When and How Do I Quit Nursing Him?

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The truth is, he won't allow himself to starve to death. If you cut him off at the breast, he'll take a bottle eventually. He'll be hungry (or thirsty). Try going half mama milk/ half cow milk at first and increase the cow/mamma ratio. You just have to be strong.

I am personally against the idea of leaving baby with someone else to deal with weaning on his own. I think that is a betrayal of trust. He still needs your comfort. That's just my opinion, though.

I had very breast-dependant babies and I promise you they won't take your breasts to school. You are in charge and can change that dynamic when it suits you, baby, or both of you.

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If he only wants it to go to sleep, then it might just be about intimacy and comforting. Hold him and just have quiet time, looking into his eyes and talking in a quiet voice (if at all--it's okay to be silent). Take that time to connect with him...speak to him without words. He'll get it. If he just needs something in his mouth after that, give him a pacifier or a favorite blanket or toy that's just for bedtime.

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I had to laugh over your comment of taking your boob to school. My mother in-law said that my son would still be nursing when he went to kindergarden. HA.
I nursed my son one time a day (bed time) sometimes when he was sick. And he decided that the cup was better on his own. Each child is different but you might try it. Good luck. been there.

Some kids will nurse as long as you let him. I would start weaning him one feeding per week. In about a month, he should be weaned completely if you do it that way. You might have to let him cry. But, if you go back and forth with your decision, he will read that and cry horribly worse knowing that you will give in. Make your decision and stick with it no matter how he behaves. He'll come around and will never remember it.

You're afraid that your 9 month old son will "want to take your boobs to school"! Gee, I'd say lighten up on the little guy. He's not even one year old and you are worrying about when he's five or so! I feel sorry for you that you will miss out on nursing a toddler. It's a great way to mother a grumpy little one and especially wonderful if they get sick. Of course if your 9 month old is "only nursing about 3 times a day", he is already weaning. So you are on your way. Way not take it gradually?

I knew a pediatrician who knew a lot about how good breastmilk is for children, and he would only accept as clients mothers who would exclusively nurse for one full year, and not even start solids till after that. Most pediatricians know very little about breastmilk and breastfeeding and the normalcy or nursing a toddler.

Babys can be picky nipple people. Mine sure is. We bought several different kinds and for a while he liked the firmer ones then he liked the softest ones we had now he likes the inbetween ones best. They also have a bottle with a nipple that looks and feels more like the breast. Prehaps that will help him. Just keep popping that sucker back in his kisser. Dont let him get mad at it tough. Best of luck to the two of you.

dear K.,
ive heard of 18 month olds dominating mommys chest, but you need to set boundaries. try breastfeeding only at night. you should dry up so much that youll only feel engorged by night time. and then try laying next to him. closeness is just as good. and then you only have to ween him from being layed next to.
M.

I guess I would ask yourself why you do not want to nurse a toddler. I know there aren't a lot of moms nursing toddlers out there so it can seem like no one does it. I nursed my daughter until she was 2 1/2. We reduced the number of times she nursed gradually until we were down to twice a day. Then I got pregnant with my son and she stopped nursing altogether during that time. She was ready. My son is now 21 months and still nursing 3-5 times a day. If you feel strongly that you want to stop, then that's probably the right thing for you, but just know that it provides a lot of benefits to you and your child even when he gets to be a toddler. Good luck!

It sounds like to me that it isn't really a nursing problem as much as it is a sleeping issue...as in how do I get him to sleep with out my "nunnies" (as we called them)?

Elizabeth Pantly has a great book "The No Cry Sleep Solution". She talks about how you cannot let a baby fall asleep with a bottle or breast in their mouth or they will need that every time to fall asleep. She offers gentle solutions to stop them from needing that to get to sleep. (I check the book out from the library).

I weaned my daughter starting at 9 months up to 12 months...a long gradual process...it isn't easy...I just cut out feedings until there weren't any left. My DD wouldn't take a bottle at ALL, but liked the sippy cups...

