this bf-ing mom needs weaning help.

poochie

Dd is now 13 months and I'm ready to be done. She nurses in the am when wakes, before morning nap, before afternoon nap, sometimes in the late afternoon and then right before bed at night. the pre-nap and pre-bed sessions last literally 4-5 minutes. the am and late afternoon sessions last a bit longer--closer to 10 minutes.

So how do I start weaning? I thought about trying to cut out the pre-afternoon feeding first. maybe moving it out of her room and doing it while older dd is getting ready for her nap. Then eventually dropping it.

I welcome any thoughts since this is new to me--dd #1 never latched so she was never breastfed. Any advice ladies? what worked for you?
 

isabella22

I gave her a sippy of milk and tried rocking her to sleep while walking instead of sitting down (which is how she was nursing).  Also, cutting the shorter sessions first is easier.  Don't do them all at once, it will be harder for her and for you with engorgement.

Good luck and congrats for BF for so long!

Rebekah1021

I would drop the afternoon or morning fedding first and then take it from there. I dropped a feeding a week. Make sure you distract them or do something different so they don't expect to nurse at that time.

Good luck to you.

Ciarrai

I started offering snacks/meals instead of BF and just tried to stretch the time between sessions.  The am one was the hardest for DD#1 to kick and I started having to feed her breakfast almost the minute she wakes up, but it works.  As to the midday ones, I would try giving her a snack and a sippy of water or milk and putting her down for her naps.  The last one at night and first one in the morning are usually the hardest to kick.  For your boobs as well as for your DD, try to maybe cut one a week or so.  Any more than that will have you in pain and her confused.  It took me about a month and a half to wean DD completely but she didn't notice any except that first thing in the morning one really.

jaredswife

I would start by dropping a a day time feeding, not the first of the day or the bedtime.

Try just giving her milk in a sippy or bottle whichever she is used to and holding her like you would if you were nursing.  Just drop one and once she is adjusted to that then drop another.