wwyd - 14 month old only just weaning

[jilted]

Hi there. Need a bit of advice. First of all, I really do not like people getting involved in how I bring my kids up and very rarely would ever attempt to but I'm a bit concerned about something.

My husband's family are staying with us at the moment (they are African) and unknown to myself his old aunt ad uncle turned up with a 14 month old. (their grand daughter)
They Ave said the mum told them to take her as she would nt come off the breast and wanted to wean her.
Anyway, I've had her here a few days and she is only drinking water or juice and the odd yoghurt. They aren't giving her any milk at all.
My nine month old is eating 3 x the amount she is.
I think she is hungry and jeep ffering to make her some milk or even offer cows milk but they keep saying she's not hungry or doesn't want milk.
She sleeps most of the day, she seems very tired and I'm a bit concerned.
I haven't told my husband but I think I will tonight.
How should I approach this is anyway?
They are obviously much older and probably wouldn't listen to me anyway. (though quite happy to comment on how I do something with my 3 kids [surprised]

It's really delicate and if I mention something it my cause an uproar!!
What's worse s that the granddad is a DR himself ! ??

[jilted]

Ps, the baby' parents do live in the UK, but I don't know them.

[feekerry]

honestly, i would be a bit worried that elderly relatives turned up with an unknown baby as it won't come off the breast....
if its been forcibly weaned from boob then you just dont know what's normal for it.
do you know of the parents or baby??? all sounds odd?!

[CultureSucksDownWords]

Feekerry is right that the whole thing is a bit odd. It is an unusual thing to do to remove a baby from its mum because she can't/won't stop breastfeeding it.

If the baby isn't used to drinking cows milk then maybe that's why they aren't offering it. A baby of 14 months doesn't actually need cows milk - it is just a convenient source of calcium. 300ml of cows milk per day contains the necessary calcium for a child of that age. However the calcium could come from other food sources.

It doesn't sound though like the baby would be getting enough from the food she is eating.

The biggest problem here though is that you don't know the baby's history, medical situation etc. It's very hard to say anything to people you don't really know.

What does your DH say about the situation? Can you explain to him how uncomfortable you feel about the situation and ask him to talk to them with you about your concerns?