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I would guess your little dude is just starting to back off on the milk in take as he eats more solids. As long as he seems satisfied I really wouldn't worry about it. With you being home with him all the time and able to let him nurse whenever he wants your supply will adjust to his needs.

This just seems like the natural progression towards solids being his main food source. He would let you know if he wasn't satisfied, or fuss at the breast if he wasn't getting anything.

@hilsy85: 9-10 months was a hard time for us too, he was too distracted to really focus on eating, but it got better and he got back into it. I wouldn't worry too much that he's trying to wean for good.

@hilsy85: I EP and around 9 months I just started producing about 4 oz. less.. Since I EP, it has nothing to do with solids.. I think my body is just over it.

P still wasn't eating solids at that point but I realized a huge drop in what I could pump around that time, and she was snacking more often & nursing less "full" sessions (she was just busy). For the pump I had been able to easily get 5 oz during a night session & around then when I started prepping for our anniversary trip at 1 year I could hardly get 2oz! I think there's a normal "re-regulation" that happens nearing the end of the first year.

At almost 16 months we still nurse alot & her solids intake is still a little less than 50% (kellymom showed a recommended progression of 25% at 12 mths, 50% at 18, and so on). Since he still *needs* bm as his primary source of nutrition I would continue to nurse before any meals so that the majority of his fuel is coming from that instead of the other way around.

I'm only pumping twice a day now (ep) and I feel like I've lost an entire cup size in the last week or so. Lo will be 10 months tomorrow. I bet your body is doing what he needs...

@hilsy85: Yep, that is what I'm thinking. Ever since he got super mobile and cruising he seems like he just nurses the bare minimum before he can get going again! Right now I'm just riding it out and hoping it resolves naturally.

@hilsy85: Yep! That is one of the advantages, I think. But also disadvantage.. I'm curious if he's decreasing intake at all over a 24 hour period. I know you've posted about weight worries before, but I'd just trust your little guy and his tummy!

ETA: I agree though, it's SO weird to think of not being his main nutrition source for me. Like.. in 6 months from now.. I could potentially just be gone all day? Without pumping? Or seeing him? So. weird.

@hilsy85: yeah, she's fine. I went from ~30 oz. to ~26ish oz. I think she drinks ~25 oz. a day.. I have a stash so I'm not worried.. It just caught me a little off guard that my body started to produce less without any direct triggers.. Kind of sad..

@hilsy85: The best way is to make sure there aren't any distractions. Obviously, at this point you can't "force" a 10 month old to do anything. So you just have to give it your best shot.

Before and after naps is a great time, and even though 3-5 minutes is such a short time, he may be emptying the breast that fast at this point. Are you giving him water with his meals? One of the best ways to figure out if he's getting enough breast milk is to cut back on the water for a day and see if he's still producing enough wet diapers.

Are you spoon feeding him? If so, letting him feed himself will trigger hi, full reflex, in case he's over eating by way of the spoon, and therefore not wanting to "work" for the bm

3 meals isn't too many, it just shouldn't replace breast milk at this point. Here's a link to some great information about solids and bm http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-how/

@hilsy85: it does sound like you're doing everything right then

I struggled in the beginning with breast feeding and I think some of that sticks with you. There's always a worry about not getting enough and it can be agonizing. If you feel like its ok, then trust that instinct and don't get wrapped up in the worry. You will always know your baby better than anyone else, regardless of their knowledge or medical background

@hilsy85: That progression would likely be from the 2 year WHO recommendation... since we're planning on bfing longer ours will probably stay at 75/25 or 60/40 for alot longer. I think the point is that it's a "slow" progression though based on bm needing to be the primary source until 1 y/o.