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Hi! At this point, I'm just checking back when asked a question. When my life gets less hectic, I'll start browsing to find questions to answer. But please ask; I will answer within 24 hours.

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I am a 23 year old mother to an 11 month old son and I am still breastfeeding him. I am slowly introducing him to cow milk but he won't be ready for that full time for a month or 2 or 3, who knows. I love breastfeeding but am just about ready to be done with it even though I will miss being a size 36 C. The only thing I won't miss is going back to an A or B bra. I love the closeness and the bond my son and I share from it, but now it's like he's older so it's more annoying now because he is so clingy to my chest area not just to eat but for comfort. He eats 2-3 meals a day of baby jar foods and he loves little finger foods and he drinks juice but will not drink anything but that and breastmilk. He eats really well, but when he wants to be breastfed he gets so fussy and demanding and he puts on this really moody act wherever I am. I am sick of having to whip out my boob when I am with friends or family now. Not just because of how they look at me like, "you're still breastfeeding him?" but also because I am now annoyed by it, I want my freedom back. The problem is that my boyfriend works 2 jobs, he is on his feet from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. 4 1/2 days a week and it is really important that he gets his sleep at night. Now we only have a 1 bedroom apartment so I need to keep my son quiet at night, so how do I do that? I breastfeed him all night long. It is hard to put him in his crib and keep him sleeping. I am still waking up with him at all hours of the night like he's a newborn!! Although I love to cuddle with him and wouldn't mind sleeping with him a little here and there I am sick of sleeping with him ALL of the time. I want to stretch out again and sleep for 8 hours at a time, not a 1/2 hour to 4 hours only. We are not getting a 2 bedroom apartment until April 1st, and believe me when that time comes things are so gonna change. But what do I do in the meantime? I can't afford formula, nor does my son like it. I heard something about mixing evaporated milk with organic milk until he is ready for full time cow milk. Does anyone have any suggestions? I want my son to become independent from his mommy's breast now. I'm afraid it is only going to get harder to keep him from wanting it the longer he stays attached. Urgent help, advice and suggestions are wanted A.S.A.P!! Thank you.

I'm 27, and our (untraditional) household has 2 boys. I did not give birth to them, but I am responsible for their daytime care.

It sounds like you have a few separate issues here.

1. Breast-feeding. If he has teeth, it's time to wean. At 11 months, he should at least be teething. One method is alternating during the day - once he gets breast milk, next he gets solids and a sippy cup. Then cutting it back to 2 solids between each milk, etc. Another method is situational: breast milk at home and solid foods when your out. Just make sure you're out an awful lot! :)

2. Fussiness and Clinging. Part of his fussiness and desire to suck and chew may be from teething. Try one of those teething rings that go in the freezer. Our youngest really liked frozen banana in those little mesh "self-feeders" for like 3 months, then decided that room temperature chew toys were the way to go. It is important to encourage your child's independence. When he comes to you for comfort, comfort him till he stops crying plus a few minutes, then put him down and encourage him to play.

3. Sleeping through the night. He should not be waking up less than every 4 hours for sure. It's quite possible for him to be sleeping through the night, but quite a few kids don't. If he has his own bed, but he's used to sleeping with you, put a nightgown you've worn for a few nights in his crib with him. When he wakes up, don't pick him up. Leave him in the crib and rub his back. When he wakes up less than 2 hors after you've fed him, give him a bottle of plain water if he doesn't go back to sleep with being petted. Yeah, it'll be hard the first week (maybe 2 if he's stubborn) but babies are pretty adaptable, he'll get used to it.

A note on liquids. He should not have more than 4 ounces of juice a day. Most people mix juice and water 1/2 and 1/2 (which means he can have 8 ounces). Milk must be whole milk, not lowfat or skim. I strongly prefer the hormone free organic milk, but I don't think it's essential that the whole milk be organic. Water is good, as is pedialite.

Hope this helps.

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(Rating: 5) Thank you, I really appreciate all that info and advice :)
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