How Do I Wean 1 Year Old?

Updated on June 05, 2014
J.M. asks from Melrose, MA
6 answers

Space out feedings? Replace w whole milk? She never took a bottle and is only ok at sippys. She feeds for short periods at about 6a, 8a, 11a, 2p, 5p and 7p and maybe a bit in between. She is not showing any self weaning, I am really ready to be done but don't want to traumatize her. Can this be done in about 2-3 weeks? I will be away from her for a night soon and would rather not pump. Thanks so much!!

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I would try if she doesn't ask, don't offer. Recognize it's a process and it may take longer than 3 weeks. Kellymom.com has tips. My DD's first session to go was breakfast and then the last was bedtime. If you start eliminating daytime nursings, you may find it easier to skip the overnight pumping and/or go to a bottle for those feedings.

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

Honestly I would let her do it since she's still feeding so much but if you really want to wean then take away 1 feeding at a time every 2 weeks. Take away the 11 or 2 then the other one and then the 8 or 5 and then the other. Then take away the morning with that one I'd shorten the feeding over 2 weeks and then go a week then wait a while before getting rid of the 8 feeding as that is comfort for her for bed. So I'd wait a month between getting rid of the morning to get rid of the night.

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C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

What I did was cut back 1 feeding each day for one week. I would start out with the middle of the day feeding. Then the second week, cut down a second one. Since you are still feeding so often, in order to get it done in 2-3 weeks I would maybe cut back 1 feeding the first week (the 11am one) and replace with warm milk in sippie. Second week cut out the 2 and 5pm (again feed snack and dinner and milk). Third week cut out 8am and 7pm and then fourth week cut out the morning one. I was only breastfeeding 3x a day when I weaned so it only took three weeks with dropping 1 per week.

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

When I weaned I just dropped one feeding at a time, starting with the daytime feedings. They drank whole milk from a cup with their meals, and didn't seem to notice or care that I dropped the nursing. Then I dropped the morning feeding, and lastly the bedtime feeding. With both of my boys I just didn't offer and they didn't ask.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

My kids all wean right around their bday. But usually they are down to only nursing 4 times a day at that point.

have you introduced whole milk yet? With my last two, when I introduced milk, they self weaned within 2 weeks. They just wanted the big girl/boy cup. I'd try to skip the 8, nurse at 10, and then nurse at 2, 5, 7. Then i'd try to drop the 2. And continue dropping them. Just don't offer.

S.L.

answers from New York on

Most 1 yr olds are not nursing that often, so easier for most! My daughter had no interest in weaning until she got a bad cold with a very stuffy nose, then it was easier to use the sippy cup so she went cold turkey at 13 months. Much harder on me then her! I kept a sippy cup full of water near her all the time, you could even flavor it with fruit, as well as the cup of milk at meals and snacks. Dont worry if it seems her milk consumption is low for a week, it will pick up. With my youngest he was unwilling to switch to a cup until I offered choc milk, he became an expert at using the cup with just one cup of choc milk!

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