{{{{hugs}}}}

sILLY IF HE ONLY NURSE 3 TIMES A DAY HE WILL NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR BOOB TO SCHOOL... I PROMISE. mY FIRST NURSED LIKE A MONSTER TILL HE WAS 1 AND A HALF. I WAS LIKE A BUSY MCDONALDS DRIVE THRU AT A LUNCH HOUR RUSH ALL DAY. i GOT HIM WEANED VERY EASY AT THE TIME THAT WAS RIGHT FOR HIM!!!!!! i HAD TO LAUGH WITH YOUR STORY CAUSE I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT TO

The American Pediatric Association recommends nursing for at least 1 year. I took that to heart and while I've met many moms who nursed much longer that wasn't for me! So I nursed both my girls until the day they turned 1 and then no more! Both were totally fine with it. I started tapering off a couple months before and only doing the night one by the end. So nice to get my boobs back.

Breast-feeinging is a mutual relationship. I nursed all three of my babies a very long time, but each relationship is unique. Your son will eventually self-wean. Don't worry that he is still so attached to nursing. Some children with allergies delay eating solid foods (my first child did). Enjoy this short time. Good Luck!

One year or a bit more is the most reasonable time. I replaced one feeding a day with a sippy cup starting about 11 months with lunch. We would go a couple of weeks, then skip the next meal, dinner. After that babies nursed when they woke up and then at bedtime. I then only nursed when the wanted to, for comfort or to fall asleep. Gradually, individually, they quit. Your little guy is too young to quit right now. Let him set the pace, and I think you'll find he loses interest between 12 and 15 months, way before he is a toddler. He's right on track. Why is 10 months a magic number? Most pediatricians recommend you nurse 12 months or more.

I would say start giving breast milk in a bottle or sippee cup for him to transition to. Then cut out one of the feedings all together where he has to drink the milk. He will drink eventually, even if he tries to skip the feeding because it's not you. He will adjust to the new schedule. You just have to stick to your plan. You might talk to your pediatrician or La Leche League.

I nursed both my girls: 15 months and 12 months. I slowly weaned them. Took out nursings one at a time. First I took out the day time (when I was out and about) and then the nap and finally the night time. It was easy, natural and just felt right. I think as long as you can nurse your little guy, the better for his over all health. Believe me, he is not going to want to do this forever! But, every mother/child relationship is different. I have to say it was harder for me to stop nursing then it was for my babies!

Good luck, whatever you decide will be the right answer for you and your son.

My son self-weaned at 11 months(I was preggy so we were both ready) I also nursed him to sleep. He never took a formula bottle. By 11 months (close to 1) I could give him a cow's milk bottle. I gave/give him a six ounce bottle before nap times and bed time it soothes him enough to go to sleep. Never had a problem. At just 9 months he is still pretty little, don't worry that you'll end up nursing a toddler, you won't cause you don't want to, nothing wrong with that. From what I have been told is that formula taste pretty yucky and cow's milk taste better. I had to add cereal, splenda, and warm it at first, just for a couple of weeks. I also had to try different bottles till I found one he liked. I say give him a few more months of nursing. Then he should be getting lots of nutrients from foods might be easier to wean.

It is so different with each baby. Some wean themselves early and some love the boobie until Mom finally ends it at age...well, that part is up to you! Start by replacing the least favorite nursing session with a bottle or cup, and keep cutting back every few days or once a week (depending how fast you need this to go). Eventually you'll get to the big one, for most kids that's the going to sleep nursing time. I hung on to that one alone for a very long time with my third child, and it was still hard to stop. If you are feeling ready then it's your time to stop. You've done a great thing nursing your baby for 9 months, so feel proud and know it's okay to stop if you just don't want to anymore. If you replace the nursing with the same routine in all other steps and lots of calm support, he'll be fine. He'll probably cry or sleep poorly or whatever as he adjusts to not nursing anymore, but you will get though it together. Don't think of it as "cutting him off" but as simply bringing him with you to the next phase.
It's ironic, K., because I nursed my babies but always felt like people were judging me when I breastfed in public (even all covered up), but my middle child didn't nurse long and bottle fed better and then I felt judged because I wasn't breastfeeding! You certainly won't please everyone "out there" so do what works for you and your family.
P.