Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

Ok wow, I cannot believe I am closing in on the 1 year mark - I am thrilled to have made it this long! I am considering going longer but have some questions.

- I currently am a SAHM and BF DD 4x a day. I am thinking about doing just BFing 2x a day - morning and night after a year and giving her whole milk during the day…did this type of schedule work for anyone?

- I don't get super engorged anymore, only in the a.m. but just curious if i should try to drop from 4 to 3 feedings and then 3 to 2? Or just drop both together?

- I want this to be stress free - i.e. I don't want to have to worry about pumping if I miss a session nursing her. So thinking DH can give her a cup of whole milk before bed if I am out. So my questions is this - Is it possible to just nurse when I want and not worry about pumping if I miss a session? Or should I go ahead and pump?

- Random question…if you ebf, did your LO have any issues with drinking from a sippy cup or the change of suddenly drinking cold milk? I have a feeling she will be taking warmed up whole milk in a bottle for a few months after she turns 1.

- OK and when I do introduce whole milk, can I give it before her naps? Or do you give it with lunch? I always nurse before her naps.

I feel like I had more questions but will stop there for now!

TIA

Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

I would cut to 3 for a week or two and then down to 2. When DD turned a year I was at 3 sessions. Around 14 months I dropped to 2, just didn't offer after her nap and tried to do something distracting like go outside right away. She never asked and it was much easier than I expected.

I hadn't pumped if forever. Maybe 2 bottles since she was 6 months. She stopped really taking them after that anyway. I definitely wouldn't worry about pumping at this point but I would cut the feedings one at a time.

We tried the cup of milk when I wasn't home and DD wouldn't have it. I think it was more of an attachment issue for DD though. Hopefully you have better luck!

In terms of drinking from the sippy, it took time. I never warmed DD's milk. I gave it cold, in a straw cup and at first she barely drank an ounce a day. I kept at it and eventually she started to do better. Now she has no issues at all. I think I would try to create a new routine for naps to try to separate feeding from naps a bit. Maybe offer a cup or milk or a snack 20 minutes before nap time so she gets something in her belly. Then do some books and a song before you put her down.

GL! The only time I had an issue with my supply was when DD was down to a few minutes before bed (she was passing out really quickly for a few nights straight). By then she was 16 months and drinking plenty of milk so when my supply tanked I just cut that last session and fully weaned her.

Re: Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

Just curious, any particular reason why you are cutting down on breastfeeding? I'm in the same boat as you... My dd is turning one on thursday. Both my mom and mil think I need to start giving whole milk, but I really don't think it's necessary. I may give a few ounces of cows milk once a day just to introduce it to her, but breastfeeding at this point is a breeze, and I figure my milk is better for her than cows milk.

If I do give cows milk, it will be cold in a sippy cup. She drinks water from it now with no issues.

Message edited 9/10/2013 9:03:46 AM.

Re: Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

My DS is 23 months and still BF.

- I never had a "schedule" with him- he just nurses on demand, so I can't really offer advice on this, but if I did have a schedule, I think I would cut back one at a time, with a few wks between probably. If she'll have it, do just morning and night if you want. My DS wouldn't do it. For comfort purposes I think. Nowadays, he has a sippy cup of milk or a snack when we get home from work at around 6.

-I wouldn't drop them both together, both for you and baby- I think it would be too big an adjustment. i would drop them a few wks apart.

- I would not pump anymore! no need!

- My ped says no milk in a bottle, and I agree. I offered milk in a sippy (lots of BF babies like straws, but mine like the soft silicone ones like this ). Baby might not take it at first, but she'll get the hang of it eventually!

-No real advice on naps. I still nurse him to sleep at naptime. But I don't see any problem with it if you and she are OK with it! I offer water with meals.

GL!!!!!! And congrats on making it to a year!

Re: Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

Message edited 9/10/2013 10:44:54 AM.

Re: Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

My Dd had a cows milk allergy she didnt outgrow until 16 months, so I mostly breastfed until then, but did give her coconut milk in a sippy cup so she would get used to milk in a cup. She was already used to the sippy bc I started giving her water in one from about 8 months. I always used straw sippy cups bc I was told they are good for mouth muscle development.

Once I introduced cows milk around 16 months, we went down to 3 nursing sessions, morning, naptime, and bedtime. Around 21 months we dropped the nap session and just did morning and night. This lasted past 24 months, but then I got pregnant and cut out the morning, and eventually the night. By 26 months she was completely weaned.

If I was out for bedtime, DH would rock DD to sleep and offer her a sippy cup with water. She didn't really want the cup, just the comfort. I never pumped, but by the time we were down to 2 sessions a day, if I missed one, I didn't feel uncomfortable, just slightly full.

Good luck.

ETA, before she turned 2 I would offer milk with breakfast and dinner, and water the rest of the day. Once she was closer to 2, and now, I only give milk in the morning, and water the rest of the day. (Sometimes watered down orange juice or low sodium v8 juice, which DD loves.)

Message edited 9/10/2013 1:39:17 PM.

Re: Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice

Re: Breastfeeding past 1yr - help/advice