weaning a toddler

CommAve07

For those of you who have done this, please offer your advice and input on what worked well. DS, now 20 months, has been an avid nurser since day 1.  I am a SAHM and lately he wants to nurse so frequently I can hardly function.  I want to be gentle and sensitive but also create some boundaries so we can make some progress.  I am even ok with nursing 2x per day until 2 or so.  Just not so frequently.

Thanks much! 

Bride2b2004

I offered breastmilk in a cup when weaning.  When he would demand (in his way) to nurse, I would say no [insert your word for nursing] and offer a cup with breastmilk using word and sign language for drink.  I remember him being upset/frustrated/angry a couple of times, but overall, he caught on pretty quickly and it wasn't too bad.  I still nursed in the morning, at night and when he was sick/fussy.  Good luck!

Lotte134

We haven't weaned yet, but around 20 months was when I really cut back.  Admittedly it's been easier for me since I work and am not home with him during the day, but what I did was start talking about how mama milk was for sleepy times.  I just talked about it for a few days.  Then when he would ask to nurse right after work or in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.  I would say, "No silly, mama milk is for sleepy times.  Are you sleepy?"  It didn't take long at all and he stopped asking other than before nap on weekends, at night before bed (if I put him to bed - if it's DH's night then he doesn't nurse at all) and in the morning when he wakes up.  So 1-3 times most days which I can totally handle for awhile.

Angela814

I would start by staying active so that he is too distracted to nurse. By that age, we had pretty much fallen into the routine of nursing in the same place. I either nursed her on one couch in our family room or upstairs in bed. So if I was sitting somewhere else, she didn't think about nursing as much. I'd try to find a couple designated nursing places, and then distract him if he asks to nurse when you are busy. Instead of just saying later, I find it's better to say - when I'm done unloading the dishwasher, then we can nurse. I'm using this technique a lot more just for everyday requests too. All the whining "I need heeelllppp" when she really just wants me to open a container or put a new outfit on a barbie or whatever. I've been telling her, "I'm in the middle of doing xyz, and when I'm done I'll come help you do abc."

wheelsonthebus

We are in the same boat. I SAH too and it's hard to not nurse them on demand since you are with them all day. Lately, DS wants to nurse all the time and it's very VERY draining on me. I would also like to cut down to 2x a day until about 2 or so. I've started only nursing DS in the rocknig chair in his room. We'll see how it goes!