If you BFed long term

getnmarried910

I need weaning tips!  DS is almost 15 months adn we want to start trying for #3 next month.  I really want him weaned by 18 months.  I don't erally want to go cold turkey.  Some days I think he's self-weaning because he only nurses right before bed and once in the night, but other days he wants it a lot more.  I don't want it to be traumatizing for him.  Kylee was easy because I lost supply when she was 5 months old and had nothing by 7 months.  She was hungry so she easily switched.

wellfleet04

I only BFed to 14.5 months, so not really long term, but here is what we did.  We got down to first thing in the morning and before bed.  Then I started having DH get her in the morning and offer her a sippy of milk while snuggling in her glider.  Then for nighttime I changed her bedtime routine to include songs where we used to nurse and started letting her sleep with stuffed animals.  She weaned in about 2 wks.  GL!!

DandelionMom

I replaced as many feedings as I could with meals, had DH start putting her to bed so she didn't need to nurse to sleep (and DH attended to night wakings), and then gradually she seemed to forget all about nursing. ?

AggieCouple

I BF'd ML until 17.5 months so not really "extended". ?I did don't offer, don't refuse.

Are you a SAHM? ?It helped that I worked, and when I got home, I distracted her (or she was distracted by something else already). ?I offered a cup of cow's milk first whenever she wanted to nurse. ?It usually worked, and eventually she just stopped asking. ?Um...it helped that I gave her chocolate milk sometimes =o)

CleoKitty

I didn't really wean ds, I more or less let him wean himself VERY slowly over a looooong period of time but at various times I did the following:?

Don't offer but don't refuse.?

Use distraction when possible. If ds could easily be distracted great, if he persisted then I let him BF.

Offer more solids.

Chocolate milk!?

A-baybride

I don't really qualify as long term (DD was done around 14 months), but around the time she turned 1, I was sick and really struggling with supply, so I started offering a bottle of cow's milk every time signed for milk.  If she refused, no problem, I just nursed instead.  Then one day I realized we hadn't BF in days, and that was that!  So even though I encouraged weaning, I don't think it was traumatic for her at all and I didn't have any engorgement issues because it was so gradual.

ElizabethD

I would just decide no milk except AM and PM.  If he wants to nurse I'd offer him milk and cuddles.

I was nursing while 3 months pg until it was just too freakin' painful and my 17 month old so didn't care anymore.  It was the greatest way to wean.  My dd was 20 months and same thing!  :-)

DandelionMom

Aggie's post reminded me about the vanilla milk boxes from Horizons. ?Gracie LOVES those things and they were a great distraction from nursing. ?

~Kat~

We are still nursing, but in the process of cutting back. Distraction has gone a long way for us. When he asks to nurse I offer a snack or drink, and if he doesn't want that then I stop what I am doing and play with him. At this age he is wanting it for attention so I just offer non-nursing attention.