Need Tips on Weaning

I would start by cutting out the daytime feedings and offer her a cup of water or milk instead.(if she doesn't have a bottle I wouldn't start now because then you have to wean off that too). When you get her down to two feedings a day, bedtime and first in the morning, try having dad get up with her in the morning and putting her to bed at night for a few days in a row. It's great for dad too, because he can be more involved and establish his own routine with her. This worked well with both my kids. Then when you go back to getting up in the morning with her again, if she tries to initiate feeding, just gently tell her that you don't do that anymore. Also, if you have a usual feeding spot, try to avoid sitting there for a while until she is definitely weaned.

Hope that helps, good luck!

S. G.
Mother of two, 3 and 6 years

Here is an article from my pediatrician that talks about a more gentler approach to night-weaning. But like he told me, no weaning is going to be tearless :( Good luck!

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp

P.S. We decided NOT to night wean because my 13-month-old son only has two teeth, so I know we still have a long road ahead of us for cutting teeth and I'm not about to lose the most awesome soothing tool in the world (the breast)!!

ok, so I am going through the same thing and I am a single mom, nanny, massage therapist...you name it I juggle it! Except I dont have child care. So, my son is with me all the time. I started giving him a sippey cup (born Free bottles) with Almond milk in it.

Recipe:
Almond breeze: unsweetened 8oz
flax oil: two squirts
childrens DHA oil: one tsp.
hemp oil: 1 tsp
sweet leaf vanilla cream stevia: 3 small drops (or less)
super greens: New chapter, Berry greens: 1 tsp

what worked for me was having a play date with kids who already took a bottle, and giving it to my son while the other kids were drinking there bottles. they mimic at this age so it was easy to get them to want a bottle.

This is the best way to get good oils and vegetables in your kids without them knowing it. Also a good way to break them of the habit of nursing. Offer it to them every two hours, in a calm environment, or send the bottle with them to a friends house. They will take it, if they get hungry enough. be persistent! this is the best option. my son has never been sick and loves his bottle. we nurse at night still, but I love having that intimate time with him!
best of luck to you!
N. D. and Baby kai'noa

I weaned my daughter at 15 months...it's not as bad as you think. Pick the easiest one to give up first (i.e. afternoon nursing) and give her milk instead. She will get the idea..she might cry at first but it won't last long, just distract her. Then the next week, cut out another feeding...nightime for example. Have your hubby get her at night and give her water if she won't settle...this won't last long either. You'll see eventually she will start drinking more milk. Increase her milk as she gets less breast milk. I am a SAHM as well and never thought I could do it, but I did and my daughter is fine. Good luck!

A couple of my friends put band aids on their boobs and showed thier kids that they had boo-boos and couldn't get any milk out. Amazingly it worked!! I'm sure you will still have whining but in the end it is worth the victory! I stopped nursing my daughter at 1 because she too really enjoyed nursing and figured if I waited much longer it would be a miserable transtion. She whined off and on and eventually just forgot about it. Try the boo boo approach..see if that works!

I nursed my kids 'til they were 15 months and 18 months old. They pretty much weaned themselves off; I would have gone as long as they wanted to. I figured they're only this young once and it's one of the best things I can do for them. I got teased a lot by my co-workers for breastfeeding "so long," but I stood up for myself. I worked full time and pumped while at work.

Anyway, I noticed in the last months they initially breastfed at the same feeding times, but the length of each feeding gradually decreased. Then the timeframe between feedings got a little longer. Nightfeedings was the last to go, esp the feeding right before bedtime.

Good luck, and props to you for coming this far.

I hear ya. Please check your local listing La Leche Leaque mtgs. Usually the last meeting in a series of 1/ mo deals with weaning.

