I would love to know some good approaches to weaning. My son has been nursed for the last 11 months. We introduced milk at 9 months and he has it in his cereal. And if he has a babysitter he gets a milk bottle. But he won't take it from mom or dad. I would like to start the whole weaning process as soon as he gets over this cold.
Is there some reason why you are rushing to wean? If you are giving him a combo of cow's milk and breast milk, there is no harm (in fact many benefits, as you know) to continuing the nursing when you're around. Maybe you should consider letting your lil' one self-wean. When they are ready they let you know. Good luck whatever you choose to do. I'm sure you'll make the best choice for you and your child.
Hi J.,
My son wouldn't take the bottle, so instead I introduced the sippy cup at every meal. Once he started taking that, I cut out one feeding per week. I'm still nursing once in the morning, but the rest of day is sippy cup and he's 13 months old. He refused the sippy for about a month, so I just let the cup sit on his tray and out of nowhere he started taking it. Also, to get him used to drinking whole milk, I'd let him sip it out of a regular cup and even the spoon. It was more fun for him that way too.
By the way, I weaned the least 'important' feedings first. What I mean by that is, I cut the feedings he ate the least amount from first so that it wasn't as big of a deal to him. I also replaced a feeding with a sippy cup and some sort of snack to distract him from wanting to nurse.
I hope this helps you.
I wish I knew a better way....but with me, I thought I'd give mine the bottle more and more....then I had to go away to a seminar for one week, so I figured that would do the trick. I did hurt like crazy. Upon returning, he cried and cried. I believe it took about three days for him to realize he couldn't have it anymore. At any rate, he was 18 months when we stopped.
Good Luck!
I agree with Naomi. My older son and I had a natural weaning and that still was difficult for both of us. My younger son is weaning right now, by virtue of eating solid foods and drinking water. Basically, your son is weaning right now, also. I say, if he's happy, don't change anything. For more advice like this, La Leche League has published several books on gentle, natural weaning. I'm sorry if I have not written what you wnat to read.
Amy
