Breastfeeding.

Hi there how is the weaning going?

Hi S., first off I would like to say congrads for breast feeding and sticking with it up to a year. He has gotten the most from your breast that he can get at this point besides it being a soothing issue for him now. I worked with Peds in the dental field for many years. I will let you know the American Dental Ass. recommends wether u breast or bottle feed giving water , or other beverages in a cup is a must to prevent cavities. We saw bottle and breastfed little ones often with this which at this age need to be sedated in teh office or taked to the hospital to do extensive dental work. You do not want to put your child through that when it can be prevented. Children though sometimes are not ready to come off the breast or the nipple from the bottle. They have a desire to suck still. Very common. However, we do not want to see their fingers or thumbs slip in either. What I'd recommend to do is this first to see wether it is a desire to suck. Place water in a bottle at night . Let him take it to bed. If he drinks it oh well it's water. He will lose interest by the way very fast and not care at all for it. If it's the desire for u and the milk u will know and u still give the bottle with water and no other beverage in it so he will not get decay and after a week of throwing the bottle out of the bed and crying himself to sleep you will be finished. I promise. It will work. We saw hundreds of patients this works. Good luck!

I am so sorry; I am laughing my head off. I went thru this same thing a few months ago.
NO LIE!

I have 3 kids.
I breastfeed my first for 14 months.
I breastfeed my second child for 11 months.
I breastfeed my third child for 20 months. “ONLY BECAUSE HE IS ALLERGIC TO MILK AND ALL DAIRY” Except for my breast milk.

I just ended the breastfeeding with him 2 months ago. I tried sooner but he got sick just like yours and my doctor and my husband said just give him the breast milk
and he will get better fast and that will help him feel better because he does not feel good. I was like WHAT!
I was trying to stop the breast feeding and now everyone wants me to throw it out the window and start all over again later.
Well I did it for him. He was a happy little man. I was happy to be doing what was best for him BUT, I was frustrated that I needed to start over because he did not want to stop it was my idea.

All I can tell you is take one day at a time and stick to your guns and don’t stop again.

You are doing a wonderful job mommy keep up the good work.

Don’t worry about how upset he gets he will be fine, he will get over it. Remember you are the BOSS not him.

God Bless you and your little one and your family and take care.

From one mother to another.
10-24-07

I am in the same postion. I have a 16 month old. She still wakes up 3 times a night to nurse as well as a 2 morning feedings, 1 afternoon, and bed time. I know it's alot at this age! I had about one month ago I weaned her off the night time and I got about 2 weeks of decent sleep and I felt good. Then she got sick Rosela, then 24 hr stomach flu, then Roto Virus, and a cold! UGH! She started nursing more than what I wrote above! She is finally better this week, but I am so tired again I don't want to go through all the fussing again. It's hard! I am done too, but she is not even close. My son stopped on his own at 14 mths. We were both ready so it worked out well. No advice for you, but thought I would make you not feel so alone.

hi! oh my gosh. i 'm totally a sympethetic ear. i know exactly how you feel. weaning was the hardest time with my girls as well. i had one thought while reading your post...have you tried formula instead of milk? or what about pumped milk in a cup? maybe something with a different taste like the formula, but with all the nutrients that he needs? i nursed for a year with both girls, but the weaned from that to formula before milk - they just liked it better at that point. and can make it warmer - like breastmilk is...you could even warm up the regular milk your giving him to try that too...anyway, those were my thoughts to try. but i know how it is when you just want to have some peace so you stick the boob in!! but, it's so wonderful to have your self back again. good luck!

Hi S.,

I am slowwwly weaning my daughter (aged 14 months now). We breastfeed probably 3-4x a day and 3-4x overnight. My strategies are:

-Don't offer milk, but don't refuse it. It sounds like you are past this one.
-Provide major distractions/activities during the likely (but less needy) times of the day.

Eventually we'll cut out the least interested feeding with a firm but loving "no milk now". I think "all gone" is a good idea. And then we'll cut the next least needy one, and then the next. The last to go (I expect) will be the nursing to sleep. I think the key is to do it very, very gradually. Going cold turkey would be a mess for all of us.

Maybe if he's cranky, you are trying to omit too many nursings too soon? Or since he's teething maybe you could hold out awhile longer... nursing is major comfort and (to me) that's A-OK. I know it's easier said than done to just wait it out. :) We've had low points too, but if we hang in awhile it gets better.

First of all I have a 2 year old and she has been weaned since 14.5 months. We started at 12 months so that gives you 2.5 months of working on weaning, it take time. I started by giving my daughter a sippy with milk when she wanted milk first and then the breast, if she didn't want the cup. We also made the rule of no breastfeeding out of the house. She actually weaned herself completely over the X-mas holiday because we had left the house to travel to other family and she knew the no breastfeeding out of the house rule (we try to keep all the same rules on trips so she knows what is expected of her, less confusing for her.)

Second, do you think that your child has maybe associated being sick with the cup (considering you stopped trying to wean)? Kids are illogical and can make some some strange jumps in logic. Maybe changing the cups you are giving him...?

I can certainly understand being ready to stop breastfeeding! I breastfed my youngest two and they both weaned when they were ready - my daughter at 14 months and my son at 7 months. I pumped for a while to give them as much benefit as possible. I would highly recommend doing that. I would advise giving yourself a break and letting him take his time if you can live with that. There's nothing wrong with breastfeeding him a little longer if that's what you want. I've heard good things about the cold turkey approach too. You'd have a few days of hell but then he'd move on. Good luck and I hope he weans soon!

He's probably craving the comfort more than the actual nutrition. 12 months is pretty young to wean developmentally.

That said, we switched to only bed and naptimes for about 2 weeks when we were weaning at 19 months. Then my husband started putting him to bed so that he got used to not nursing to sleep. He was mad for a couple days and then it was over : )

Good Luck!

Hi S.,

I had to cut my kids off cold turkey when we got to that point. If I offered the breast for one feeding, they would refuse milk in a cup all day and then just have a marathon nursing session at bedtime! I just savored that last feeding, then stopped nursing alltogether. When I started feeling uncomfortable, I pumped just to the point of comfort, and only had to do that a couple of times before my body adjusted. You might have a rough couple of days of a hunger strike with your son, but he will eventually get thirsty enough that he'll do it. Especially since he's proven that he'll take other liquids from a cup... it's not a skill problem, it's a will problem. I know it sounds tough, but I've done that with 4 kids now, and none of them ever got dehydrated. Good luck!!!

Hi S.,

Both my girls weaned themselves when they were ready. My first at 14 months and my second at 10 months. I understand your situation and I would continue to try to wean, but he is not going to stay connected forever...it will happen. And, in some health circles, milk after weaning is not necessary. If he's taking everything but milk in a cup, That's a tremendous step!

Please don't worry about the clinging. You're building security. The most secure children, make the most well-balanced, independent adults.

I wish you well.

M.