I completely understand, needing and wanting your boobs back!! ;) i weaned my son at 13 months. he was weaned from night time feeding early on, something like 6 months maybe, as soon as he hit 15 lbs. the doc said night time feedings could go. we had 2 nights where he woke up like normal, i didn't go in, he cried for 15 min. MAX and then poof out!! by the second night, there were no feedings from 7pm until 4-5 am! which was good for me, eventually it got moved up utnil 7am, but he did that on his own. so day time feedings, i would give him a cup that had a straw with milk. that's what he had all day, the only time i nursed him was morning and night feedings. his morning boob was his fav. so that was the last to go. but i had a dulla give me great advice, "once the cafeteria is closed for the night, ITS CLOSED!!" meaning, you can not go back to nursing the times you are trying to take away. it was GREAT advice and with a little prayer ;) and strong mommy-ness...;) you can do it! you just have to be determined. you can't harm the baby, they will eat when they are ready, promise! they will take the bottle or cup or whatever you offer, just don't offer the boob!! OH!!! another great thing, have daddy give the bottle anytime possible! that way, the baby doesn't "smell" boobies!!! :) if they are there, they want them! but if you don't have that option just be strong!! it'll work, promise! hope it helps tons!! L.

I don't know how you are doing it currently, but I found with both of my children the best way is to nurse for 1 minute less every day (starting with 10-15 minutes) until you're down to like 2 minute sessions and then just cut them out.

I totally know what you are going through, I just weaned my 12 month old son and when my now 5 year old daughter was 16 months I had to go through it as well. My only advice is to take it really slow even though it can be very hard and seem like you will never get there. You will get your boobs back I promise.

I just cut out one feeding about once every week. When my babies would wake up at night I would have a sippy cup filled with fresh water close by and keep trying to put them off with that. There was crying involved and no oneis good at listening to their kids cry, so with both I just held them tight and said "bye bye boo boo, I'm a big boy/girl now". Who would have thought we'd be saying such things eh?

By the time we got down to one feed in the night and none all day I knew it was time to stop. After about 3 nights cutting out this final feed both were weaned. And we still sing the bye bye boo boo song whenever a little hand starts searching for my boobs.

Good luck, you'll get there, I do beleive though that its all about weaning gradually and lovingly, even when you feel like a milk machine!

Sounds like your baby still needs to nurse. It's such a short time in both of your lives...why not go along until she's ready to ween (it will come) and try to enjoy the closeness?

A.,
we found this article vey helpful.
http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp
good luck. W.

i'm wondering how to stop the night time feeding myself with my eight month old. the nursing isn't even feeding, he's using me to pacify himself back to sleep. needless to say i'm tired!
i have a friend who weaned her 15month old successfully by cutting one feeding out per day every couple of weeks. it was a slow process but it worked without harmful crying. is your daughter eating a lot of solids and drinking other fluids?

For me the easiest nursing times to start with were the morning/day time. I substituted a favored drink in a sippy cup and during those "nurse" times we did something extra distracting. It was a actually a smooth transition and I did not think it would be, my daughter was a little older but not by much. I just made a big deal about her being a "big girl now." It is hard to listen tho them cry, but it passes eventually. The night one was hard because she was so used to falling asleep "on the boob," but after a month or so it was gone, lots of rocking and pacing the halls though.

Dear A.,

I find myself constantly saying here that I am not much help. I nursed three babies. I was told to wean my son to formula at about 11 months - but I could still nurse him first thing and last thing every day - to my chagrin, once he was taking a bottle, he didn't want to nurse anymore - broke my heart! I don't remember weaning my second, which I think means it went smoothly - or I was really sleep-deprived. When my baby was four months old, I was told to wean her due to slow growth. She wanted nothing to do with it, even though she had had at least one bottle a week for the previous almost three months when I was at work. I even tried breast milk in a bottle - just to get her to take a bottle - nothing worked. My mom ended up taking her for a weekend. My daughter was a finger-sucker. My mom found that if she let her suck her fingers and just slipped the rubber nipple in next to them, she would eventually slip her fingers out of her mouth and keep sucking on the nipple. (I have a wonderful mother!) I don't know what to say about the nighttime feedings. Mine went through the night fairly early. But I am sure others will have suggestions about this.

