I'm trying to stop nursing at least at night but its very hard. I cant seem to get her to stop lifting my shirt or putting her hand down it. She does it all the time even if she dosent want to nurse. Any suggestions on how to stop. I've heard to cut out one feeding at a time but she seems to want it all the time. Sometimes I dont even think she wants it but she tugs and pulls at me all the time. She will not go to sleep also if she does not nurse. Otherwise she will just cry until she gets it.
I've tried pumping milk and giving it to her in a sippy cup but she never wants it! I tried whole milk several times and she will drink a little but not too much. So I tried just putting bandaids on and that seems to do fine during the daytime. Its wierd i know. I have to use the waterproof ones. I feel really bad not giving her breast milk but i'm tired of breastfeeding. Shes 16 months now and I would like to stop by the time shes 18 months.
I stopped nursing my son when he was about 18 months old. I had to lay down with him and chat so he would go to sleep. I got him on a rigid bedtime schedule and after we brushed his teeth, he couldn't have any "tee-tee" anymore. (Its bad for the teeth anyway.) So, after that, he could have water, and that's it. It was hard at first, but it worked! Good luck!
How old is your daughter?
I nursed too for a long time and the hardest feedings to stop were the nap time and night feedings. Your child is already tired at that point and is not willing to accept new things. The best time to change the feeding habits are to do it when she is very much awake and alert and nothing else to distract her. Entertain her with the idea that it's "Big Girl Milk" (depending on her age) and give it in a sippy cup. M. son refused a bottle completly. He never once accepted it. I went straight from nursing to sippy cups, while encouraging him that he was getting "sooooo big" and he loved the attention I showered him with when he drank from the cup and stopped wanting to nurse. Also, for about a month, I pumping M. milk into the cup, the the next month, slowly added whole milk and ounce at a time until he went full milk.
It's funny you ask this question. I went though the same thing with my daughter almost a year ago. I just got tired of nursing her. I know some moms are going what? but I did. She was 13 months and one day I just said to her no more I'm tired my body hurts and drained. Little background I have two daughter 2&3 and had been nursing almost no stop for two and years and throw in the blend a 8y/o son whose in speech delay. I was just so tired and my body needed a break. So I just quit nursing cold turkey. I knew she would drink from a bottle eventually and she did have trouble because she had never wanted a bottle but she did well and now she is happy. I know my approach was sudden and you maybe not be as tired as I was but this worked for me. Sometimes I think they have to feel you give up I believe this is what happen with my daughter. They feel what you feel and I was tired. Hope this helps.
Good Luck...
L.
Hi M.,
It is very difficult to not to give in to her cries specially when it's something only mama can give her to make her happy. We weaned our youngest daughter at 18 months. We found that for nighttime nursing, it's best to get your husband or s/o involved to help calm her down to go back to sleep. If you are just wanting to cut out nighttime nursing, try cutting one feeding a week. If she's nursing all the time at night, maybe give her a set number of feedings then start to cut them out one by one.
Even though we have weaned completely, our daughter still tries to reach for her "nah-nah's". It's a comforting tool for them so try to be understanding. She's just wanting what makes her feel happy and secure.
Good luck!
I stopped nursing my oldest daughter (who's now almost 2) around 10 months b/c I was pregnant with my second, and my 2nd (who's now 1 today) at 11 months b/c of a medication I had to be on. Both weaned much better than I thought they would! I cut out the nap time feedings first (or any during the day), then did night time and mornings were last b/c they seemed to be their favorite. One thing I had to do was not to put them in bed with me while we were going through the process and just tried to set a different night time routine, so she wouldn't think she was getting it. Also, I let a couple of weeks go before I cut another feeding out, or until she was used to it. It's just going to be harder for some babies, and you may have to divert her attention every time she asks for it (maybe offer a sippy cup of milk) or puts her hand down your shirt, etc. How old is she?
