When is BM not enough

[chickypoo2468]

Me again! I had mentioned that my almost 16 month old gets most of his calories from BM. He usually nurses a couple times a night, dream feeds for a while in the morning if he wakes up close enough to getting up time and I want to try to sleep more, and then before nap, before bed, and various times throughout the day. Maybe 3-5 more?
I'm doing my best with solids but with liquids I'm failing miserably. He's in OT and ST and growing fine, no one is concerned that he's not getting enough. I just don't want to be oblivious and think things are all hunky dory and be blindsided when they aren't anymore. He is taking vitamin D and Iron, and has been for a good while now, I need to ask when they recheck all that stuff bc I think they were supposed to do it already.
Anyway, so how long can a child be mostly breastfed without suffering nutritionally?
Thanks!

[melody330]

I don't know if I'm understanding your question right.

You're doing fine with solids, but not with liquids you said. There's no need to give any liquids besides water, plus you're still nursing so that's just a huge bonus.

If everyone is agreed he is doing fine and growing, I wouldn't be concerned at all. There are always nutritional benefits to breastfeeding no matter the age.

[seamonster]

BM has nutritional benefits for toddlers, but it's not something they need. It sounds toe like you're asking permission to wean at least some of the feeds and you can do that. Don't feel guilty about weaning your toddler.

Getting rid of night feeds is so nice and sleep is awesome. I would start by dropping the dream feed and do some sleep training for sleep associations around nursing. You can offer water at night instead of nursing if your kid is still thirsty (mine sleeps with a cup in his bed so he can take a drink and go right back to sleep).

[emmyg65]

That all sounds fine. I might try offering solids before nursing at meal times and start a good routine of sitting down and enjoying meals together at regular times if you haven't already. And I'd try to reduce night nursing just because I like sleep. Some of the benefits of solids also include muscle work, which might be something to discuss with your OT or ST (I'm reading those as occupational therapy and speech therapy). And also just the social routine of enjoying food together and reducing pickiness. But if you're giving iron and Vitamin D and if the foods you offer are nutrient-dense, I don't think his nutrition will suffer.

[emmyg65]

I also love the writings of Ellyn Satter on feeding kids—they make mealtimes way less stressful. Basically, you decide where, when and what foods to eat. Kids decide which of those foods they want and in what quantities. And you don't say anything about their choices. So it's okay if they don't eat much, or they only eat bread or whatever. So basically, keep offering food. You're still pretty early in the transition to solids. I bet things will change a lot over the next ~6 months!

[billyhorrible]

Just popping in to drop this off. I really like the breakdown and found it comforting when I was breastfeeding my first after a year.

[chickypoo2468]

No, sorry. He can't eat well and doesn't really drink at all. Like he's physically unable. Im not looking to cut back on nursing, I'm just worried that we will get to the point where we have to look at alternate ways to get nutrition into him.
I guess I was just wondering what kind of window I'm looking at to get him eating/drinking, I'm sure it can't sustain him forever.

[chickypoo2468]

There is an LC on this board right? Isn't that who I should be asking rather than the pediatrician?

[seamonster]

I would talk to your pediatrician about his trouble eating and drinking if you haven't already. Maybe feeding therapy is in order?

[billyhorrible]

Nov 18, 2016 16:36:22 GMT -5 seamonster said:

I would talk to your pediatrician about his trouble eating and drinking if you haven't already. Maybe feeding therapy is in order?

That's usually what OT and ST do at this age.

[seamonster]

Nov 18, 2016 16:54:48 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Nov 18, 2016 16:36:22 GMT -5 seamonster said:

I would talk to your pediatrician about his trouble eating and drinking if you haven't already. Maybe feeding therapy is in order?

That's usually what OT and ST do at this age.

Now I feel dumb. I actually did not know this.

[emmyg65]

I think this is a conversation for your pediatrician and/or OT, not an LC. Because ideally, you'd be getting closer to where he can eat solids, right? They can give you advice on what your options are and what a possible timeline looks like.

[chickypoo2468]

Nov 18, 2016 17:36:01 GMT -5 emmyg65 said:

I think this is a conversation for your pediatrician and/or OT, not an LC. Because ideally, you'd be getting closer to where he can eat solids, right? They can give you advice on what your options are and what a possible timeline looks like.

I have a problem trusting pediatricians, especially when it comes to being knowledgeable about BM. I had one tell me I shouldn't be nursing my 9 month old bc this isn't a 3rd world county.

[billyhorrible]

Nov 18, 2016 17:18:41 GMT -5 seamonster said:

Nov 18, 2016 16:54:48 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

That's usually what OT and ST do at this age.

Now I feel dumb. I actually did not know this.

Don't! It's a good thing you don't know, right? It means you didn't have a need for their services!

[chickypoo2468]

Nov 18, 2016 18:52:30 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Nov 18, 2016 17:18:41 GMT -5 seamonster said:

Now I feel dumb. I actually did not know this.

Don't! It's a good thing you don't know, right? It means you didn't have a need for their services!

Serious. If I could just not do mealtimes anymore and have someone come do it for me all day long I would be a lot happier than I am.