Weaning from the Breast

I didn't wean my kids until after they turned three. I bargained with them...but yours is a little too young to bargain with. I wouldn't go cold turkey, try taking out the nap time one for a two weeks, then make your husband put her to bed for the next two weeks. By then your milk should be gone..

Have you gotten her used to a sippy cup? I just weened my youngest at 13 months, and the main thing that worried me was him still getting enough liquids. So before I completely weened him, I got him used to a sippy. I never did have to pump to release pressure, but we had begun slowly cutting back when he turned a year, so my body was used to it by the time he weened, but he is 14 months now, and I do still have milk. With my oldest I had to stop at 4 months, and still produced milk until he was 8 months old, so don't expect to quit producing right away.

I'd recommend you get a copy of "How Weaning Happens" by Diane Bengson, maybe from your local library? It goes through all the different ways and things that can happen and has lots of helpful tips. I would also just add that the slower you can go, as others have said, the easier it will be on you both...so dropping one feeding at a time, slowly, might work better for you both. You could also talk to a LLL leader, a good leader should be able to give you some tips and help but if you feel alienated by one of them then move on to another one. They WILL explain to you that you don't *have* to wean right now, and I certainly chose the "baby-led weaning" route and was very glad of it, but a good leader won't judge if you decide to do it anyway, just help you! Good luck~

I weaned my daughter at two months because of teeth. I didn't pump once I decided to stop breast feeding. I wore a slightly smaller sports bra when out of the house, and for a couple of hours throughout the day, I strapped cabbage leaves to my breasts. I know it sounds funny, and makes you feel like your in a weird exotic movie, but I stopped producing milk in under a week. Something about cabbage reduces fluid. It's also supposed to be good on adema (knees, ankles, ect).

I'd plan on being flexible so that if she feels stressed by the sudden withdrawal of this form of security that she's had all her life, you can offer it till she relaxes again and you can work with her to gradually decrease. This will be healthy for your breasts and minimize the risk for plugged ducts and mastitis, too.

There is a fantastic method described in detail in No-Cry Sleep Solution that deals with this exact same thing. Highly recommended! The woman is brilliant. What is her name...um, Elizabeth Pantley, I'm pretty sure. She has lots of great advice on all of the usual sleep issues, as well.

L.

PS nooo, don't wear anything tight or restrictive while weaning! This heightens your chances of plugged ducts and mastitis.

Don't quit cold turkey. That would be possibly traumatic to your daughter & painful to you. Just cut out one feeding every 1-2 weeks. I did the weaning slowly & had absolutely no pain or discomfort. If you can, try to shorten the feeding before eliminating it entirely. Then when you do stop it, take that time to cuddle with a sippy cup of milk. So you still get some bonding time. If she isn't cooperative, then you may have to have your husband put her to bed, but I wouldn't do that unless it is a problem.

If you lose one feedind a day for about a week and then lose the next one, you won't need to pump. It will also help your little girl with the transition.

I breastfed my youngest for 26 months and the only reason I quit then was cause I ran out of milk it is good for her and you you have to hold her to breast feed her don't worry about it if you and her enjoy and its ok with your hubby just keep doing it and enjoy good luck

no advice here just wishing you good luck. my son is 17 1/2 months old and he still nurses like all night, i'm so tired but dont know what else to do. i'm not ready to quit nursing durring the day but i would just LOVE for him to sleep through the night. anyway good luck to you and let me know what works

Try some Ib's or tylenol to help with the pain. Dropping one feeding at a time will help also, although for it to be truly effective, it might take longer than you want to drop all the feedings. I know some people who swear by cold cabbage, but did not try it myself. Make sure you grab some pads for your bra to absorb any leakage. I just did my 6 month old and was surprised how long it took, but did not do any additional pumping. Not as comfortable, but I think it gets it over with more quickly in the long run. Also, plan to wear good support, day and night. You may already be doing this, but something tight across the breasts will help far more than just your standard nursing bra, a good sports bra or something of that sort.