How do I do it??

[awilliamson]

Hi, I have a 9 month old that I plan on breast feeding until she's a year. I'm so clueless on how to even go about that process. What age is it where she is able to go completely to solids? I don't want to give her any formula because she's done so well with out a bottle, and I would rather just nurse her instead. About how long does it take to wean? Should I start now? Any recommendations or good books anyone can suggest?? Thanks!!

Clueless Mom ;)

[Jacksmommy]

Well, the short answer is to gradually reduce one nursing session at a time until baby is completely weaned. The real answer is that every baby is different. Some really take to solids and seem to wean themselves quite easily. Others are very attatched to nursing and don't like solid food much until they are close to 2 years old.

What does your baby do now? Does she eat any solids at this point? Does she drink water from a sippy cup at all? How often does she nurse? This kind of tells you where you are starting.

As far as starting to wean now, if you have introduced solids, you have already started weaning. Until she is a year old, you want the main source of her nutriti0on to be breastmilk, so I wouldn't start cutting back on nursing yet. You still want to nurse her on demand and before offering solids. After she is a year old, then you can offer solids first and then nurse after. This will mean she gets less breastmilk.

Is your goal to have her no longer nursing by her first birthday?

[awilliamson]

Thanks for the advice. Gave me lots to think about :) As far as what she eats now, she nurses about every 4 hours (3 main meals a day) and then again before bed, and also if she really, really wants it. She eats solids; pretty much anything and everything in-between meals (not a ton, but tastes and tries new things), and she drinks water from a sippy cup whenever she wants as well. I think I want to have her weaned by one year because i want to try and get pregnant around then.

[Jacksmommy]

Remember as you're weaning that breastmilk is a good source of protein, fat, and calcium, so you want to make sure she gets these things from other foods or from cow's milk once she's no longer getting them from breastmilk. The cow's milk is, of course, after she turns 1, assuming she's not allergic, if you drink cow's milk that is. It's an option - not a necessity. My 3 year old still won't touch cow's milk, but lots of kids do. Also, some babies will wean themselves when a mom gets pregnant just because mom's milk supply usually goes down quite a bit after the first trimester. Some won't. Some will nurse anyway, but a lot of babies will self-wean at that time.

[Jacksmommy]

Also, remember to wean gradually. It's easiest on baby and on you.

[lactated]

Hi, I have a 9 month old that I plan on breast feeding until she's a year. I'm so clueless on how to even go about that process. What age is it where she is able to go completely to solids? I don't want to give her any formula because she's done so well with out a bottle, and I would rather just nurse her instead. About how long does it take to wean? Should I start now? Any recommendations or good books anyone can suggest?? Thanks!!

Clueless Mom ;)


How Weaning Happens has weaning ideas tailored to all ages.

You can also offer formula or other milk or fluid in a cup -- one less weaning, maybe.

Here are some ideas: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html The "how to wean" section might be particularly useful.