[~Andrea~]

Is it normal to begin self weaning at this age? Lily isn't as interested in nursing as much. She doesn't nurse in the am when she gets up. Her normal after nap nursing session lasts about 30 seconds, and her second after nap session lasts about 2 minutes. She does nurse before bed and about 1-3 times during the night.

I am worried about her weaning already because she doesn't really take in any additional fluid and she only eats a small breakfast and lunch. I have actually been offering her the boob more lately, but she takes 2-3 sips and she is done.

Is it okay that she seems to be self weaning? I mean, I know I need to increase her solids and fluids if she is doing that. Anything else I should be aware of? Maybe this is just a phase and it will pass???

I do think it is a phase...if you do want to keep nursing remember toddlers do go through nursing stricks. Just keep offering. Also I recommend the book "mothering your nursing toddler"...it goes into so much of what you are asking.

Also JoJo doesn't ask to nurse when she wakes up but I usually offer. I offer about every 2 hours and she nurses for a little bit. She nurses for comfort just as much as for food....so if she is upset she nurses.

Also those 1 to 3 night nursing I bet she is getting a lot from them so she can go longer during the day.

[amyhk]

I don't know if it's normal to wean at this age, but Eli is nursing less and less, too. I think it's because my milk supply is decreasing. Eli usually eats three meals a day, but he doesn't drink a whole lot of fluid either and his eating is never consistent. Also, he doesn't eat dairy yet. So I worry. I keep offering him at his usual nursing times but his nursing sessions are getting shorter and shorter.

[BoobyDutyAgainJen]

It is completely normal to fluctuate how much she is nursing. It very likely is a stage. If you are wanting her to continue nursing continue offering. Either way she will let you know which way she is wanting to go by either refusing to nurse when offered or returning back to her normal nursing times and amount. I also agree that she very likely is getting a lot of her nutrition at night. Owen does this because he is just toooooo busy to slow down to nurse during the day.

I also think that during the summer most all of us aren't all that interested in eating. It is just too hot to sit right up on someone working to get milk! It takes a lot of effort to nurse!!

Go with your gut with this one!

[nvr.4.gtn]

yep normal!!! I'm a big beleiver in let them decide when and how often (to an extent) Now that Avery is older I don't offer unless there is a reason. Some reasons are bigger then others. Like after her surgery heck I was ready to walk down the hall with it hanging out as we went to her room. lol Other times only if she asks. They know when they want it. Babies after a year don't "need" breastmilk. Its a great boost though so don't get me wrong. Its still an amazing thing to give them after a year but the need factor is gone, they can survive without it kinda thing.

But this is probably a phase. When Nichole was 1, she nursed 3 times in 24 hours for about 2 or 3 months. I though for sure she would wean.... nop by 15 months she nursed twice a day..... by 16 months she was up to every 30 minutes!!! Yep she wanted a sip cxonstantly drove me insane that I had to put her on a schedule at that point. Not to say Lily would do that, just don't think that because she is less interested now, she won't be in a few months... you just never know

[~Andrea~]

I guess I am torn!!! I wanted to let her self wean when she was ready, and maybe she is telling me she is getting ready right now! But...I am not ready so it is pulling at my heart stings!!!

Oh well, we will see what happens. I will try and not stress about it!

[nvr.4.gtn]

good idea! It still sad when they stop. Its happy sad though. Nichole had to be scheduled and then slowly dropped feedings BUT she stopped on her own as well. I remember sitting there on day she was 22 months and 1 day yep I know these things! I realized she hadn't nursed in 2 days!!! She was only nursing once a day after her nap. I was so sad that I missed it so on 22 months and 2 days, I sat on the couch with her, wrapped in a blanket (both of us) and we nursed for the last time. I talked to her literally and told her she was a big girl now and didn't need mommas milk and blah blah blah! weepy weepy sad! haha and that was it! I am so glad we had that last one for me, not her lol.

She only asked for it like 2 times after that and I would just say it was all gone want some milk? and she gladly took it!

[Mel531]

could be either or....a phase, or she is ready to move on...just keep offering, like everyone said, and she will let you know. Once Joel was completely mobile, he wanted less and less to do with nursing..around 8 mos it became a real chore just to get him to want it, but the hardest thing was to get him to stay with me for more than 15 seconds. By 10 months, I was reduced to carrying him around to keep him eating..and he would fight me the whole time to get down...so shortly after that we stopped, and he never looked back. I tried to offer it to him a few times after he stopped and he wouldnt even latch...he'd just smack my boob and yell, lol...he much prefers a bottle that he can take with him. he's still getting BM in his bottles...from all the months I pumped non stop...but he wants nothing to do with nursing.

[nvr.4.gtn]

wow Mel, I'm impressed you still have some pumped milk left!!! Didn't you say you stopped like months ago?

[Mel531]

I officially completely stopped nursing him about 6 weeks ago...and I continued to pump right on up till then, Not round the clock like I was doing for the first 7 months, but many times 3 times a day...once he started showing no interest...I pumped fairly often, just incase he decided to change his mind and go back to it...plus I had an enormous amount built up from those first 7 mos. The goal was to have enough to make it till his birthday..I dont want to buy formula, lol.

[nvr.4.gtn]

don't blame you. I'm cheap lol