Need Advice on Weaning 15 Mo Old Wont Take Whole Milk. Breast Feed Since Birth.

Button up the blouse and refuse any more breast. She'll live. Give her a sippy cup for milk. Sleep in your own bed. And make her sleep in hers. If she wails, she'll get over it. Leave the radio on out of her reach on a classical music station on low volume. As long as she's fed and clean, she's okay.

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I weaned my 14 month old to milk in a sippy cup. In order to wean her at this age, you have to do something totally different. So If she is taking juice and water from a bottle, do the milk in a sippy cup. It will be hard, but you have to be strong and not give in. Just start with the middle of the day breastfeeding session and give her a sippy cup with milk instead. Do that for 5 days or so, and then take away another breastfeeding session. Just do this untill all the breastfeeding sessions have been weaned and hopefully you and your daughter will be happier after its all said and done. As for the sleeping with you, I did not have that problem at that age, I have it now that they are older and we just take them back to their beds until they stay. Sometimes we sleep all night, sometimes we don't.

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Im sorry - but it does not sound like a feeding issue - it sounds like a sleeping issue. It sounds like she breastfeeds herself to sleep - and it sounds like she probably sleeps with you as well? she is content and is rebelling against this change in pattern. (you probably feed her juice and water in a high chair or other location - right?)

If I am correct - i suggest changing your location when you breastfeed - to any room that is not the bedroom and only where you are sitting - not laying down. Observe if baby is really "feeding" vs sucking on the breast and using it as a pacifier. Then - make sure that baby stays awake for feeding and you put her down to sleep while she is awake. of course- baby may not want to go to sleep on her own if she is used to going to slep with the "mommy" pacifier. So this will bring on another "transition" you will have to get through. (so my other response today about springs for baby bed)

I know that new moms like to bond with their babies - and think that it is easier to breastfeed them in bed so they themselves can sleep as well - but I have found that this method creates more issues in the long run with sleeping and eating, etc -that Im not sure it is worth it. Good luck.

About - me - a 53 yr old working wife (married 33 yrs), mother of two grown children and "grammy" to a beautiful granddaughter.

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There are a couple of really good books on weaning. One is "How Weaning Happens." The other is more general, but it contains chapters on weaning. It's called, "Mothering your Nursing Toddler."

I have just switched my 13 month old from formula to whole milk. At first, she hated it, so I started mixing her bottles with half formula and half whole milk. By the end of the second week she was on almost all whole milk with a dab of formula. I don't know if you pump and could do that, but it took about 2-2 1/2 weeks. She loves whole milk now! I hope this helps.

J. Lane

Cow's milk has large proteins that are difficult for young children to digest. Perhaps that is what she's trying to tell you. Try goat's milk instead. You can get it at any grocery store. It is much easier to digest and is actually healthier than cow's milk. When my baby was a newborn he had difficulty latching on and I used a goat's milk recipe as a substitute for formula when I didn't have enough milk pumped. (I got the recipe from a book.)
It may sound a little strange since it is not common here in the US, but it is very common in other parts of the world. It is supposed to be a much healthier alternative to cow's milk.(Goat's milk cheese is supposed to be much healthier than cow's milk cheese as well.) I don't care for it myself, but my little boy (10 mos) still loves it. And my parents love it too. It is not bad, just different.
Hope this helps. The goat's milk is sold in small cartons so you can just try it out. If it doesn't work you can research other foods for your child to get her calcium and vitamin D. I just heard a nutritionist explaining that children really don't have to have milk if they can get those nutrients from other foods, preferably fruits and vegetables.
Good Luck
K.

I think you got good advice from April. I pumped and fed the breast milk from the bottle and then starting mixing it with whole milk. With my son, I had better luck with canned goat milk. He weaned from the breast to the canned goat milk and drank that for almost a year. He had a minor digestive issue that was never diagnosed so maybe that had something to do with it. Not sure what caused it but he had projectile vomitting when on whole milk. You just have to do what is right for you. It is be a hard transition. Good luck.

