Tell me about weaning...

==N== · July 2014

How did you/are you weaning your bf toddler? Since 12 months I decided to do "don't offer, don't refuse", but now we're 19 months in and really, I'm over it. It constantly makes us late in the mornings, at night its usually fine but I'd love to be able to go out once in a while or something and not worry about being home by 7 to nurse her. If I say no at any point during the day she cries this really pitiful cry like I'm taking away her best friend.

lulamagoo · July 2014

We are slowly weaning. I decided to cut the before bed nursing first as this was the most inconvenient, we can now have a date that starts before 8:30 pm….

We started having DH offer hemp milk in a bottle once a week, then twice, then three times, then every night. I can now also give the evening bottle.

We are slowly going to start the morning wake up as well. Right now we are on once a week offering milk in a bottle.

I am guessing that before and after nap will be the last to go as I am home with DS and it is easy to nurse at that time.

I have a love hate relationship with bf-ing right now. I love the bond, the nutrition, and the ease of it but quite honestly I am just over it.

ReeceFamily · July 2014

Yeah, i can imagine you are ready for some freedom!! It's been kind of a natural progression for us, and DD is almost weaned as of maybe a month ago. She sometimes nurses once or twice during the night, but I honestly don't think she's getting much milk, I don't think I really have a supply any more. I'm guessing this has helped in the weaning process. She's in daycare, so she hasn't been nursing during the day for a long time.

What helped me was developing a bedtime routine that diverted her attention from BFing. We have a bottle of milk and cuddle, brush teeth, read books, look out the window and say goodnight to the birds, trees, etc., and then I walk/sing her to sleep in the Ergo. She is usually asleep now within about 3 songs and I can lay her down on her bed (we still cosleep). Occasionally she wakes up as I'm setting her down and wants to nurse (I'd say once or twice a week), but I'm fine with that. And I've found that sometimes if she wants to nurse at night I can offer her water and she'll go right back to sleep (she was just thirsty, not really wanting to nurse).

this decaf life · July 2014

When I started working at 12 months we started only nursing 3 times a day and she stopped at 18 months. She just wasn't interested, she loves solid food.

I still get regretful twinges because I know if I hadn't started working she would have nursed longer. I just keep reminding myself that 18 months is good.

ConstanceGoodspeed · July 2014

@this decaf life‌ I remember you struggling and having a goal of bf'ing to six months, saying you really hoped you could make it that long. Don't feel bad about stopping at 18 months because you did awesome and far exceeded your expectations!

bennikki · July 2014

DS weaned himself, and honestly I was a bit sad about it. He stopped nursing in the morning around 15 month, but I'd still nurse him on weekend mornings when I'd bring him into bed with us, so I could get a little more sleep. I still nursed him before bed until one day, he just stopped latching at 17 month exactly. I should give the disclaimer that I am pregnant, and while I know I was still producing plenty of milk, I've read that it can change the taste of the milk, and nursing toddlers may not like it, so that might have had something to do with him stopping on his own. DS also never asked for nursing. Once and a while he'd nuzzle my breasts, but he still does that when he's really tired (and he does it to DH, so I don't think it had to do with BFing).

Good Luck, I'm sure it's hard to want to stop while your child doesn't.

ohiodoxiemama08 · July 2014

We've been slowly weaning over the past few months. I first cut out the morning feed after she stopped getting up ungodly early. Then I dropped the before nap feed and she did just fine. I had gotten her down to just once before bed but this past week I haven't been home for bed time and she has not seemed to be upset. However, tomorrow will be the 1st night I put her down for bed by myself and not offer nursing. Hopefully it goes well!

I tried to follow her lead as much as possible and did a slow cut back. Maybe try cutting out the morning session first? I found after that the rest came naturally. Good Luck!

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