Stopping bfing?

Hannah will be one in October and I am thinking about stopping breastfeeding then. I would prefer to keep going as we arent having any problems but her bum rash just won't go away and I am having a lot of trouble being strictly dairy free. When I can manage it the rash goes away, but it is incredibly limiting. If I even have a little something the rash comes back and it seems to take 3-4 weeks to go away again. I feel a bit guilty thinking about stopping but if being on formula stops the rash then I will be happier.

Does anyone know if you can get non-dairy formulas cheaper with prescription? I keep getting told by friends that she will grow out of it soon, but I think it is an allergy not just lactose intolerance (which is what they grow out of early), as her dad still gets rashy with too much dairy.

My next question is for those of you that stopped bfing later, did you give your baby a bottle or milk from a cup?

Havent decided for sure what I'm going to do yet cos I still enjoy feeding and its so easy, but I am also going to be doing more work soon so it would be easier not to have to express etc. Hmmmm lots to think about and will talk to the doc next time we go in. Ooops sorry for the long rambly post!

I tried the cup with Han and for some stupid reason she has decided that milk out of the cup is just not the same as water out of a cup and would gag.

So yeah, just went with the bottle instead. Am gearing up to switch to the cup again soon.

She wouldn't take the bottle properly either (she knew that there was still a boob with milk around somewhere), but in the end I just offered her the bottle and if she didn't want it then it was too bad for her. Eventually she gave in.

And have absolutely nothing to add re: formulas or rice milk. Sorry!

Good luck Aimee!!!

I weaned Briona onto a bottle, and that was just for water! It makes a lot less mess when they are still learning to drink by themselves Plunket reeaaallly hate it but it was easy getting her off it - she just wanted a cup like us anyway! In the end she decided to try out her new teeth on the bottle teat and that was the end of the bottle!!

Sorry have no experience with allergies. Are you sure it's not the brand of nappies? (although it does sound like her Dad's).

She drinks out of a sipper cup now for water but she doesnt really drink much. Will see how shes going when the time comes... Will go see doc this week to ask about it. The more I think about it the more I like the idea of being able to eat ice cream and cheese again! How selfish!!

So Ana, what is Joey drinking now? Can he have cows milk?

Like Maria said the dairy-free formulas are cheaper on prescription - around $15 for a small tin. When I weaned Maya at around 9-10 mths she was having 4 bottles a day and going thru 2 tins every 10 or so days just to give you an idea of cost.

It also depends on how severe the allergy is - Maya could tolerate Pepti Junior which is dairy based but hydrolysed to make it safe for babies with allergies, but the twins will have to go onto the next one up which is NeoCate as a preventative.

You could also talk to your doc about Karicare Sensicare, or give the Karicare 0800 a ring, it's partially hydrolysed so suitable for some dairy-free babies and it comes from the supermarket.

Ohhhh ...I feel like that too Janine...I cant say no to her!! Mind you she is soo strong headed that she starts telling me off if I dont give it too her!

Well we went off to the doctors today. Turns out that I am oestrogen deficient - apparently happens sometimes when on mini-pill and breastfeeding. Hopefully this isn't TMI but it makes sex really uncomfy and apparently my cervix is inflamed (sorry really hope that isnt TMI ). Anyhoo, the main one to fix it is to stop feeding... So it kinda seems like everything is telling me to stop - this thing, Han's rash, doing more work... SO have bought some soy formula to try, and if no reaction to it then I will wean her and once she is one we can try straight soy milk or rice milk. Feel pretty sad about it but getting to 10 months is pretty good...

Thanks Janine. And I am meant to do orientation at some stage but I haven't been booked in so hopefully my Team Leader will "forget"!! lol

...Well done for getting this far Aimee....10 months is awesome!! If it is in the best interest of you and Hannah then you have to do it. I hope your little cutie loves Soy milk!!