Ready to wean

J'sLisa

Never in a million years did I expect to still be nursing with DD almost 22 months! We nurse after daycare most days and at bed time. I've been doing the don't offer, don't refuse method of weaning and it has worked great thus far. The problem is I'm ready to stop nursing entirely, but DD has other plans. I've heard of putting band aids or vinegar on your nips, but was hoping to hear how others have successfully weaned a toddler. Yes, I know all the health benefits to continuing, but I'd like to be done by her 2nd bday in late April.

MrsWindyCity

We weaned a while back but I had DH put DS to bed for a week so he's "get" that we were done nursing. You could try something like that.

At 22m, I would just tell your DD something like the milk is all gone, or something similar. She is older and can understand, even if she is upset by it. And just offer a cup in place of nursing, when she asks for it.

nosoup4u

I started weaning my older son when he was about 23 months, and it was a slow process, probably about 3 months (but he was nursing more often than your DD is now). I was hoping to have him weaned by 24 months, but it would have been too much for him to wean as fast as I wanted to.

I had luck with offering DS1 a small cookie when he wanted to nurse in the late afternoon. After he ate it, I'd make sure to start something new, so he'd forget about the session. It took a week or so, but he eventually dropped that session.

As for bedtime, I would tell him no if he asked, and sing and cuddle with him instead. If he freaked out, I'd let him nurse, but pop him off sooner than usual (he nursed to sleep until weaning), and offer cuddles again. It's just a give-and-take, if she doesn't seem to be handling it well, then slow down weaning and try again in a few days, you know?

Oh, and she most likely nurses after day care as a way to reconnect with not seeing you, so that might be the last session to drop. Another good strategy is changing up the setting of where you usually nurse - if she nurses on the couch right when you get home, try to distract her/change the routine such that she won't be by the couch at the usual time. Good luck!

Kellymom.com link about weaning: https://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html

kg_08

We just dropped 1 feeding per week until she was totally weaned. If she feels she still needs something, just give your LO an extra snack.