My daughter is almost 16 months old. I want to nurse my daughter before bed and I want her to eat food and drink water and some type of milk a couple times maybe. And stop the night feeding when we feel like it's right (sometime around 2 I hope)
But I think my hopes are pointless :)
She won't even drink breast milk from a cup (she does drink water though) And she has recently been more insistent about having it during the day again and I cave sometimes depending on if I can make her happy with food and or water instead, do you think I am only making the day time weaning process harder by doing that?
She wakes up a few times a night to nurse usually but sometimes it's more like 5 times a night, everyone seems to think this is very weird for her age (she also sleeps in our bed) Do you know when this might stop and she will not wake up for milk?
come on dear your baby is still young to wean... she needs your milk... let her have your milk and let her eat what she wants.. be a good example.. eat what you want to feed her so you would have 'food bonding'..
This is a time of separation anxiety being pretty high - - she probably feels very soothed and comforted by nursing while you are home. Having you around makes the obvious jump to "Yay I can nurse because Mommy's here!" The amount of nursing slows down between 18-24 months during the day drastically. Can you put up with her needs for a bit longer? Soon she's be so distracted with learning new things and meeting milestones, most her nursing will be bedtime, night time and mornings only.
Keep trying with the sippy during sit down meals with solids - using watered down juices and plain water.
I bed share with my 5 y/o (who recently got her own bed because she said she was ready to go) and she stopped night nursing during sleep time probably around 3 y/o. Extended nursing allows children to grow smoothing and slowly into their own, which creates more confidence and inner strength. They weren't 'thrown to the wolves' per se to sink or swim on their own... they were gradually becoming independent at their pace and that means a lot.
As long as she's eating solid meals at least 3 times a day in addition to nursing - you are doing everything right!
I had my daughter wean at 1. It was fine with her doctor and fine with me. Do what feels right to you, you are the mama. My only advice that I feel very strongly about is the making multiple things for her to eat. If she is hungry, she will eat. it really is that simple. She won't starve herself, she will be okay, but if you start that habit now you could very well have a difficult eater for life! My daughter is picky, but I give her a choice before I cook, This or That. What she picks is what she gets or she'll have to "be hungry," which never really sticks. I know your baby is a little young for the choice method, but I would be careful with remaking options over and over. Sticky situation and expensive! if you set boundaries about nursing and don't stick to them it will be sooo much harder. She will learn that she can get what she wants by acting out. Be strong mama! If this is what you want, You can do it!
I weaned mine at 16 and 20 months respectively. Toddlers are funny little beasts learning how to be independent lol. What they won't do one day they are happy to try the next. Like wanting to nurse more during the day sometimes. My 2nd was more attached to nursing than my 1st.
And to the cup-just continue to offer her warm breast milk in a cup like it's a perfectly normal thing. My son was about 14 months old when I started offering regular milk too. He didn't care for it. But I try organic whole milk and he liked that better. It does taste better and I always warmed it for him.
Check out the No-Cry Sleep solution for babies and there is one for toddlers. I remember her writing about co-sleeping with her nursing older infant and how she was able to get baby to sleep thru the night without nursing all night like your little one is doing now. Basically, she's doing normal waking in the night like we all do but when she wakes mom is right there all warm and snuggy and she knows mom has the good stuff ;) so that's how she gets herself back to sleep.
My 1st was a champ sleeper, my 2nd woke far more frequently until she was weaned. Not as often as your daughter but like I said, I think your lo is waking like we all do at night but she uses the breast to settle back to sleep because it's right there and it's a source of comfort but it has to be balanced with everyone getting good sleep. Check out the No-Cry books because I know she talks about how to help with this but I can't remember because it's been 6 years since I read it.
Don't stress it too much :) Your her mother, if your both not ready then don't push it. If you truly want to wean her off during the day pump like crazy, and not let her have it. Just give her solids and a cup with the milk in it. She will see your not going to cave, and be hungery enough to give in. Then she will realize she can toddle arould with it and take it with her places mommy can't feed her. :) It worked with my little man who is now 3. :)
Five times a night is a lot for a baby this age. My daughter outgrew her last (1 a.m.) night feeding at about 13 months. We mostly co-slept, too. I've heard other mamas (on this site) suggest a couple of things - reducing one feeding at a time - and just turning away from her in bed at night.
I never tried breast milk from a cup - would she drink other milk from a cup so you feel sure she's getting enough?
My son was cut off, cold turkey, at 15 months because I had to go into the hospital. I had to have injections beforehand that would have harmed him if I caved in so there just was no turning back. He did just fine.
My husband and I had agreed to 18 months and I was sorry I didn't make it that far, but I'm telling you....I think my son might have been one of those kids who never would have wanted to quit nursing.
I wasn't worried about him because he ate solids like a champ and drank lots of other liquids. He didn't sleep with me every night though. So he slept.
Not all kids are the same.
All I do know is that if you make the decision to wean, you have to stick with it. You can't try to cut her off during the day and then cave in other days. That's just too confusing for her. No offense intended. Also, if you are trying to cut down on the day time, she might want more boobie time at night and if she sleeps with you, she knows those boobies are right there.
It might not be for hunger, it could be for comfort and if that's the case, you have to decide how long you are going to comfort her in that way.
My daughter self weaned before a year. I wasn't really ready but that's the way it went. She loved food. My son was the same way so I didn't worry about them not eating enough.
I can't tell from your post what your little one gets other than the breast.
I just know that you can't waffle back and forth. Either nurse her for a bit longer or stick to cutting down to one time before bed. Or whatever you decide.
Give you both some time.
Like I said, if I hadn't had to stop my son abruptly, I would have gone a little longer with no pressure.
It couldn't be helped though and he wasn't traumatized. He continued to be a very happy and affectionate baby who had a well rounded diet.
I wish you the very best.
You'll get it worked out in time.
