is she weaning? LONG

[USAFeyez06]

Ok ladies... I need your help.

I do not know how this works or what to do. My little one is about a week shy of 8 months old. She has been on solids for about a month and half (we slowly got her up to 3 solids a day). However, since she is on the small side, I have been paying more attention to her breastfeeding habits. I have a very accurate and expensive baby scale here and the most she takes in at one time is 3 and half ounces and sometimes only an ounce. I do not think she is meeting her quota of 30 ounces a day although she is probably getting close.

I have tried feeding her more often, but she does the same thing, takes a little bit or just kind of plays. Previous to today, she pretty much refused a bottle. But today, after she breastfed and only took an ounce, I gave her ebm in a bottle and she took the 2 ounces. She was still very distracted, wanting to play, and gnawing on the nipple (her teeth will just not come down!).

Anyway, my question is... is she possibly starting the weaning process? Not wanting to breastfeed all the time or wanting to try new things?

I know many are very pro breastfeeding (as am I) however, please understand that I am on a very restriced diet due to her MULTIPLE food allergies and she has also had other issues causing GI discomfort. I thought I would be more upset, but honestly I am not so opposed to the idea of weaning her. I don't want to stop completely right now and possibly breastfeed her several times a day still and at night, but I don't know.

I don't want to worry so much about her weight issues... I know she is going to be a small baby, but at least if she isn't gaining a lot, I don't have to sit here and worry if she is or isn't getting enough breastmilk.

It just seems to be that she is very distracted (yes, I cover her face and she cries, quiet dark rooms... same thing), she is teething so likes to gnaw, and just doesn't seem to want to eat more than a couple ounces at a time.

So... does this sound familiar to anyone? If she isn't weaning, what does that look like, so I know in the future? Any ways to get her to take more in or eat more? (I know it's not me... I can shoot milk across the room when she stops many times).

HELP... I am so confused and almost don't want to deal with it anymore!!!

[SingingMom]

If she's teething, that may keep her from wanting to nurse. Some babies will take a bottle more happily when teething, as the suction while nursing can be painful. Doesn't necessarily mean she's weaning.

The age is a big one for distractability. Again, doesn't necessarily mean she's weaning, although if you wanted to wean, this can make it easier. My GF weaned her two babies at around this age with no problems because they were so distractable.

I couldn't really tell you what weaning looks like as I have not yet completely weaned anyone. I am currently negotiating with a 3 year old and a bag of marshmallows, however. I'll let you know how it goes.

[USAFeyez06]

Thanks...

I know that self weaning doesn't usually happen until 2-4 years of age, but nonetheless, wanted to ask. I do think this is a developmental stage (distraction, teething, etc)...

Is there any way to get her to consume more milk other than offering often (like I do) and trying to keep her from too much distraction? I have tried sippy cups and all kinds of different ones to no avail... she will not take anything from them. Like I mentioned before, she is also very finicky at the bottle as well.

Do we just have to suck it up and wait for this stage to pass and in the meantime hope she at least gains some?

Can you tell I'm a little frustrated?

[vickikreiner]

Oh yes, I can feel your frustration! I think it's a combination of teething and distraction.

Kellymom says "Distractibility is also common around 8-10 months, and can lead mom to think that her baby is trying to wean. If your baby is younger than a year, it's highly unlikely that this temporary disinterest is self-weaning. It's very rare for a baby younger than 12 months to self-wean."

Read the excellent info on Kelly's site about teething and distraction:

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/distractible-baby.html
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/teething.html

ALSO: since your child has allergies I would strongly recommend sticking with the breastfeeding! You may need to nurse and follow up with pumped milk for volume.
Have you tried the Nuby cup?
In a different way than saying "suck it up", be patient and take one day at a time.

[ima062002]

At 8 mo absolutely not. PP gave you lots of good advice. I would provide for lots of quiet places, darkened rooms etc. for nursing, so that the distractions are kept to a minimum.

My dd, who at 19 mo is not even 20 lbs yet started slowing on the growth curve around 9 mo and it stabilized only about now. My doc said that she expects her to be around the 5th percentile (born in the 50th) and that this seems to be her genetic makeup. She was too busy to eat and nurse for a long time.

You are very restricted with the solids for now, but I would make her solids intake the most calory ladden you can - avocado (mixed with banana if she doesn't take to it) and nut butter (made from sunflower seeds) come to mind.

Oh and repeat this as needed "A healthy baby will NOT contribute to her own demise" :).

[Amy_G_]

I actually would consider backing off solids to only once a day. and the other times have her breastfeed. she really doesn't need 3 squares of solids at her age. And depending on how much solids she eats at a meal, she may just not have room for breastmilk. but breastmilk is better nutritionally than most solids baby's eat at the ripe old age of almost 8 months.
1-3 ounces is fine as long as she's meeting developmental milestones and growing, peeing and pooping.
don't worry so much. she really seems normal.
a nursing necklace comes to mind as something to keep her focussed on eating longer. also you could have a special toy, stuffed animal, etc that she gets when nursing, and keep her attentive by singing songs, saying abc's, 123's, nursery rhymes etc.

[des477]

My DD is 8 months old and though I offer solids 2x daily and am trying to work up to 3, I do well to get her to eat them well once. Also if she takes a solid meal for her father while I'm at work she refuses her supper one. She also will only take between 3 to 4 ounces at a time. I am of course going by her bottle intake and do not weigh her after BF. She was slightly early and was 5.9 lbs at birth. She is now about 16 lbs.

She is very easily distracted while nursing and is also teething with nothing to show for it yet. I have found that BF in our quiet bedroom along with letting her play with my necklace helps some.

I dont think its that they are weaning just that they are more curious about everything else right now. By now they have the booby thing down :)

[Nipple_nectar]

I also recommend a nursing necklace as it will more than likely, buy you even five more minutes and in most cases, that is all they need. At your babys age, she has become very efficient at nursing and can empty your breast very quickly! Try not to worry.

If you have made it this far without any chronic weight gain issues, it is time to retire that scale;-) Obsessing over her intake will only cause you unecessary stress~ you need to trust the bewbie! It has gotten you this far, yes?

Distractibility, teething and acrobatics are only part of nursing a 9-15 month old, yu'll get used to it. A good read would be Mothering your nursing toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner. It explains the dynamic of a nursing toddler and what normal looks like very well!

Make sure and address teething pain with a product like www.hylands.com for teething tablets and do give your baby an opportunity for gnawing on things like a frozen bagel or washcloth to minimize the pain.

Also, introducing solids is the first step towards weaning, so you have begun the process. How quickly a pace you follow will depend on you and the amount of solids you offer. Since breastmilk or formula needs to be the primary source of nutrition for babys entire first year it is important to remember that solids at this point: are only for practice with texture and taste! I would agree with Amy that maybe you need to cut back since ounce for ounce, breastmilk is the most calorie dense choice you can make.

[still_me]

:D Momma you got some WONDERFUL advice on here.

I agree with AmyG and I would cut back on the solids and give her fat laden ones like ima said.

I am glad that you wandered back to us! I know you've been busy, but these ladies are spot on. You've done a bang up job nursing for this long and dealing with severe allergies.

She needs the nutrients and liquid right now. She can't have soy or dairy, so your options are limited in liquid nutrition and she can't do without something like that.