Weaning My 11 Month Old Son.

American Academy of Pediatrician suggests strictly beast feeding for first 6 months and to continue at least for the first year. World Healtsh Organization suggests breast feeding for the first two years. If you really enjoying it there is no reason why you should. I have a 2 year old that I am still breasting. But I must say it would be so much easier to wean at 18 months that it and would be at 24 months. I know from my son that he now knows what he wants and how to go right for the breast; he serves him self without requiring any help. Which makes the weaning very hard

My youngest went right from breast to cup. She was completely weaned by 2 1/2. We had a lot of stress and I read that one should not force weaning in times of extreme stress so I didnt.

For me, its the "three times a night" that would make me move towards weaning. There is absolutely no reason that an almost one year old should be up that many times (or even at all - it is not hunger if he had a good diet all day!), other than the fact that he likes the comfort of nursing and seeing you. And if you are ok with that, then go with it. But for me, I would want us all sleeping through the night, and if he is not being offered the breast, he just may do that. As far as continuing the nursing well into toddlerhood, I think that is a very personal decision. My son is now one and nurses in the morning and at night - for about 10 minutes each time. I think he is getting a good amount of milk, and sure, i think it is beneficial. But I don't offer him to nurse during the day, if he is crying, etc. I have opted NOT to be a human pacifier and he is a wonderful, independent, pleasant little guy. HOWEVER, I have friends that nursed older children and literally it was a sip or two here, a sip or two there, etc. When they are eating a whole balanced diet, I am skeptical about the actual "health" benefits... I think it is more about the connection and even the mom not being able to let go. It is hard to wean (I am sad at the thought of my son stopping) but I also think it is an independence issue - and if you are going to deal with other caregivers, or even pre-school they need to self soothe without your breast! I have mixed feelings about older children nursing "for comfort." And as far as the world wide average age, I am sure it has a lot to do with the fact that it is often the only available means of nutrition, which is not the case here. I think you shouldn't get caught up in the 1 year cut off age - but rather what you are comfortable with. Regardless of your decision, congrats on doing such an amazing job over the last 11 months!

My daughter is 13 months and I'm still nursing. I decided at a year that I would not feed her in the middle of the night and after one night of waking up for me (I let her cry ) she fell back to sleep in five minutes and has slept through every night since. Also, I only feed her when she expresses a desire for it. So, if she's not saying milk ("muh") I just give her a cup with a straw and rice milk or regular milk and I also fill her up with lots of food before bed.

I weaned my first daughter differently,but she was taking bottles too. With her I started cutting certain feedings-more on a schedule. This time around, I'm taking my daughter's cues and just giving it when she wants it (usually twice a day-for 2-3 minuntes or maybe a third time at bed)

Hope that helps. I have decided that if I'm away from her and she doesn't get breastmilk all day, no big deal. That alone has made everything convenient. And, to be honest I don't mind still nursing when she wants it.

My son will be 1 in two weeks and I still nurse him. I nurse him about 6 times a day but the feeding sessions have gotten much shorter. Sometimes he only wants to nurse for 5 minutes or less. I basically take his lead. I try to nurse him in places where there are fewer distractions. So I will continue to nurse him as long as he wants. He does not like bottles or sippy cups. He also doesn't like formula or milk. This is one of the reasons I continue. I do have to ask why you feed him 3 times a night. He is fully capable of going 10-12 hours without nursing. If you are ok with the ways things are, continue. I would have gone insane by this point, so congrats. Does he sleep in the bedroom with you? I found that until I moved my son into his own room at 4 1/2 months, he would get up 2-3 times to nurse. When we moved him out, he started sleeping through the night. I call it the "meatball sub phenomena". It refers to the fact that I was the meatball sub and he could smell and sense that I was next to him and when he would go through the natural awakenings at night, he would want to nurse. If I were you, I would drop those overnight feedings as soon as possible. Unless he is extremely upset, do not go to him when he wakes up and cries. If he is freaking out, go and attend to him but give him at least 5 or 10 minutes. As for day feedings, just follow his lead if that works for you too. Good luck!

My son weaned himself from breastfeeding at 3 months and I would have loved to be in your shoes to have continued up until past a year. I think you should continue and enjoy your bonding moments with him cause when they get older you will surely miss it. You can maybe just get rid of the night time breast feeding for now.

I nursed my second until he was 14 months. He slept in his own bed - but woke up to nurse - when I felt we were ready, I stopped one feeding at a time. I offered him a bottle- which he never wanted, because he wasn't really hungry. And I talked to him. Within 3 days, he stopped waking for that feeding. We didn't let him cry it out much- but he was willing to be held and then he was willing to push through. It was the second feeding that was harder. and tool much longer to change. Good luck!
Weissbluth is a good resource. So is the No tears sleep solution book. It all depends on needs and disposition.

If you are ok with continuing...then why not? What is more convenient than having (breast) milk ready any time, anywhere? If you switch to cow's milk, you have to pack it for when you are out, find a way to keep it cold and clean the sippy cups when you get home. That is a lot of work! In the end though, do whatever comes naturally to you...don't force the issue. Good luck!

