Starting to Wean...

I just wanted to let you know that there is no real reason to wean so early. It's great that you breastfed at all, but if you can keep it up till she's at least 2 you will do her a world of good. Here is a great article from Dr. Sears http://askdrsears.com/html/2/t026400.asp If it asks you about a news letter and you don't want to sign up you can click below where it says "Take me to my article".

Every baby is different. I weaned very slowly by following my son's cues. The last nursing that we dropped was at bedtime. From where you are now, you might try dropping the feedings after meals, maybe lunch and then dinner, and only feeding after meals if the baby seems to want to. There may be days when she's more tired and cranky or not feeling so well and she may need extra nursing some days. Then, you can probably drop the first thing in the morning feeding and go straight to breakfast. You really do not need to replace the nursing with cow's milk. She should be starting to get her nutrients from solids. Too much cow's milk can lead to iron deficiency and isn't the best source of calcium - solid foods are. You can do a search and find lots of good non-dairy calcium sources. And, no you do not need to warm the cow's milk.

When I weaned my son, I cut out one feeding each week and replaced it with milk. This took about a month before he was fully weaned, but it was worth it because that helped my milk supply decrease and I had no pain. I made the morning and night feedings the last ones, then cut out the morning feeding, and the night feeding very last. I never had to do the half/half thing (1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 whole milk, then start slowly increasing the whole milk til that's all she drinks). I tried just giving him a cup of milk, which he drank just fine. It's up to your daughter if you warm it up. My son drinks it cold, but your daughter may like it better warm. Hope that helps!

Well, I was down to 3 feedings when I began to wean, but I started with the afternoon feeding. I gave her lunch, and a sippy with her milk in it, and then naptime. Then, I cut out the night feeding and just gave her cold milk, which she prefered over warm milk, but every kid is different. I kept the morning feeding for about a week, and then once she was used to the milk, one day I just gave it to her when she woke up, and she never looked back at the breast.
Some breastfed kids dont like regular whole milk. Mine didn't and niether did my niece. I had to add sugar-free chocolate powder to her's to get her to drink it. I buy the Disney brand. It is sugar-free with added vitamins in it. I also add a scoop of enfamil next-step into her milk for added nutrients.
She is 14 months now, and this is her schedule:
Wake up: 8oz of milk, and breakfast (toast, cereal, fruit)
Lunch: sandwich, etc. with 6 oz of juice.
Snack: 3pm- whole grain snack with fruit and water
Dinner: gerber graduates meal, juice (about 6pm)
Milk: 8oz @ about 8pm
Bed: 8:30