One thing I do want to say is that my mother-in-law always suggested weaning to a cup. She didn't even suggest a sippy cup. She said to start by offering a cup at meals. It might be worth a try.

Good Luck!
B.

Weaning starts the first time a baby takes anything besides breast, so I'm sure you've already started. It should be a gradual process. Unfortunately, night nursings are usually the last to go. Think of it as an investment in your child's emotional health and hang on a bit longer. Also, immunities in the breastmilk go back up after a year to levels that are higher than colostrum! You are also providing brain growth hormones and live enzymes. Most children start getting sick more often once they wean, and that is not more convenient than night nursing. The surgeon general advises two years. Anyway, you have done a wonderful thing for your child and yourself (lower risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis) by nursing as long as you have. Good job! I nursed 7, the one I was in school and working with nursed only 18 mos. The rest averaged 2 and a half years. I do remember it was very irritating at times.

A., I nursed my son until he was 18 months. In the last 2 months before I was ready to be done I weaned him. I would slowly start reducing the number of times per day that I nursed. First I would skip the middle of the day feeding and replace with a snack like cherios and a sip cup with milk or juice (since he was 1 I gave him cows milk). Eventually he would only nurse to go to bed and I then would only nurse him every other night until he no longer even asked for it. We did not give him a bottle and only allowed him to drink water from a sip cup after his teeth were brushed. I personally think that the earlier you wean (after 12 months) the easier it is for both. Good luck, and take your time he will adjust!

just do it! i picked a random tuesday when all of a sudden i just couldn't deal with it anymore. at first i gave her formula in a bottle, then i switched to pacifiers, which she didn't like thankfully, and by that time she was old enough for sippy cups, at 9 mos, so i am sure you will be fine! don't wait until they are old enough to open your shirt and say they want to nurse! remember you are the grown-up, who gets to make the decisions, not the baby.

I feel your pain...My daughter is 17 months old and ive partialy weaned her at night. I can usually push it until2, but last night she just cried and threw a tantrum from 10-1230 then i finally gave in and gave her milk. i have a son thats 30 months old too...he was much easier to night wean because i had very little milk towards the end of my pregnancy. So all i can give you support....in the past rocking her for a bit would calm her down then she'd go back to sleep. Its so hard but it will happen. Ive heard that if your hubby works with her for one week at night she will wean....my hubby would never do that so that was never an option for us but i have friends thats have done it and it works...or if you stand strong for one week and do not give her milk at all at night she will night wean, but to be honest i havent had the strength. i am too tired especially w 2 toddlers.
I too want my boobies back Ive been nursing or pregnant for 3 years. hey, i wouldn't trade it for the world

I started weaning about the same age. I just decided on a age, then, lucky for me, he didn't get any new teeth or get sick or anything, so we cut back one nursing every 2 weeks. The middle of the night one was the first to go. I just decided, no milk between 9p and 6a, and stuck with it. I offered water, hugs, rocking, but no milk--explained that milk was for morning. The first night or 2, he threw himself on the floor and cried and banged on all the walls. But, honestly, it lasted about 5 minutes, much shorter than expected. It was pitiful but funny at the same time because he was walking around like a sleepwalking man in his footed sleepers, yelling and banging on stuff. By the 3rd night, he woke up, but was ok with snuggling back to sleep. The last nursings I gave up were nap and bedtime, because he and I were very dependent on those for falling asleep. No hints there--he still doesn't nap easily, and I rock him to sleep half the nights. For giving up both, I would give him something really high in fat--nuts, milk, plain old flax oil--to assure myself he had a full tummy, then again, offer water and hugs and rocking, but no nursing. He really didn't cry all the time, but I don't know what your little one will do. Best of luck. BTW, I am also a SAHM, and still dread the loss of a nap.

