Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

Weaning for real, help please

I have made it to 18 months of breastfeeding my son and I am done.  I talked to DH and he is petrified of the fits my son will throw, but will try to be supportive.  I told him I was debating going away for a weekend so I don't break down, DH isn't a fan of this plan as we have tried to stop breast feeding cold turkey in the past and we were walking zombies during that time.  Can you please give me tips?  Book references?  I have been home more than usual lately and DS has been trying to do the nurse more than we had while I was working, we were down to 2-3 nursings a day.  Please help me.  TIA

Re: Weaning for real, help please

  • I just finished The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning and it was pretty good. Gave some good age based suggestions and some that were WAY out there in regards to how some other cultures wean. Most of it just recommended replacing feedings slowly and taking LO's cues. Have sippy cup/snacks ready before LO will get hungry and by anticipating that you can fill them up and distract them from nursing, etc.
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  • my son is the same age as yours and we weaned over the 4th of July weekend.  It was sooooooo much easier than I ever expected. We did it cold turkey too.  Ds was nursing at least 3 times a day up until last Thursday when we stopped.  Dh was off for 4 days which made it possible.  I wouldn't have been able to refuse if it had been just me here.  I'm just bad about giving in, but with dh home I could get up and leave the room. 

     Anyways, we just didn't offer it and he didn't really seem to mind.  There were a few times that I was sitting with him playing and he would start to push on my chest and get cranky.  I just got up and left the room and let dh play with him.  He got over it pretty quickly.  I'm so amazed at how easy it was.  I was also nursing him to sleep and dh broke that bad habit while he was home for those 4 days.  For the past 3 days I've been able to get him to sleep and stay asleep without nursing or anything really.  He falls asleep so much easier now.  It's incredible. 

     GL! I know how hard it is.  

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  • Thank you ladies for your suggestions, I am going to have to look for that book.
  • First, congrats on making it that far! You are awesome :)

    I would not go cold turkey. Is he on a schedule where he nurses at about the same times? Or just grazing all day?

    I dropped one feeding at a time and usually spaced the "drops" about a month apart, but a few days to a week would probably do the same thing.

    DD has been fully weaned for a couple of weeks and only got really agitated "asking" to nurse once. I try not to be topless in front of her, but I had to take a shower.

    GL!

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  • My vote is to leave for the weekend. That is what we are considering next month. I'll be curious to see what you choose and how it goes.
  • I just weaned DD and I left her for 3 days with my parents. It was the best decision I have ever made. Sure I was in pain for those 3 days but once I got back she acted as if I had never been nursing her. She has yet to try to nurse and it has been 3 weeks. I was nursing her 7+ times a day. I just wanted to get it over with and not have to worry about distracting her between feedings. HTH.
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