Am I nursing too much? Dropping pumping sessions..

[catbus]

WOW, that's more overnight nursing than E has ever done, even when he was brand new. I agree with others that there's nothing wrong with it if you're not bothered, but if you do want to wean, something is going to have to change. Good luck!

[MamaMaui24]

My baby is the same age and yes, that is quite a lot! We only nurse twice per weekday, But he is fine with a bottle at daycare and we do not bedshare. Like everyone said, if you're ok with it keep on but that schedule is brutal + working FT! Mama needs a break!

And FWIW, I still track on Total Baby too! . Mainly to keep my left/right rotation straight. (I can't always tell after pumping at work.)

7 - nurse left (9 minutes)
10 - daycare two stage 2/3 jars
11 - daycare 4 oz. BM bottle
Nap
2 - daycare 8 oz. BM bottle
5 - Home with DH two stage 2/3 jars
7 - oatmeal with BM
8 - nurse right (10-15 minutes to sleep)

So I nurse twice/day (each side only once). On weekends, 4 times. I'm currently pumping twice per day (sometimes once) and plan to only once/day after Christmas.

He also gets puffs, freeze dried fruit/veg, yogurt drops. Trying to move towards more table food.

[Deleted]

I agree with the other posters that the nursing isn't an issue if you're not bothered by it. If he's happy and you're happy, I don't see the problem with it. I feel the same way about DS's naps. He's still napping 3x a day at 10 months, and everyone says he should be down to 2. But he's a cranky mess with only 2 naps and forcing him to stay awake makes us both miserable. So do what feels right and works for you and M.

That being said, I don't think it would hurt to see if he could go longer between nursing sessions. Like PPers said, try doing something else first if he's fussy instead of going straight to nursing. See if he's wet, read a book, play with toys, etc... He might surprise you. If it doesn't work, no big deal and you can see if he's ready to try again in a few weeks.

Our pedi said "food before 1 is just for fun" so at 10 months I prioritize nursing over solids. I see him eating bigger meals these days, and starting to drink less quantity (my boobs are less empty), although not less frequently (less sessions). He nurses every 4 hours and by the end of that time he really wants to nurse. So I see weaning on the horizon, but like you I am at no rush to get there. Weaning by 15-18 months would be ideal. Here is what DS's typical schedule looks like. I have trouble fitting in a solid lunch, as the 2-4pm gap is his longest awake period and I usually need it to run errands. He is a pokey, pokey solids eater. Meals can easily take 30 mins.

8:00 nurse
9-10:30 nap
10:30 breakfast, fruit
12:00 nurse
12:30-1:30 nap
4:00 nurse
4:30-5:30 nap
6:30 dinner, usually whatever we're having
8:00 nurse to sleep

[mrshandy]

Yes you will be fine. Your boobs will get the picture. They're pretty smart. DS nursed a ton when we were on vacation at 15 months and then I went back to work after that and didn't pump all day.

[aspentosh]

DD is eating 3 solid meals per day (quite a bit, I'd say) and is down to nursing 5 SOMETIMES 6 times per day. I can't imagine still nursing as many times as you do, but hey- if it doesn't bother you that's what matters!

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2012 12:51:23 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

DD is eating 3 solid meals per day (quite a bit, I'd say) and is down to nursing 5 SOMETIMES 6 times per day. I can't imagine still nursing as many times as you do, but hey- if it doesn't bother you that's what matters!

Glad to see some babies DS's age are still nursing a lot. DS eats two big solid meals a day, I'm working on getting to three. At our 9 month well visit, my Pedi was like "nursing 3x a day?" Umm no, usually 4 sometimes 5 times.

[bunch]

If you have a big eater, you'll probably keep nursing a lot until you replace milk with food. Dd was still at 6 times a day, plus three big meals, before I started weaning. For the nursing sessions not close to a meal, I had to replace with a snack. My mom kept telling me that I only nursed 3 x a day from 9 mos on, but we never got there until I actively cut back on bfing and by then she was at 3 meals and 2 snacks a day.

[aspentosh]

I should also add (after reading this again) that it is rare for DD to go more than 5 minutes unless she's going to sleep and just continuing to suck a little.

How are your nipples not exhausted?!?!

[Ashley&Scott]

246baje- thanks for sharing, I'm glad I'm not the only one with a frequent nurser Like you I'm confident he'll drop sessions at his own pace.

Last night & today have gone well. We had a SIX HOUR stretch of sleep last night which is great. Today he had 3 meals. He also nursed quite a bit but the sessions were spaced out a little more. I'm hoping for another long stretch of sleep tonight