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another transitional topic for discussion...

amh_navyblueamh_navyblue
in D.C. Area Babies

...so another issue related to DD#2 is that she still nurses before going to bed (she'll be 2 in a few weeks).  DD#1 dropped this feeding around 18 mths with little fanfare.  DD#2 is showing no interest in dropping this feeding (she actively asks for it after we do stories), though she goes to bed fairly easily when I'm not there (and just gets a sippy with water).  I thought I would have a long work trip in November that would be the easy point to stop nursing, but that trip didn't happen, so here we are;)

I know part of the issue is my own reticence to stop--we are not likely to have a third kid and I do enjoy the closeness, most days;)...though at the same time I would love to transition her off.  Because of her active interest in it and her personality (VERY strong willed little girl;), I don't think it will be as easy to just stop (as I did with #1).

I did a little google searching on the issue and I was fascinated to find that some people put lemon juice or even vinegar on their breasts to turn the kid off from BM.  Has anyone else tried this?  This seems a little harsh to me...and I figure that my little one who likes pickles might actually find this appealing lol.

Anyway, I'm thinking I might continue to push this transition back in favor of focusing on PT, re: my previous post (seems silly to try to do both transitions at the same time)...but I was just curious if anyone had any thoughts or advice with weaning a toddler?

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Re: another transitional topic for discussion...

  • 2vthokies2vthokies

    Do you want to stop or do you just think that two is too old to still be nursing so you should stop?  If you want to stop, then I would suggest having your DH do the bedtime routine and you be out of the house or unavailable for a few day or however long it takes.  Also, she may be old enough to kind of understand if you have a conversation with her.  Maybe give her something special to take the place of bfing.  I agree that lemon juice or vinegar just seems silly and not very nice.  If you think you should stop but it really is working for you, then keep going!

    As for weaning while PTing...I'd do one or the other, but not at the same time.  Too many changes. 

    I bfed DD1 till 17 months and weaned because I was pg with DD2.  Just like your DD1, it was easy and she barely noticed (much harder on me).  DD2 is almost 16 months and she is still very interested in bfing.  Though I was planning to bf until 18 months, I'm not sure she will want to stop then.  I'm 99% sure that we are done having kids, so I probably won't push the weaning, but I can see how you might want to stop if you are planning to have another. 

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  • LindseyJWLindseyJW member

    i second what pp said above in first paragraph. especially the part about why you want to stop. i've never set an age limit for weaning (but we've also never planned to have kids close together in age, that might change my intent) and believe that they will stop when they are ready to stop. i don't enjoy nursing DD (almost 16 months) as much as I did DS b/c she fidgets, starts and stops and generally acts like she's not interested, until i take it away! 

    DS stopped nursing on his own around 31 months. by then we were only nursing nights and mornings anyway. one day, he didn't ask before bed and i didn't offer. that went on for about 5 days. after the 5th day, he asked and i told him it was all gone, that he drank it all. he seemed to be just fine with that.

    granted this was 7 months past your DD's age, but perhaps if you aren't around at bedtime for several days, it may create habit for her to not nurse before going to bed. then you can slowly reintroduce yourself to the bedtime routine and simply tell her it's all gone.  

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  • WinesNotWhinesWinesNotWhines
    I've been thinking about this a lot, too. I was hoping M would self-wean by 18 months, but now I know there is no way that's going to happen. I've had to nudge him into the weaning process, but it's going very slowly.

    If you want to stop nursing at night, I would have your husband do the last part of the bedtime routine. We did something similar with our morning routine to cut out the morning BF session (now DH gets M up in the morning), and it worked well. She may resist the first few days, but soon it will become her new routine and she'll be fine with it.
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  • SofkaSofka

    I would not put anything on your breast! It might even sting you and seems really mean!

    With DS, I would nurse and then offer a bottle, with time I'd nurse less and less and he'd drink more and more from the bottle until one night I just didn't offer the boob anymore (July 19, 2011). I am not sure if your DD is still taking bottles but you could do the same with a sippy or straw cup.

    Or you can keep nursing, if you both enjoy it - I don't see a reason to stop!

    And I'd PT 1st, she may need the nursing comfort during it.

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