One-year old milk intake/nursing related

Ah, back to confusion. I just brought him in for his 12 month appt. He is 29 inches and 17.14 lbs. First percentile for weight. He eats a lot of table food himself, so it is there if he wants it. He shovels in certain foods, like pizza. Anyway, my dr. said breastfed babies do not gain much weight, so I am wondering if I should stop breastfeeding him or not. I just can't figure out how to change my routine. I didn't nurse as much today and I kind of felt guilty. He barely drinks cow milk, so I gave him three yogurts to compensate. I guess my confusion is if I am not nursing in the morning, do I run to his room with a sippy of milk? Then, bring him in the kitchen for breakfast? I prefer of course cuddling in bed and nursing. But, he is so thin, I don't want to hurt any weight gain. I know people will have very different opinions based on diff experiences.

Re: One-year old milk intake/nursing related

If you aren't going to nurse him, I'd offer him a bottle/sippy of milk. Also, maybe you could offer more opportunities for food. I'm not sure how you do it now, but, maybe add in more healthy snacks. Don't know why your doctor made that comment about BF babies, my EBF DS is 22lbs at 7 mos. But I did read that BF babies stop gaining as much later.

I personally wouldn't take an "if he wants it, it's there approach." I would feed him. And encourage him to eat. DS now at 7 mos BF's every 4 hours (4 xday) and has 3 meals in between. This was the same schedule I had with DS1 who was FF. At a little over a year (16mos maybe) DS1 went down to 3 bottles.

I fed my DS1 for a long time bc it was important to me that he eat well. ALthough I fed him, I respected his cues about being full and never forced him to have another bite, etc. But, kids can get so distracted eating that they just stop and forget (even now at 4).

Re: One-year old milk intake/nursing related

Id offer healthy fat foods. Avocado, cook with coconut oil or mix it into smoothies. I'm not sure I agree with your dr that breastfed babies don't gain much weight. My dd was EBF and in the 25-30 % for weight & 90th for height. I would BF and also offer cows milk. Maybe just BF morning & night and offer cows milk & foods during the day? I BFd until dd was 25 months, but at 1 we only nursed in the morning, naptime, and night time. Then at 18m we cut the naptime session.

Re: One-year old milk intake/nursing related

What has his weight percentiles been before 12 months? Some babies are just small. I'd continue to nurse him and to also offer food with good fats like avocado. If you don't nurse him, offer milk first. If he won't drink milk, keep giving him yogurt and cheese.

Re: One-year old milk intake/nursing related

Your doctor is wrong about BF babies not gaining weight. My daughter is 9 months and in the 75th percentile. She barely gets solids. Every baby is different. If he is gaining weight on his own curve I wouldn't worry. I wouldn't give up nursing.

One-year old milk intake/nursing related

My ped told me those charts are made by formula companies! My breast fed baby born 7.6lbs has always been anywhere from 10th till 25th percent but a big fat chunky monkey to me. I was so concerned about her percents and my ped was like these charts are bs and made by formula companies. Her curve is beautiful.

I would not stop breast feeding if the reason is because you're worried about his weight.

Re: One-year old milk intake/nursing related

If you want to give up nursing then I would replace the nursing session with a bottle (or sippy if you are anti-bottle) of milk in the morning. If not then I would continue to nurse and offer solids as usual. My DS really stopped growing and gaining weight around a year as well and it didn't make a difference whether or not I breastfed or fed soymilk (he has a dairy intolerance). We weaned @ 13 months completely as I had basically dried up at that point and I still go into his room first thing with milk when he wakes up, we read and snuggle. He even lost a pound or two between 12-14 months but has since rebounded and is slowly gaining again. If you are offering food (as much as he will eat) then it might just be a normal growth slow down at this point. I drove myself nuts at that age worried about my DS's growth and have calmed down a lot since realizing he is meeting all of his milestones otherwise and is healthy. In fact it's helped us at mealtimes for me not to be obsessed over every bite he takes.

Re: One-year old milk intake/nursing related

Thanks for the replies! I do push food on my ds while allowing him to feed himself. I kind of help him along. Before I taught him to feed himself he would always scream during meals. Maybe, he felt my pressure. I do think bf babies may be thinner, however I know plenty of chunky bf babies. This must be genetic. His cousins are 3rd percentile in weight. I was thinking about stopping bfing, but felt too sad stopping since my ds still likes it. I didn't nurse all day, then at night he nursed a long time. I think I might wait and see if he weans himself.