How Do I Wean a Year Old Baby Who Loves to Nurse?

My son turned two in January. I weaned him two months ago.

That said - find some people who love you (a lot) and have them watch your son for a week while you go on a nursing holiday. With cabbage leaves, you should dry up sufficiently in that time - and in 7 days, he should give up.

If you want to do it more gently than that, then put a rocker in his room and nurse him before bed. Then lay him down, put a gate up, and leave the room. Let him yell. He'll give up eventually. If he doesn't have a room - that is your first step. Sleeping in your room is like sleeping in the waiting room at Krispy Kreme... you automatically get hungry because of the smell of the food.

Try cups with straws. They come in almost spill proof varieties, and my little nursers LOVED them. They enjoyed the 1.74 plastic cups at wal-mart, too with the soft lids.

Good luck - and know that wanting to cut out the human pacifier bit only makes you human.

S.

only nurse him at night to start off. Your supply will begin to diminish gradually to adjust.

Make sure he is eating good meals and snacks during the day.

I nursed my 3rd (and final) child until she was 2+ - but from about 1 on she didn't even nurse daily - bedtime nursing is the last and hardest to wean from.

I had a philosophy of don't offer, don't refuse. But did try to find alternate activities for times when nursing might have been taking place. Having your husband help with bedtime rituals and establishing new ones will help.

DO NOT let hime nurse on you for 3-4 hours - you wouldn't have let him do that as a newborn - he needs a new comfort object. He absolutely should not be night waking to nurse - you just need to either let him cry it out, or you need to find another comfort activity for night waking. A 1 year old doesn't not need breastfeeding for nutrtition any longer. My oldest used the pacifier even with teeth - until we took away at 2. You need to try some different things, to find what works for the 2 of you.

Be patient, he will wean - and he will be fine.

J.

I don't have any suggestions but it's nice to know that I'm not the only person in that boat! My daughter is the exact same way! She will take a sippy cup but just to get a fast drink not to actually eat and go to sleep or anything like that. GOOD LUCK and I'll be interested to read your responses.