Warm the whole milk in the bottle. My granddaughter will not drink it cold from the fridge and poured into the bottle without it being warmed. Hope that helps. tt

K.,

If she's having a hard time giving up the breast I would advise you to go straight to sippy cups and get rid of the bottle NOW. I learned the hard way. My first two children had their bottles until they turned 2 and then we threw them away together and got the cup. My last two children went straight from the breast to the sippy/regular cups at 12 months. It's been great. I also had the sleeping issues with my first two children because I would nurse them to sleep. I learned with my last two to nurse them, change them, burp them and then rock them to sleep from the time they were born. With this routine in place it was an easy transition to eat, get ready for a nap or bedtime and go to sleep. Check out the book "The Baby Whisperer" or something similar to help you get your baby sleeping without breastfeeding. I would also advice against a lot of juice. Kids don't need juice...it's just a lot of sugar and offers very little in the way of nutrition. Offer water and milk and that's it! Good luck!

My first child nursed for 12 months and my second child got a bonus month because he just wouldn't give it up that last feeding. My third and fourth children were done nursing at 6 months and 3 months (I had cruddy milk).

You didn't mention how many times a day you are still nursing. If you still have enough milk to pump some, try mixing it with the whole milk. At first mix it something like 4 oz breast milk, and 2 oz whole milk, increasing the amount of whole milk each day. You may also need to make the milk warm if you have been offering it to her cold.

At this point your little lady is nursing out of habit and comfort not a nutritional need. You may just have to cut her off cold turkey if she is getting dependent on you for her comfort. Plan on an ugly few days to a week with some serious boobing (boobing from her and sore boobs for you:p).

There comes a point when you just need to get your body back to yourself. You need to get rest and not be stressed over this, especially if you are still a student.

FYI, I hesitate making "breastfeeding" comments on here. There might be some pretty serious breast feeding moms that bark at my comment and think I'm not being sensitive to the baby or to you. If you stop nursing a week into it or a year and a half late, NEVER let anyone make you feel guilty. It is such a personal decision.

Good luck!

A.

I had to regulate breastfeeding with my son due to dental problems (had to stop breastfeeding him to sleep, and had to make sure to brush his teeth after meals and feedings). So I talked to him and explained we were going to nurse on a schedule from now on instead of 'on demand' (he was about 2). We did three times a day, to start. It was very hard at first, especially at night. But I stayed with him until he went to sleep with him and emphasized that though we couldn't nurse in bed, we could be close together and hug. Eventually he got used to the new routine. He is still (at 3) nursing once a day, in the early morning before we get up. I'm fine with that. It's a cosy moment. The plan is to let him self-wean.

Good luck!
G.

Maybe your daughter is allergic to whole milk. I had to switch to soy milk as my child cried when I switched him to whole milk after he had been breast fed. Have you mentioned your situation to her pediatrician? Good luck!

Hi, i know how you feel, i just weaned my 18 month old a week ago, he does not like milk either. he still does not drink milk and the doctor said not to worry as long as he is eating 20 oz of dairy a day which he does most days with cheese and smoothies. my little one went thur the same thing around 15 months and i think it was because of teething,(is she teething) its very soothing to them. So you could give her some time. The other thing is you must be ready to do it, cause i kept saying have i to take him off but i just never really had it in me because thats how fell asleep and i did not feel like dealing with the crying, it just seem easier. but at the same time i was tired of feeding him all night and i just wanted my body back. So i day i just today is the day and i did it .it takes about a week ortwo just because your body is still producing milk. well good luck and if you have any ?s feel free to ask.

Hey there, first of all don't stress out, you are doing a good job. I breastfed our daughter for 21 months, a week later had our son and breastfed him for 24 months. My children are 21 months apart. I worried about my daughter because she also would not drink milk from her cup, everything else juice, water etc. I decided to make her milkshakes and bingo, she loved it. I would mix milk with bananas, strawberries, ice, and sometimes yogurt, she loved it, and she got her dairy. Also, I would make sure she would eat cheese, yogurt etc. So maybe you could try this for your little ones, I hope this helps, also they sell flavored milk, in the dairy section, my daughter liked the vanilla one. Just thought I would share some tips that worked for us. Oh yeah, on the sleeping issue, that is so difficult, because she is so bonded to you, what I did was I got a blanket and lovey for each of my children.My son did not like this idea at all if it was up to him I would be his pacifier all day. Well he is a trooper after several attepts of trying to snuggle up to his boo boo, and me just reminding him no sweetie no more milk hold your lovey, he simply knew I wasn't going to budge. He now goes and gets his own blanket and lovey and says night, night. This over time will work for you, you will find out that children understand more than we give them credit for, your children will surprise you. Be strong, you will get through this stage. If you need to talk please email me, I understand I just finished breastfeeding honey for four years in a row. I told by husband I am going to buy me a new pair lol. Hang in there!

