Weaning on Vacation?

13.5 months is still very young to deal with a lot of upheavals at once. All of the things you mentioned qualify as upheavals for a toddler. They're very sensitive to changes. I would take it one change at a time. First the vacation...he's not going to really understand what's going on, so I think the comfort of that constant in his life will be important for maintaining his emotional equilibrium. Again, same thing with changing child care arrangements. Wait until he's settled in well in the new child care arrangement (maybe a month to two months) and then start weaning. You don't want him feeling like his whole world is being turned upside down, so keep that constant comfort for him until you have the chance to make weaning the only odd thing going on. He'll be happier and I'll bet you'll have better success.

For me personally, I wouldn't recommend it. The "change in scenary" and schedule will be difficult enought for you and your child to adjust to. Is there a reason you want to do it then? Most likely, there will be some resistance from your little one and it will determine how smoothly your vacation goes. Sounds like you will be right there with the grandparents the whole time, so consider how that decision may impact them as well. From experience, if you do decide to wean any feedings, hold on to the night time feeding so your evenings will be pleasant. The morning feedings are least likely to affect your child since as soon as you get up in the mornings you can distract your little one more easily than struggling at night with him or her to go to bed. Best of luck to you and have a great time!

I weaned my daughter right before vacation. It was just the right time, not because of vacation. It took about three days before she got use to the idea. But I just kept busy all day and ran her until she was so tired that she didn't ask for it before nap and bed. I made play dates and took her to the local beach. I didn't go anywhere too far so that she couldn't take a nap in the van. In the morning she would ask but I had a sippy cup of milk and some cheerios handy to keep her mind off of it. I did put her to bed later than usualy those fist two days to guarantee that she would be too tired to ask. I also made sure that I had some of her favorite snacks and food that I could offer her. It was nice to go to the beach and not have to stop playing with all three of my children to breastfeed. Just make sure your ready. My daughter was 18 months old. She breastfed the longest of my three. She did need extra cuddle time but I could not hold her sideways cause she would look for milk. I had to hold her up on my shoulder and walk around with her. I could not sit too much cause she would swing herself into position to feed. That lasted about three days. Good Luck

To wean a baby of one year gradually, don't offer to nurse and don't refuse to nurse. Many children wake during the night at this age (lots of transitions with walking, etc.) and nursing is a really easy and comparatively fast way to keep baby from waking completely and getting him back to sleep. If you really don't offer, he will wean but that means you don't offer to nurse to make naptime and bedtime faster.

As for vacation weaning, some kids nurse round the clock on vacation to deal with the strange setting while others relish the distractions provided by new activities and people.

I had an older toddler wean on a vacation. It was a surprise to me. I wasn't trying to wean. But he was ready. Weaning is easy when the child is ready.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Other factors to consider are whether or not he's getting adequate nutrition at the table, if he's transitioned to whole milk already, if you are really ready to let go of the special time with him. It is not unusual to be nursing a toddler and it is beneficial for the antibodies you provide while he is busy "exploring" his world. Rather than trying to wean cold turkey on a vacation, I would recommend doing it more gradually by dropping one nursing at a time over a few days. Even if you just continue nursing once or twice a day, if baby gets sick, your milk supply will blossom to meet his needs and then go back to the lower level when he's better. It's a blessing.
L., RN, IBCLC, mother of 3 grown-formerly bf babies,

personally i think this is a great idea. i did the same thing over christmas vacation a few years ago but my son was almost 16 months. i nursed him as the plane took off and that was the last time! while we were at home it was such a part of our routine. we got to FL and there was so much to do and the new suroundings took his mind off of it. a few days into our vacation i decided i'd try to nurse him again (out of curiousity really) and he wanted nothing to do with it! Made me kinda sad to nkow he was done with it! When it came time to wean baby #3 i tried to convince my husband that i needed to go on a "dry vacay"...alone. he didn't think so. I'm expecting #4 and plan to pitch my idea to him again when the time comes!
Good luck!

I actually THOUGHT that would work for me. My daughter was about the same age as your son, I found out I was pregnant and thought our upcoming vacation would be enough of a distraction to both of us to wean...It was the opposite, I think she needed the comfort since our routine was so different. But when we got home, it was actually much easier, again I think because she was back in her routine. Hopefully you can get it done the way you want-good luck!

Well it looks like the advise is mixed! So do whatever feels best for you. For me, I weaned during vacation. The reason it worked for me is because: 1 - I was able to provide unlimited amount of attention and comfort, and 2 - I didnt feel so guilty when we had a few backfiring issues. Its a good idea. My only word of caution would be to make sure that youre really ready for weaning. Its such a short time in both of your lives. I initially tried this early but then we both felt sad! Then I waited another few years. I know each person is different so just make sure that its a good time for you - thats all! Have a nice vacation :-)

Definitely wait until you are well within a period of established routine. Three times a day is still a huge part of your child's life and when removed from what is his comfort zone, he will need the reassurance of his nursing time with mommy. I would get through the vacation, make the daycare transition (maybe eliminating the midday nursing at that point, since it will probably be a necessity), and give it a few more weeks before weaning completely, if you feel you must at this time. You've done such a great job sticking with it for this long, you really want to make the final transition a gentle one. I'm not sure what your situation is, but if you're down to 2 - 3 nursings a day, why not just keep it up until the decision is mutual. My son was 19 months old and nursing once every morning, when I decided to wean him. I was waiting until we were a few weeks established into my summer vacation as a teacher when, during my last week of school, he decided he was done. I felt so relieved that the decision was his, and I didn't have to be taking anything away from him that he found a comfort. In fact, I was the one who felt a touch of melancholy, even though I had already made the decision to wean. Good luck!

I would play it by ear. It may be that you are all so distracted that your baby might not be interested in nursing and may cut back on his own. Or it could be that the stress of being away from home may cause him to crave the closeness he feels from nursing.

It might work, especially if you can make yourself scarce and let Daddy or the grandparents do some feedings.

However, I always found that on vacation, my daughters were with me more and also were more needy. Even on a relaxed vacation, they can be very high-strung because they are so excited and overwhelmed by the new sights and sounds. I nursed on vacaiton because it helped get my daughters to sleep in a strange place.

I also don't think it will be possible (or really fair to your son) to wean all three feedings withing 10 days. You might probably physically do it without much discomfort, but it seems rushed. I might work on cutting out 1-2 over 10 days. Not three.

Best of luck and congrats on nursing so long!

PS - I don't know how you are feeling about it all, but I was very sad about ending those last few feedins (at 13 and 18 months with my two kids). Maybe look at this vacation as a time to enjoy uninterrupted some special time nursing with your son. It may actually be easier to wean when your son goes ot day care or is with the new nanny and you aren't with him as much. Just a thought...