how old when self weaned?

Hbowers16

I am just curious as to what to expect. DD is a nurser and I really want to self wean. I am aware that it could be awhile. Any advice or encouragement to offer? Thank you!!

drcolleen

DD1 self weaned the week of her 2nd B-day.  On monday we nursed 2x in the evening as was our usual at that point given I work full time, tuesday I didn't come home, and wednesday when I returned she never asked to nurse again.  It was a surprise, we hadn't changed anything the weeks prior but she was apparently ready.  We had a great thing and I'm glad it lasted so long.  I hope I have the same opportunity w/ DD2. 

Kiddos rarely wean before a year and even then many will not wean until 2-3 unless you suggest it.

Hbowers16

I have no problem with going past a year. Originally I thought no way but now my opinion has changed. I am however looking forward to her needing to nurse less. She just turned 7 months and still nurses every 2-4 hours. I hope I am not nursing her too much. She is in the 5%tile though so I feel like she needs it. 

erbear

Both of mine self-weaned around 11.5 months. With both, I had returned for work (5ish months before) and my supply tanked

sucredee

DD is 20 months and still going strong. She is still nursing about 5 times a day (usually 4 am, then around 730 am, at noonish for nap, then around 4 or 5 pm and at bedtime. Sometimes she nurses more than that when we are just hanging at home. Maybe not what you want to hear but ther are plenty of kiddos who nurse less frequently than that for a long time. I really don't mind and usually the nursing sessions aren't that long at this age. I am going to let her self wean but I sort of hope she will be down to 3 sessions come her second Bday, but if not that's ok. She will be my only child so I am enjoying it while it lasts...good luck!

Still free to be me

DD is 31 months old and is still nursing.  She nurses to sleep, maybe once at night, usually in the morning, and very occasionally during the day.  She isn't incredibly committed to her awake nursing sessions, but is pretty insistant about the bedtime and nighttime sessions.

I am almost 19 weeks pregnant and have almost no supply (if any at all) but she still enjoys the comfort of it.  I am open to tandem nursing, but wouldn't hesitate to let her wean, either.

Hbowers16

honestly i never wanted to breastfeed, but now, after being educated ( and actually doing it), I will hopefully never have to formula feed. I was hoping to make it to 18 months, but I had no idea babies would nurse that frequently. I will just have to see I guess. I also plan on looking into tandem nursing, never heard of it, thanks for the advice ladies!

nosoup4u

My older son was still happily nursing 3-4 times a day at 22 months when I got pg. I weaned him when he was about 28 months, but he would have still nursed at nap and bedtimes if I hadn't. I have a friend who's kid is the same age as my son (almost four), and he just weaned literally a few weeks ago. So it could be awhile!

RE: how often she nurses - both of my sons cut back their nursing by about 13-14 months. And I *really* enjoy nursing a 12+ month old instead of a baby - they just nurse less, and it's much more of a comfort/bonding thing, IMO. 

Hbowers16

nosoup4u:

RE: how often she nurses - both of my sons cut back their nursing by about 13-14 months. And I *really* enjoy nursing a 12+ month old instead of a baby - they just nurse less, and it's much more of a comfort/bonding thing, IMO. 

 

Thank you for this, that helps a lot! 

mr+ms

DD turned 3 in November and is still nursing. I decline a lot of her requests, hoping to move to 2x/day from 3x/day. So I guess it's not really self weaning but something we're negotiating as time goes on.

danienross

My almost 15mos DD still nurses at least four times a day and at least once at night.  She's a huge comfort nurser and took her sweet time getting into solids.  We'll see what the future holds.  I'm hoping that by 2yrs she'll be down to just 2 or 3 feedings.

3003girl

LO is still nursing strong at 18 months. Especially when teething. Some days it's every 4 hours, some days it is just once at nap time, and then nighttime and morning sessions.

She was a frequent nurser up until she really got into solids - which took her a while - at around 15 months.

I agree with PP - I really like nursing a toddler more than an infant!  

webMistress0609

Ari self weaned a week shy of 23 months. 

I agree with pp - nursing a toddler is a different ballgame all together. We went through a rough patch around 11-12 months where Ari was trying to be a gymnast while nursing. I would just close up shop until he settled down. He cut back to twice a day by 18 months & once  a day shortly thereafter.  

KCKappa

Hbowers16:

honestly i never wanted to breastfeed, but now, after being educated ( and actually doing it), I will hopefully never have to formula feed. I was hoping to make it to 18 months, but I had no idea babies would nurse that frequently. I will just have to see I guess. I also plan on looking into tandem nursing, never heard of it, thanks for the advice ladies!

Way to go momma! Just wanted to add that my DD has always been a super frequent nurser (every 1-2 hrs at least as a newborn and every 2ish hrs since she was about 2 months old), and I was starting to think she'd never nurse less than that. But just over the past few weeks she's started to cut back quite a bit, all on her own. She's nursing 3-4 times during the day and 1-2 times overnight now, which is a lot less than just a month ago. I'm hoping to BF her until she's 2 and then will probably start "don't offer, don't refuse" to see if that nudges her toward gradual weaning. Good luck!

TiffanyBerry

Nursing a toddler is so totally different than nursing a baby.  Even when they are nursing often (DD is 4-6 times a day, but that includes once or twice overnight), it's just totally not the same.  Way better, and just feels way less demanding, for us.

On average, according to the literature, babies self-wean somewhere between 2 and 4 years.  Everything I've read suggest culture plays a roll and it's probably closer to between 2 and 3 in the US.  (This assumes a SAHM or a baby who doesn't reverse cycle if mom works full time.  Things get a bit different if the boobs are gone most of the time. )

At 20mo, we're still going strong on the nursing, including right before naps and bedtime.  Oh, there are days I very much want my boobs back, but I'll wait for now.

spunkyprincessmande

My son is 14.5 months and self-weaning right now.  He never asks for it anymore and only sometimes wants it when I offer.  Even then it usually takes me longer to pick him up, unhook my bra, and get him on than he spends eating.  I predict we'll be done completely in the next couple of weeks.

Mani

My daughter self weaned at 13 months. I have no advice or encouragement. I planned ongoing until she was about 2 y/o so I was kind of sad when she stopped on her own. Good luck to you guys.

 

Hbowers16

thank you all for your experiences. You have all given me somethings to think about and a peace of mind.