Weaning suggestions...Please

You need a day away from him to dry up your milk by putting cabbage leaves in your bra. When he requests nursing, tell him that the milk is all gone. You may have to prove the point by letting him nurse a little.

Good luck!

Just... stop? I dreaded weaning my son (he was about 14-15 months old) but one day I just stopped and put him to bed without nursing and... it was okay! (He is not a milk drinker, maybe that's why?) I was surprised it was harder on me than it was on him! Maybe he cried a few nights, I dont remember. He does insist still (at 6yo) on his cold water at bedtime, which is perfectly fine (and good, here in dry AZ).

You may want to look at La Leche's resource list - you can probably find their recommended books on line. They have some great books. One is called (I think) "how weaning happens". I'm sure they have more too.

I think I cut out nursing when we were out of the house first. I would just tell him that we would wait until we got home. I nursed for a really long time though - so I think he was older and I could reason with him a little more. I also remember trying to nurse for shorter periods of time.

Good luck!

My son was 13 months when he was weaned completely. Like your son, mine absolutley refused a bottle. He had no problem with a sippy cup. As far as stopping that final nighttime nursing, I had two nights in a row where 1) I wasn't going to be home at his bedtime so my husband put him to bed and 2) we were driving home at bedtime and he fell asleep in the car without nursing. After that there was no more nursing because he knew he didn't need it and wasn't interested anymore. Good luck!

My suggestion is try him on a regular glass at mealtimes, and forget the sippy cup except for water. You may be surprised at how well he takes to a regular glass, and feeling like a 'big boy' drinking from that may help him wean from the breast. I don't see any problem with you continuing to let him breast feed several times a day as long as you are comfortable with that, but he is old enough to be learning new ways to get his milk too. I have mentioned this before, but our grandson has been drinking from a real glass (and I mean glass, not plastic) since he was about 8 months old. At first it was strictly with us holding it for him, but it didn't take long for him to want to grasp it for himself. At fifteen months now, he still tries to drink too fast sometimes and spills, but that's why we have bibs and paper towels. One last thing, at out house there is a strict rule that children must be seated at the table to eat or drink, other than when they have water in a straw or sippy cup that is spillproof. This serves two purposes: most importantly, it lessens the chances of the child choking. Secondly, it keeps any messes from food or drink confined to the tile floor that is easy to clean.

I weaned my son at 21 months and he did not want to stop either. Someone suggested that I put bandaids on my nipples at the times he was used to nursing and explain to him that my nipples are soar and hurt when I nurse him so I need bandaids to protect them. He was very sympathetic and even when he was tired and was falling asleep or waking up and wanting the reassurance of breastfeeding, he would see and feel the bandaids and remember. We transitioned to cuddling instead so he didn't feel abandoned and he was fine with that alone within a couple days. I wore the bandaids for about a week and then didn't need them anymore. Good luck!

J.

I'm still nursing my 2yo (he's almost 27 months) at night, so I second the idea that boys love their mommas!!!! As long as it's comfortable for both mom and baby, I say stick with it! He's still getting some nutritional value from your breastmilk as well as the comfort only you can give, so it's not pointless for him to nurse. I also understand wanting to wean... I have my nights where I wish I could just lay him down in his crib, kiss him goodnight, and walk out. Trust your judgment, and don't wean if you and baby don't feel it's the right time.

Go on vacation with out him. You get a vacation and he gets weened. Sounds like win-win to me.

He'll adjust to not having you to nurse. Also, he'll have to learn new coping mechanisms. Make sure he has a great stuffy or favorite blanket to cuddle...comfort/cope.

Stephanie

I've been using tips from a great book called "The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning" by Kathleen Huggins. She says to "not offer, but not to refuse" try to distract with toys, other drinks, etc. Best to wean in spring or summer when there are a lot of interesting out door activities to keep a toddler busy and not as interested in nursing. My child is 18.5 months old and is still waiting for his canines to come in. He has had a rough time of teething so he needs the comfort. If your child's teeth are all in and you can comfort him in other ways, try having your husband put him down at night with a sippy cup of water or pumped milk or whatever you are doing with him for fluids. You may find that you can hold out a couple more months to offer him the comfort he needs. It definitely has it's upside with tantrums - cures one immediately! Good Luck and try the book. You can get it at Amazon.

In my experience I had to physically leave the house for two nights, or leave my baby with Grandma, Aunty, etc. for two nights...After 48 hours of no nursing they were weaned. And then I just had to not bathe with them for a while or they were reminded of what they were missing. Good luck!

I am weaning my 13 month old son as well. I weaned my daughter (3 1/2) the same. Cut out one feeding a day. He'll be mad, but offer him milk. after a week, cut down another day time feeding till it's just night, then after a few weeks cut that out too. Good luck. My girl gave it up easier that my boy is! Boys love their Mama's!!

C.,
My son did the same thing. I finally gave him a cup, instead of me and his blanket. He had no problem with this at all. By this time he seemed ready to stop also.
W.

Tell him in X weeks or days he will be X old, and then he will be a big boy and it will be time to stop nursing. Keep reminding him of that and then when that date comes stop it cold turkey.

If for some reason you feel you can't do that -- I love the bandaid idea. Kids have a real awe of bandaids.