Weaning a Three Year Old

Put bandaids on your nipples and tell her that you have an owie. No more nursing. Give her a cup of warm milk instead. Then brush her teeth. If you aren't brushing her teeth after you "settle her down", you are buying her lots of time in a dentist's chair.

You might have a strong-willed child, but you have to be a strong parent and not always worry about gentle and positive transitions. You do the best you can. You cannot let a strong willed 3 year old run your life.

I know this is hard. You can do it.

I would try to find a replacement comfort for her. Something that would take the place of nursing in her bedtime routine. Maybe you could see if she likes Sleepytime tea, and give her a small cup of that. Or a small cup of warm milk. Maybe add in story time (if you aren't already reading to her) and snuggling in. Maybe you could lay down with her for the first five minutes after lights out for the bonding time or something.

It may be easier to do a gradual transition. Try telling her ahead of time that she can only nurse for _____ minutes tonight, and set a timer. I would do the first few sessions about the normal time, then start cutting back but continue to snuggle her for the same amount of time as you normally would nurse.

Yes, substituting something for the closeness she feels is the way to go.

Snuggling in with lots of books till she goes to sleep. A special way you pat her or song with lots of words. Find something else to make it her very own.

Nails on a chalkboard is what I felt just before I weaned mine at 19 months.
Don't forget you are a separate person with rights to your own body. You would not like it if she grew up thinking she didn't have to consider other peoples feelings. Calling it quits is just as much your right, as hers. She won't die.

Band aids on your nipples and tell her num mums is broken?
I've heard others say that works.

She is definitely old enough to understand. Change your nightly routine.

I stopped at 3 yo and told my daughter I couldn't nurse her because I was on medicine that she couldn't have. (I broke my wrist and was on narcotic drugs for the first 2-3 days after the break.

I breastfed my daughter and she self weaned.
Meaning, I did not make her stop according to MY timeline, she stopped herself one day.
She self weaned about 2-2.5 years old.
How?
Well for me/her... by that age I would just explain that one day she would not have to breastfeed. And I taught her manners about it.. ie: it is my body, she cannot just grab me and demand it. Only at home. Be respectful. Be pleasant. If she asked, but I was "busy"... I said, I'm busy, in a minute. I didn't deny her... but if I was busy, I said so. I mean, at 2 years old, a toddler does not have to nurse on-demand. So, if I was busy, and I said so, sometimes she would just forget about it. By the time she was 2 years old, I could explain things to her, in an age appropriate way and I was not grumpy about it when I explained to her. And she understood.
Then one day, she actually giggled and said "I don't drink from you anymore...." and she was done. That's it. Done. And that was it!

I didn't worry about just letting my daughter do what she wants with my boobs and nursing whenever. By the time she was about 2 years old, I just explained to her that one day she won't need to do that. It won't traumatize her. I just chatted with her about it. And taught her manners about it. And it was fine.

And as far as bedtime, she was fine.
She and I bonded in other ways. At bedtime.

My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My neighbour's sister has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out.
======================
WWW.DOESJOBS.COM
======================
GO TO THE SITE AND CLICK NEXT TAB FROR MORE INFO AND HELP

I worried about weaning my strong willed 3 yr old too. It was settled when I got really sick and just couldn't physically nurse a child and was on meds that I wasn't sure about anyway. I told my daughter that and she accepted it and understood that I was sick. She asked to nurse a few times after I got better, I might have told her that I was still taking meds but really that was it. Way easier than I thought it was going to be. Perhaps that lends weight to the band aid approach? Good luck! Oh and I totally understand the nails on the chalk board reference... I was so done with it too!