XP: Now what? (re: weaning a toddler)

KelliLynee · September 2010

DD is 16 months old and has nursed at bedtime every night of her life. At this point it is her only nursing session. I am quite attached and was not looking forward to the day when she stops, but I think that that time might be coming. The past 3 nights she has essentially refused to nurse and asked to go to bed instead (which she has never done). I am following her lead, and letting her decide when she is done.

I am very lucky in that she has always been a good sleeper, and starting a few months ago she stopped nursing to sleep, but would nurse for a bit & then go to bed awake & fall asleep on her own. We never had to "train" her or anything, she just figured it out on her own.

Ive been nervous that when I decide to wean her she would have a hard time going to sleep, or cry and really want to nurse. Now that the past 3 nights she has asked to skip nursing & go straight to bed, I sort of want to take that good momentum and let this be the time we choose to stop nursing. But I am also really sad about stopping, and I am also just a bit nervous that this is just some sort of phase, and that she will change her mind in a few more days or weeks & I wont have enough milk any more. Tonight we were out late & when we got into her room she pointed at her bed. I sat down in her rocking chair (where I nurse her) & she just laid her head on my chest. So I rocked with her a bit, then put her to bed (without nursing).

My question, is sort of a silly one. First, any advice you can give for my situation... what would you do? Continue to offer? Put her straight to bed without offering? (She never asks to nurse, so If I dont offer, she would not nurse.) But my bigger question, what exactly do I do at bedtime if I'm not nursing her. Should I go straight from reading her story (skip over when I would normally nurse, and put her straight in her bed. Or should I (can I?) substitute a cuddle for the nursing, without creating bad bedtime habits. She falls asleep pretty quick, so I dont want to rock her to sleep, I just want to rock & cuddle for a bit, without her falling asleep. I guess I"m just afraid we'll do that, and she'll get used to being rocked to sleep or almost to sleep, and then we will HAVE to do that every night.

Also- when you dropped your last nursing session were you uncomfortable at all? My boobs are a little tingly & Im debating pumping. She doesnt take in much milk anymore so I can't imagine it will be that bad if she does decide to stop completely.

Thank you if youve read this much & for sharing your opinions.

Wally3 · September 2010

If you are close to being done and your dd is okay with slowly stopping I would go with it. My DS was like that too never asked if I didn't offer but once he would go a few nights he would ask agalin. I had some tingle and uncomfortableness for a couple of weeks but it would come and go. Don't pump because that will just have you produce more milk. We do 2 books at night. Then I turn off the lights and we cuddle say prayers and sing a lylabye, then I put him to bed awake. You could try an extra book or song so you get more cuddles.

lkstor · October 2010

If I were in that situation I would just put her in bed after her story. DS is the same age and we are far from that situation... He is a nurse-aholic

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