round.

You might also find some useful information on their "Recurrent Mastitis" info page:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/recurrent-mastiti...
And I would also recommend checking in with the kellymom online forums - there are helpful, experienced women who have great suggestions both for mastitis and for weaning.

Good luck to you,
A.

Due to an illness (operation, actually), I had to suddenly wean my second (of 3) kids at 11 3/4 months. She handled it better than I did! We went to whole milk and bottles. She would have done fine with whole milk and sippy cups. I agree with going to a cup if you can. If not -- that's okay. Do what works for you and your child. I hope you feel better soon!! My sister had lots of problems with mastitis. Drag.

Hi A.,

I have a little guy who was born in Jan. 2008 also. The 23rd actually..... It's a great age isn't it?

I just wanted to post a link for you from the la leche league website about weaning. I have always found their information extremely helpful and balanced. I will also post a link for a local leader so that you can contact them for more hands on support if you like. Hope this helps, and I hope that you are better quickly. Mastitis is a horrible infection!

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBbreastproblems.html A link reg. mastitis

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBweaning.html A link for weaning.

LLL of Port Orchard meets at the Tremont Fire Station, 200 Tremont St.
Meetings are held on the 2nd Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
For further information, Rachel: ###-###-#### or Kendra: ###-###-####
*I personally know Kendra and she's awesome at helping with anything you need.

LLL 24 hour support line
877-452-5324

Just some resources for you. Hope you can use what you want and just discard the rest LOL!!!

D. Rylander
A Blessed Birth Doula Services
###-###-####
____@____.com

Sorry about your mastitis. Nursing more frequently is helpful to get rid of it more quickly. I had it when my daughter was five months. I just wanted to say, if he is doing well with your help with the regular cup, don't bother with the sippy cups!:)

talk to you pediatrician to get advice on the best thing to feed him right now. When he is two he will be ready for whole milk. you probably could give it to him now, but you stand the risk of an allergy. your plan for taking one feeding away a week a part sounds like a good plan. you don't want to do it to fast or you will suffer.

A., i breast fed 4 babies and i got Mastitis with one. time to stop! you meantioned he only want you after his nap. If he will drink from a sippy and will drink with help from a regular cup .wean him dont start him on a bottle you have the hard part beat.My dr Started my Babies on regular milk at age 1. we didnt have formula. if you are afraid of the formula and arent ready to take him off the bottle you can try the old formula 1 can of canned milk 13 oz of water tablespoon of dark karo syrup
all my babies were raised on that after i had to stop breast feeding for medical reasons and they all grew up to be healthy babies and i didnt have to worry about whats in the formula. good luck!

I breastfed 4 children. Two of them weaned themselves and the other 2 were just gradually weaned over a short period of time. I would skip a nursing session and give them a bottle or a sippy cup for a few days until my body adjusted. Then I would try substituting another feeding. It worked well and everyone was happy.

S.
http://www.DeliveringWellnessToYou.com