hi A., i have felt your pain! but the saying always goes, it takes 3 days for a little one's behavior to change. for weaning to a bottle or sippy cup, only offer those items. i know it may seem hard or "mean" to do, but it works. i recommend the boob bottle from One Step Ahead, i think it retails for $12, but it is worth it. it took 3 days of screaming and crying (my husband and i as well!) but my son finally took to it at 9 months old. as for night time nursing, the same applies: it takes about 3 nights. a 14 month old doesn't need to eat in the middle of the night, especially now that your 14 month old is eating people food. she is using the nursing to soothe herself back to sleep. so, when she wakes up the first night, wait 5 minutes before you go in to her room. the next night, 10 minutes, and so on. each time you go in, reassure her that everything is ok, and eventually she'll get the picture that you are not going to let her nurse herself back to sleep. eventually she'll figure out how to soothe herself back to sleep. this is really HARD to do, but you must be consistent if you are serious about getting your boobs back! :) i weaned my son this way, he is now 2 years old, and i am actually going on day 2 of doing this for my 3 month old daughter. it is not easy, but worth it for everyone's sake in the end! :) good luck. i hope i helped.
-M., stay at home mom of 2 year old and 3 month old

Hi there, just a word of warning to start with, for cutting out night time nursing, it is important to pace it and all weaning properly to protect your health. Cutting out one feeding at a time, at least 3 days apart will help prevent mastitis aka breast infection. If you eat parsley and use icepacks after each feeding that will also help.

Your daughter is soooo lucky to have you. Yes, she is triggering your nursing hormones every time she cries and it is very, very difficult, but something great about motherhood is that it sets us on a path to become experts at setting respectful limits. It is kind of like a rite of passage.

Something that helped my kids adjust during the weaning process was researching the next level of fun things to learn to do together. It helps honor them that they are growing up and becoming more capable. Luckily, kids that age love praise.

My friend had her son actually beginning to read at 18 months. The opportunities are unlimited. There is a great book called Teaching Your Children Joy in case you are looking for some fantastic ideas.

It is important to watch out for nursing infront of the computer. Those who do find that counter productive to weaning because it tends to draw them back into the habit. Get a bottle ready before you get on-line.

Moms that have done the research and are prepared with the game plan they want have a great spring board for successful weaning. There are so many awesome things to look forward to.

Hi There,

I too am weaning my 14 month old. She loves breastfeeding. I work and when I stopped pumping 2 months ago, my daughter (who will not drink cow's milk) started making up for the missed daytime milk by waking every hour to eat again. So after the holidays, we decided to follow Dr. Ferber's sleep training book. It worked better than we could have ever imagine. The first night, we put her in her crib awake and she cried for just 45 minutes. I didn't feed her at all in the middle of the night and she just woke 4 times for less than 10 minutes each. The next night, she only cried for 5 minutes. the next, 3 minutes. The next, 1 minute. So, that was the end of the night feeding. I still feed in the morning, when I get home from work, and right before bed. I am cutting out the bedtime feed, by decreasing by a minute every few nights. We are down to 2 minutes per side. After it is gone, I am going to start decreasing the morning feed. The hardest part we have had is not feeding her during the day on weekends. The first few weekends we had to work hard to distract her and always have solids ready whenever she tried to nurse. After a few weekends, she stopped trying. Good luck and know everyone goes through this.

I weaned my middle child at 15 months when I was pregnant. I think she was still just comfort nursing at night. But she would wake several times a night. I held her close put put a pillow between us (saw the trick on super nanny) so she couldn't smell the milk. She cried for about 20 minutes off and on and it was very hard. But right when I thought i would give in, she fell asleep. She started sleeping through the night and I was amazed. I don't think that situation is a typical response though but you could give it a try. I also suggest reading "Baby Wise". I am not all the way thrugh it but I think it wuld help about everything feeding/sleeping issue of moms on this website. I am using the technique with my 6 month old and it seems to really be working. I am not one for giving advice but maybe it will help.