Another question about breastmilk drying up :) ?

He's probably on a nursing strike not weaning himself.

A baby who is weaning on his own:

* is typically well over a year old (more commonly over 2 years)

* is at the point where he gets most of his nutrition from solids

* drinks well from a cup

* cuts down on nursing gradually

Child-led weaning occurs when a child no longer has a need to nurse - nutritionally or emotionally. The solids part should rule out self-weaning in babies under a year since, for optimum health and brain development, babies under a year should be getting most of their nutrition from breastmilk.

The two primary rules when you have a baby who is having problems nursing are:

1. Feed the baby. A baby who is getting the right amount of calories and nutrition is best able to learn how to nurse. First choice for what to feed a non-nursing baby is mom's own milk, second choice is banked milk from another mom, third choice is infant formula.

2. Maintain milk supply. If mom's milk supply is being maintained with an appropriate frequncy and amount of milk expression, more time is available for baby to learn to nurse, and baby's efforts will be better rewarded (with more milk).

Your breasts are probably pretty much dried up as long as you don't squeeze or stimulate them.... I've been "dried up" for 5 months now but if I sqeeze I still see milk... I've been told you always have a little left till your child bearing age passes (once you've breastfed)...

Sorry your son didn't want to nurse anymore but you did good giving him at least 6 months of steady breastmilk nutrition...

This is probably a nursing strike, not self-weaning. Continue to offer the breast, try nursing when he's sleepy or just waking up, and try skin-to-skin contact. Don't force it, but don't give up either. He's likely to go back to nursing in a few days.