Weaning a 2 yr old!...WTD??

ash21rob · July 2013

I have just posted this on the stay at home mom board as well. But hoping to hear any input!

I really don't know where to start! My sweet baby is 26 months old and I think that is getting time to wean from bf. He is so very attached and I really don't see him self weaning any time soon!

The past few days I have been telling him that boobies are for babies and that he is getting to be a big boy but I'm not sure he understands that! He is getting to where is likes to twiddle very often and is so persistent about it even after I tell him "No hands on boobies".

Night time will definitely be the worst! I have read about putting apple cider vinegar and lemon juice on my breasts but I just feel that this is so mean! Has anyone else had experience with this?

ANY advice would be great! We are doing milk in sippy cups and he does not really care about juice!

Thanks in advance!

PrincessPeach13 · July 2013

I'm sure you will get some good answers here. All I can say though, is that I would do it gently, one feeding at a time, not all at once. And I think putting something nasty tasting on your breast could even be really emotionally upsetting for him if he is nursing for comfort mostly.

That's awesome that you've been nursing him this long though!

Emerald27 · July 2013

It is completely normal for a child to want and need to nurse until he is 2 to 3 years old, and even older! If you and he are still enjoying it, there's no need to wean. That said, if you are ready to wean him, there are good and bad ways to go about it.

At 26 months, nursing is about love and comfort, not so much about food. Please don't put vinegar on your breasts to deter him. Like PP said, that could be very upsetting and he would not understand.

It is best for your comfort, to avoid engorgement and infection, and for his emotional well being and relationship with you, for you to wean gently and slowly. Drop one feeding every few days, and replace it with other food/drink and lots and lots of affection. Make it the feeding that's least important to him. He needs to know that just because the boobies aren't available at 4pm doesn't mean mommy doesn't love him, etc. instead of saying that boobies are for babies, maybe you can tell him that they're taking a nap or something he might understand, promise them later, and follow through.

Nighttime will be tough and is usually the last to go. There are lots of gentle ways to encourage him to night wean, and I recommend that you look into them. Is he still nursing to sleep?

pixieprincss · July 2013

Here are several gentle suggestions: https://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning-techniques/. Personally, I would stay away from the big boy/baby talk. Kids this age want to be both babies and kids depending on the moment and motivating that way can backfire.

ash21rob · July 2013

Thank you! And yes, I totally feel that it can be emotionally upsetting for him! Thats what scared me about doing it! He nurses so randomly throughout the day...it could be 4 times or 10!

ash21rob · July 2013

He is still nursing to sleep! Tonight I tried holding off for a bit but after 5 min he had had it! And of course I gave in! I have actually thought about not telling him about the whole baby/big boy think because I know that can be hard! And he may actually understand that they are taking a nap because we tell him that about certain toys all the time!

I really do have to be true to my word and not give in...it is just so hard sometimes with that sweet face!

ash21rob · July 2013

Thanks so much...I thought of this everytime I would tell him about the whole baby/big boy thing. I think at those moments would be when I was really getting tired!

Emerald27 · July 2013

ash21rob:
Thanks so much...I thought of this everytime I would tell him about the whole baby/big boy thing. I think at those moments would be when I was really getting tired!nbsp;nbsp;

I would let him continue to nurse to sleep and leave that for last. I promise taut just dropping one session every few days...meaning offer an alternative one time he would usually nurse or one time that he asks to nurse each day...will be much easier on him and on you. Take it slow, keep it loving, and he will not think you're withholding love from him but will be a much happier, weaned boy.

Give it time and be prepared for setbacks. With compassion and love you can change this part of your relationship with DS but it does take time and patience.

cbidt*sgirl · July 2013

Please don't shame your child for wanting to nurse. Saying it is for babies and that he is big is shaming him for wanting it. And adding a gross taste to your breasts is just mean. I nursed my second until he was 30 months. We dropped sessions slowly, one at a time. The last session we dropped was the bedtime session. As we neared the time I was ready to give up that last one I told him that it was time to stop and that soon there would be no more milk left. I let DH take over the bedtime routine and they made up their own special routine. That way it wasn't only that DS was losing nursing, but also that he was getting something new and special.

cpmich · July 2013

The Dr. jay Gordon method worked for us with nightweaning.

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