when to wean? (esp those who pump full or part time)

[cutie4evr01]

My EBF DD has started eating a 6oz bottle of EBM every 2 hours during the day while I'm at work (about a month ago she was having 5oz every 3 hours and has gradually increased from there). She also feeds 2/3 times overnight as opposed to just once as she used to (but this may be due to us removing her swaddle in the past couple weeks). For now I plan to just send bigger bottles, but what happens when/if she's taking like 8oz every 2 hours? Does that mean she's ready for some food?

FWIW, she's a big girl (98th %ile for height and weight). She also goes about 4 days between poos so seems to be using everything she's eating.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Ok, it's hard to explain, but your milk changes to suit the needs of your baby. Are you still BFing when you're home or is are you exclusively expressing?

Ideally, wait until six months. We started at 5.5 months because Alex was constantly feeding, and I mean constant! Like clusterfeeding all over again!

We are doing BLW, which is great! No purees, just meals that DH and I eat also, watching the salt content!

Some indications are:
1) No tongue thrust when something is put in their mouth.
2) Can sit unaided or with little support.
3) Accurately brings things to their mouth with their hands.

Good luck

 

[cutie4evr01]

Thanks for your reply! I BF anytime I am home - I only express at work and I pump once a day before I go to bed to add to the freezer stash or make up the difference now that she's eating so much while I'm gone.

I have no idea about her tongue thrust. She can sit completely unaided (she's a strong girl!). She can get most things in her mouth, but sometimes still hits her cheek/chin, so she's not quite there yet. I'm going to try to hold off as long as I can - she's just drinking so much more EBM while I'm at work than DD1 did, so I wasn't sure if that was a sign of readiness too. When we started DD1 it was just because she was 6 months - I don't think she really needed it. It's seeming like DD2 might be needing something else soon though.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

You can always try and if she doesn't like it, stop and start again

 

[lynnikins]

theres a sleep regression that tends to caus an increase in feeding at 4 months and a development leap around 5 months old which again can mess with feeding and sleeping it can mean a tough patch but try to hold of weaning as long as possible as shes not going to get any nutrients from food that she isnt getting from milk anyway as " first foods " even fruit and vege contain less calories and nurients than breastmilk does and can caus constipation and other issues when your LO's gut isnt ready for them.

 

[lisaf]

I was worried about the same thing.. .my son went from 4 four ounce bottles while I was at work, to 3 five ounce bottles, then 3 six ounce bottles and I was worried it was just going to become more and more. However, he went back down to 3 five ounce bottles and now is fluctuating between 4 four ounce ones and 3 five ounce ones depending on if he's at daycare or at home (he seems to nap for longer at home with my inlaws - also I think he sees the other baby get a bottle at daycare and wants one).

Some breastfed babies take a bottle more for comfort than hunger when away from mom. I do think my daycare likes to give him the 4 smaller bottles because its just easier to keep him from getting fussy that way, lol.

 

[cutie4evr01]

I was worried about the same thing.. .my son went from 4 four ounce bottles while I was at work, to 3 five ounce bottles, then 3 six ounce bottles and I was worried it was just going to become more and more. However, he went back down to 3 five ounce bottles and now is fluctuating between 4 four ounce ones and 3 five ounce ones depending on if he's at daycare or at home (he seems to nap for longer at home with my inlaws - also I think he sees the other baby get a bottle at daycare and wants one).

Some breastfed babies take a bottle more for comfort than hunger when away from mom. I do think my daycare likes to give him the 4 smaller bottles because its just easier to keep him from getting fussy that way, lol.

I thought the same when her daycare sitter first started giving her 4 five oz bottles (instead of the three she was having previously) - I thought she was just trying to keep her from fussing, because DD was spitting up a little and pooing a lot too, as if she didn't need that much milk. But now she's taking 4 six oz bottles (she's only there from 8am till 5pm!) and rarely spitting up and pooing only every 3-4 days, so I think she's actually using all that milk. Then she'll nurse vigorously like she's starving after we are home at around 5:30.

When did you start your LO on solids lisaf?

 

[TigerLady]

Sounds like it might be a growth spurt. There is a big one around that age.

Both my kids started BLW a bit early because they were ready for it. Both of them were around 5.5 months old. I held off on full blown meals with meat and everything until 6 months though. I just started with fruit and veg. Do you plan to BLW or TW?

 

[cutie4evr01]

I guess we'll probably TW as that's what we did with DD1 and she is a fabulous eater and that's what I'm familiar with. It makes me want to hold off as long as possible as I know she'll be eating more food at first that way than if we did BLW.

I didn't know there was a big growth spurt at 5 months - in that case, we'll just ride it out a while longer. Thanks!

 

[lisaf]

yeah, we did BLW and started at 6 months... maybe a week early, lol.. but he had all the signs of being ready developmentally.

Its possible your LO is just seeking the comfort of an extra feed during the day because she misses you, and that also might explain the desire to BF after you pick her up too?

I did find that my daycare lady was leaving a bit of the milk in the bottle to prevent him from sucking any air... but sometimes it was an ounce per bottle so I just started giving her less and she had to make it work, lol.

 

[hakunamatata]

BLW is baby led weaning - what's TW?

This will be my first baby so I know pretty much nothing. Thanks in advance!!

 

[TigerLady]

TW = traditional weaning, using purees and spoon feeding.

 

[hakunamatata]

Aha, thanks!