Help! Need to Wean from Nursing

I have weaned my kids at 22 months. We stopped daytime feeding and offered them milk or their favorite snacks. At night they slept with their dad and stayed out of the home or in a different bed room. Goodluck :)

I hope you don't take this negative but I hope you consider something: what if it takes you 2 years to get pregnant after you wean? That would have been two years to continue this beautiful breast feeding relationship with your baby. I understand that age is a factor for your concern but if you are meant to get pregnant, then it will happen whether you're breastfeeding or not. From my own personal experience with breastfeeding and weaning, I will say this: I weaned my second child , who happened to be 3 years and 5 months old when I was 2 months pregnant with my third baby. I weaned my daughter because breastfeeding her while pregnant was becoming increasingly painful, especially when she latched on. Although I was sad to let go of that relationship I had with her, I was eager to begin a new breast feeding relationship with the next baby. Unfortunately, my third child had a weak suck and I was only able to breast feed him for a month due to my milk supply drying up. I was so sad. And I did get help from a lactation specialist, but I got help too late. My milk had already diminished to much to sustain him and I had to supplement full time with formula. Looking back, I would like to believe that I could have sucked up the discomfort and continued nursing my second baby, had I known the great difficulty I would encounter with my next child. My advice would be to continue breastfeeding, while trying to conceive. I got pregnant while breastfeeding, so I know it can and does happen.

You can still have that cuddle time!! Instead of nursing, start swapping out the boob for a sippy cup. Maintain the same schedule to give it a sense of normalcy. OF COURSE he's going to boycott, but it seems like this is a bit time sensitive if you're TTC, so cold turkey might be best in this instance.

You could still have skin to skin contact, just leave your bra on. This way, everything smells the same, feels the same, timing's the same... he's just taking it from a cup and not you.

It's probably going to be harder on you than him, not going to lie... now that's he's a 2 year old creature of habit, he's going to be mad... but not SAD, see the difference? 2 year old's are stubborn little things, but if you're persistent and CONFIDENT, he'll feed off that!! Your cuddle time doesn't have to end just because nursing is.

Good luck!

Some people do get pregnant while nursing, so I'm not sure what he's basing that on. Has he measured your levels?

If you do want to wean, or cut back, I suggest doing so slowly. Distract him, make nursing times shorter, that sort of thing. I nursed my DD for 2.5 years and this very slow nudging seemed to work very well for her.

Kellymom.com is also a good resource.

Take a two week vacation with hubs, leave your toddler with grandma, you'll come back to a weaned baby, and perhaps pregs as well.

My DS refused to BF soon after I returned to work, it was easier to drink from a bottle. On schedule, he refused bottles for sippies at just under 1 years old too.

I hear that there are books and videos you can use for an older child. Using bandaids and explaining that they are broken can work too.

Good luck to you and yours
F. B.

Your question almost makes me want to cry. I am currently nursing a child the same age as yours, and I just can't imagine giving it up...but I understand your desire for another child (I have been there, and I will be there again!). What a tough situation to be in!

I don't have any great advice because I haven't weaned mine yet, but I honestly pray that everything goes well for you.

Cut out a feeding at a time for a few days and just offer a sippy cup. I weaned my last two at 12 months like that and cut out the day, then morning and then lastly the night feeding but they were not nursing in the night at all. They slept through the night fine. I would just do it slowly like that and distract him with the cup and it should go fine. He's old enough to understand and no reason it should take a long time.

My daughter was only about 13 months when I weaned her, so I haven't been in your exact situation. But, I replaced that bedtime feeding with a bottle of milk. I know that a lot of people are really anti-bottle after 1, but to me, it just seemed too extreme to take away all of that sucking comfort at once, you know? Now at 16 months I still give her a bottle at bedtime (I think she'd be fine cutting it out now, just have to do it :)). Our dr has been really low key about the whole bottle thing. As long as you don't lay them down with a bottle, which I never would, it's fine for awhile.
Best wishes on ttc! :)

Brings back memories to me.. kudos to you for bf'ing your son all this time..I did til my son was 27 mos old.. Loved that feeling & I'll always treasure that moment w/ my son!
Night time weaning was the hardest for me emotionally! He cried, I cried.. But honestly, my son was OK in probably less than 2 wks. I offered him milk or water fr a sippy when he woke up in the middle of the night. . Sometimes he would accept the milk or water but other times he'll cry & wanted my milk. & I would just lay down w/ him & stroked his hair & cuddled w/ him til he went to sleep again.. It won't be easy, there were times I just wanted to give in! But you just have to stick w/ it & be consistent, no matter how sad you are. Just give him lots of hugs & kisses.. Before you know it, he'll be sleeping through the night..
My son is my one & only, I was 41 when he was born.. Good luck to you & for baby #2!..