I am in the same situation here as far as nursing goes...my 15 month old still nurses 3 to 4 times a day!! When I asked her Dr. about why she wouldn't drink whole milk, the Dr. said it might be b/c wole milk is much thicker than breast milk and the baby is not used to it. She suggested that I give my daughter 2% with a little whole milk and slowly increase the amount of whole milk over time. This is really working for us! She also suggested giving my baby butter and other whole fat dairy products so she gets the fats she needs for brain development. Good Luck!!

You could try Goats milk. My Daughter loved it ( not as much as moms milk though - its the best.) She still likes it and often asks for it.

Hi K. O.
I went throough the exact smae thing with my daughter now 26 months. I tried putting a little chocolate in the milk as some of the women on her suggested to me but then she would only drink chocolate milk. I didnt like giving her that extra sugar. So i tried soy milk fortified for kids and she loves it. she eats it in her cereal with oatmeal and just to drink. its actually really good for her. she is not lactose intolerant. Soy milk is a good choice and a lot better then giving her extra sugar with chocolate or strawberry syrups. My daughters doctor also gives her children the soy milk. I hope this helps.

Highly recommend this book: Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child

you can find it on half.com for only a few dollars. It is well worth its weight in gold! It talks specifically about your situation with the baby associating sleep with the breast, how to wean them and get them in their own bed etc if you so choose... Good LUck!

http://product.half.ebay.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-C...

Try giving her 2% milk with a teaspoon of karo syrupper 8 oz bottle. Also, try her with a sippy cup. Give her the milk with her meals. My son was like that. I finally got him weened at two. Just don't do crazy things like my friend did. Her daughter was 4. She put tobasco on her breast and all that did was put blisters on her breast. sometimes you just have to say no. If she understands all gone, try that. I really think it's a security thing. If she drinks juice and water she should drink the milk too. Whole milk has a little to much fat and is not as sweet as 2%, Reduce the karo each day until she will take it plain. Worked for me. Just be patient. Good luck, Mommy

Just wondering if you've tried mixing the breast milk with the whole milk 1/4 at a time. Someone suggested that to me and it worked for my son.

Week 1: 3/4 breast milk and 1/4 whole milk in bottle.
Week 2: 1/2 breast milk and 1/2 whole milk in bottle.
Week 3: 1/4 breast milk and 3/4 whole milk in bottle.
Week 4: Whole milk in bottle.

My children are severely allergic to milk so I transitioned from breast milk to soy formula for my first child. The person who told me about the transition used whole milk, so I hope it works for you! Good Luck!
L. in Houston : )

Maybe try vanilla soy milk instead of whole milk? It may be that your baby does not digest milk well or does not like the taste of it. If your baby is cool with drinking water and juice from a bottle, then it sounds like a taste thing.

The only thing that I ever heard of working for weaning is to NOT do it gradually, but cut it out cold turkey. It is difficult and stressful, but I never heard it lasting more than 3 days. My milk dried up when my baby was 3 months, but it took the cold turkey trick to wean her from the bottle at 14 months.

Watch out for giving the baby bottles, because you will run into another weaning stage. You may want to start introducing fluids in a soft-nipple sippy cup, including the soy milk. Pick ones with characters she loves.

I know it breaks your heart, but you need to be a happy mama and your breasts do not need to serve as pacifiers now.

I also recommend placing her in her crib to learn to sleep on her own. Maybe start the crib sleeping thing first, then do the breast weaning or visa-versa so the changes are not too hard on her. She will be angry at first, but it wont last long if you stick to your guns.

Your baby will transition just fine! You are doing a great job!! Stay strong!
:-)
S.

Also, no juice, no water till she takes the milk. My pedi told me this, and I pushed against it, but it works!

We use goat's milk to start-it's sweeter, so m/b more like bmilk.

HTH. Blessings~C.

