need help weaning

Hi all,

I need help weaning my DD from breastfeeding. I was all for it, and did the whole extended breastfeeding thing. But IMO shes getting way too old for it (2+) and I cannot fathom how I even still have milk! For almost a year its only been at bedtime or in the morning. However, it seems like she wants it more and more although she never asks for it in public she asks for it at night and in the AM. (I do think she's going thru a growth spurt though).

My DH isn't much help as he isn't always home when she does to sleep or in the AM when she wakes up.

I've tried the "bye bye booby" and explained that she's a big girl now but nothing is working!

Any tips?

Re: need help weaning

Aww, it must be hard if you're ready and she's not. But if you're ready, you're ready! Don't even stress about a "growth spurt" - at age 2, she's not getting any substantial calories or nutrition from you anymore. It's all psychological. She likes the closeness and the bonding time.

I weaned at age 1 and my DD was ok after a day, so I don't have any experience to share. But my thought would be to just go cold turkey so she doesn't get the wrong idea and think that there can be some compromise struck. Tell her a day or two in advance (no more than that; 2-yearolds have no concept of time) that she's going to get her last feeding. Be sure to give her lots of extra Mommy/Daughter time because that's what the feedings are about at this point. Lots of cuddles; read books together with her on your lap; watch tv while snuggling on the couch... lots of activities that involve touch.

Good luck!

need help weaning

Dd was younger at 16 months but I was the one to initiate weaning. Dh was able to help with mornings but what I would suggest is just getting out of the house as quickly as possible for a few mornings. Maybe get dressed really quickly and go out to a special breakfast and the park for a few days so that by the time you're back home it's not a time she associates with nursing. That was pretty much what I did to get rid of our afternoon feeding and it worked well. After a few days we went back to our normal routine but she never looked to nurse then again. I'm not much help with nights done I weaned and did cio all at once which was not fun but became a necessity at the time. Last piece of advice is high cut shirts that really limit her access.

Re: need help weaning

Thank you for posting this! DS is 14 months and while I'm not ready to wean yet, I feel like I'll never be able to wean him. Some days He'd be latched all day if I let him.

Re: need help weaning

My DDs are older now but I used mustard at 19 and 21 months. This was the last feeding that was left after I replaced the others with water from a sippy cup.

Call me crazy but it worked. I was DONE. SPENT!

I still remember DD1 face when she tasted it. She made a "yuck" face and never asked again.

I don't think I ruined them for life lmao!

Re: need help weaning

I weaned to 1x per day in the morning, and then just stopped. She didn't like it, and cried for a few days but in under a week we both moved on. I couldn't change in front of her for a few months bc if she saw me without a shirt she would become hopeful and then cry when she was letdown.

Re: need help weaning

I thought my little guy would never wean. He finally stopped at a little over 2.5. He would nurse to sleep and when he woke in the middle of the night. I cut the bedtime nurse by giving him a water cup in bed and distracting him with night night show. At night I would try telling him he nursed already if that didn't work I would let him nurse. Eventually he just stopped asking.

need help weaning

I just weaned my dd two weeks ago at 15.5 months old. I think we were both pretty ready- she kept biting me- she was down to one feeding in the morning and one most nights. I initiated it by switching our morning routine. Instead of taking dd into my bed to nurse we went right downstairs to breakfast. I fed dd her favorite breakfast and we started our day. The first night she was a little more persistent- we cuddled and she feel asleep pretty quickly. She has asked a few times and I tell her she doesn't need mama's milk anymore because she has lots of other foods she likes to eat. I keep a bottle of water in her room and offer it to her whe she wakes up in the morning- she is generally very thirsty. I try to make sure she has a snack and a drink of water before bedtime. She ate it the first few nights but now just takes a few bites and goes back to playing.

Re: need help weaning

Thank you so much! I started telling her last night that she's a big girl and after a few days no more. She said ok but as you said, she's 2 and has no concept of time.

Re: need help weaning

Thanks for the tips. This AM we got up and got ready to go to camp so there wasn't alot of time - but she was already asking for it.

Great tips about the shirts -- too bad this isn't winter!

Re: need help weaning

I know! I swear, I never thought I Would be the one to be ready first!

Re: need help weaning

This is the best tip of the day. HA! I really want to be as brave as you. It just may come down to that.

Re: need help weaning

Ths is us. We're down to 2x a day - AM and PM but in the middle of the night I have been known to give in and she comes in bed with us. This Mama needs her sleep!

need help weaning

My DD was around 20 months when I weaned her. She was down to just bfing morning and night for a while. I started by cutting the morning session. I just brought her a cup of milk with a straw when I got her out of her crib and gave her that right away. She asked for milk from me and poked me in the boobs for the first couple of days but then she was fine with the milk. After a week or so I started giving her a cup of milk before bed time too to replace the nighttime feeding session. I liked weaning slowly like that because I felt no pain at all, no leaking or anything, and DD took it well.