Hi A.,
I agree with Kerry. Weaning is a personal decision that you need to be ready to make, but three times a night, wow! I weaned my daughter at 8 mths. because she got teeth! I started feeding her solids(rice cereal, fruits, and veggies) around 4 1/2-5 mths. and nursed to supplement. I used expressed breast milk for her cereal so it wasn't difficult for me to put her on whole milk when I was ready to. You can definitely start him on solids, if you haven't. You can feed him solids and supplement too. That way it is not a drastic change for either of you. I am suggesting this only if your son can tolerate milk or isn't allergic to it. Noone says you need to stop breast-feeding at one, nor have I read anywhere that you should. It is a general guideline not a rule. Most people I know don't even stop feeding formula at one. Overall, it is your decision and you need to be ready. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

The World Health Organization suggests at least 2 years for breastfeeding in order for children to get the most benefits. I have nursed all my children well into toddlerhood. That said, if you really want to wean, it will be easier at a year than later as his will becomes stronger. If you really don't have a problem with the nirsing, relax and enjoy it! It wont last forever and it is special quiet time for the two of you. In toddlerhood, it can be extremely helpful to keep naps going and to calm down a tantrum or boo boo. Good luck!

Do whatever you and your son are comfortable with... don't put too much time pressue on it or it can be painful. I began to wean both my sons when they were about 1... but started with just stopping mid day, then early day. Slowly they cut back requesting when I would offer water or milk in a cup. My older one stoped at 16 months and my younger who is 14 months now just has it at bed time and early morning as we wait for his brother to wake up (this is more for me since he would probably happily get up and play, but I and still too tired!) I figure we will be done for sure by 1 1/2 years and make it a slow and easy break without any pain for me or unhappiess for him. Good luck.

You can keep nursing without keeping those night feedings. If you're willing to try a careful method of cry-it-out, you'll find that you can definitely get him to sleep through the night! Check out Weissbluth's "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby." By 11 months, he's ready to sleep without milk!

But if you're both enjoying the nursing, why not let him just wean when he's ready? :) If you're ready to stop, that's a whole different situation. It actually sounds like he's doing pretty well, cutting out a feeding already! Maybe just keep doing that, one at a time, following his lead?

I will tell you, though- my friends who gradually weaned during months 12-18, had the easiest time transitioning to whole milk. I was so jealous, because my son self weaned well before 12 months. And the transition from formula to whole milk was not an easy one. When you're still nursing, it's easier to just offer whole milk in a sippy cup sometimes. (Because you're still nursing a few times a day.) Then, they're used to it, once they switch completely. Just another thing to think about!

I have to agree with the others who say, "why stop?" I had considered weaning my son at age one, but then things were going so well, breastfeeding was easy, and we both enjoyed it. Someone pointed out to me that the "age 1 rule" is just arbitrary, and I have to agree. I did offer cow's milk, which he never really took to--he enjoyed breastfeeding so much. I have to tell you something no one told me--they get so much more interactive at this age, while nursing. My son would play little games with me while nursing, hiding his eyes, playing with my hands, hair, etc., and then he would laugh. (I nearly cry when I remember that!) And there are the other benefits--now when he gets sick, I really wish he could nurse, or when he gets upset and can't calm down, etc. (BTW, he weaned just days after his second birthday, but only because there was nothing left, as I was about 4 months pregnant.) All that said, you can eliminate night feedings. I used to just have my husband go into my son's room and soothe him back to sleep. Once he realized it was him, not me, and he wasn't going to nurse, he gradually stopped waking up. Just eliminate one night feeding at a time like this. Some kids then start nursing more during the day to try to make up for it, but not necessarily all of them do this. You can also read Dr. Sear's advice about night weaning. There's "The Baby Book" but he also has a "Breastfeeding Book." Good luck whatever you decide..

I think in this country we are conditioned to think one year is the "cut off" point. But why? The average WORLDWIDE age of weaning is 4.2 years.

As for me, I nursed #1 to 38 months
#2 to 28 months
and #3 is 15 months and we've no plans to stop anytime soon

As long as you're ok with it, baby still benefits. Mothering your Nursing Toddler I think is the name of the book which you will find very helpful for this situation.

Im actually in a similar situation as my son is 10 months old. I keep going back and forth of what and when to wean and i think i'm going to let him take the lead but also start offering him milk in a sippy cup once in a while at mealtimes to have him get used to drinking it, then gradually lessen the feeding times until they dont exist anymore. As far as nighttime, the feedings have only become a habit at this point in time and he doesn't really need them. i would do a couple of things- 1) drop one feeding at a time. 2) let him fuss it out a little bit or 3)have your husband go in and sooth him. if your son is anything like mine, when i would go in to sooth him the next thing i knew, he was latched on and nursing.
Good luck!

As the weather gets warmer, his walking skills and activitie levels increase he might just start to nurse less and less, especially if you are offering a sippy of milk at meals and snacks. If you don't care either way than just let it happen when it happens, it will be less stressful for you both and I bet in the end you'll find it bittersweet that this time is over. If your biggest hang up, so to speak, is the night time feedings than start to eliminate those. I did just so we could all sleep more and it turns out she was fine after we broke the habit, cause it was definatly more habit that need for nourishment. She nursed more during the day for awhile but eventually that tapered off too.