My oldest daughter was just like this...She was taking more nourishment from me than from any other foods. I cut her off cold turkey at 16 months. I didn't realize how much milk she was taking until I did. She never really drank cows milk well, but she had lots of other things to drink, like juices and water and smoothies. When she couldn't nurse, she did turn to food and has been a good eater ever since. It did not take long at all for the transition. So, cutting her off didn't hurt her one bit, just made me miserable for a couple of weeks! So, I recommend for you that you express milk a little less each time while you dry up.

The attachment needs to be broken...or not. Ok, she is a baby. She loves you and is comforted by you. You can take advantage of this fact and love, comfort, cuddle her and enjoy her while she is little...and set a precedence that can last for years.

YOu can decide you need your body back and put your foot down. You are a pacifyer, not a bottle right now. She needs a paci or something else to soothe her back to sleep...try introducing the pacifyer when she is asleep and unlatches...just put a little breast milk on it and put it in her mouth...do this several times...take it out if she cries, but then try it again when she falls back to sleep. She may be deep enough asleep not to notice after a while since it is the sucking she wants. As for the whole milk, you can try pumping and doing 1/2 and half. During the day, I had to put a very tiny bit of strawberry or chocolate quick in it (just barely for flavor) and my kids took right to it. My six year old won't drink anything else but plain milk now. good luck and pray for patience. If you don't use mine, at least keep trying creative solutions...your instincts will guide you.

Hi K.!

I think your little one is trying to tell you she is not ready yet. Why do you want to wean her? Could you wait and see if she handles this better in a few months, or six months? I know it is longer for you but in the larger scheme of things isn't it worth it? I know it is so hard, believe me, as I am going through the same thing. It is a lot to give to them but it is worth it and I know you feel this way since you decided to go longer than a year. I am now going on 23 months with mine and he really needs the comfort of nursing still as he is having a horrible time with his two year molars. I totally think that he will wean after this and we are almost there. He has needed more than the average child because he just has - simple as that. All babies are different.

It is so hard I know. When you are stressed just take a deep breath right then and there - blow it out and release some of the tension. Then say to yourself - I can get frustrated and angry OR I can open my heart up more for this sweet baby - which she really needs me to do right now. It's truly a decision we make to get angry, etc... and we can stop and breath and say to ourselves that "It is what it is" and get out of judgment - don't think about other babies or that no one else you know is nursing their child so long or co-sleeping with them still, etc... Get back into your world, your home, with your child and what you know is right for you and your child. It is what it is. You can do this - you have been doing it and you don't have to be stressed - just let it all open you up more and shape you into a more heart-felt, loving and giving person. This child is challenging you to break through much - take that challenge and know how great you will feel about yourself and your family when you get through this because you WILL get through it. It will be fine.

I hope this helps you - I know how hard it is. My other boys did not need nearly as much as this little guy I have now and there have been times when I have melted and wanted to pull my hair out - but I cannot even begin to tell you how much I have gained personally and learned about myself, from this child's demands. They teach you so much, if you let them. It is a hard road, but you experience so much if you can hang in there - remember "This too shall pass." And it surely will!

Alli

Oh do I sympathise. With both of my girls we ended up having to go cold turkey on breast milk. Neither of them would just take a bottle or breast feed before bed. We ended up having to send me to another room for 24 hours....my husband put on his big girl panties and had a bottle ready at all times. I will tell you it was terrible for the first few hours because my girls would scream, refuse the bottle and be miserable. After the first time they took the bottle I would have to make a vow that I would have to never breast feed them again.

Wow, it was hard but worth it.

Cow milk is actually not fit for human consumption, to quote Jethro Kloss. If you feel you must give your child milk even though she doesn't want it, at least find raw milk. You will probably have to go to a farmers market or a dairy. Humans lived on raw milk much longer than this pasturised stuff that was created for marketing purposes with no regard for health and well being. There is a lot of literature out there supporting these claims, and equally as much on alternatives. I wish you both fulfillment.

Mine is 16 months and I had the same problem. Here's what we did. First we fed her a bunch of string cheese during the day. That helped her nurse less, maybe because of the calcium she was getting from the cheese. Then, what really helped a whole lot was my husband started spoon feeding her cheerios and corn checks with milk in the mornings. After a couple of weeks of that she would take cheerio flavored milk from a bottle. And now she'll take regular whole milk. We had offered her whole milk everyday starting at eleven months, and she would never take it until the cheerio trick.