Weaning 12 Month Old - Saint Augustine,FL

I agree with Laura's post wholeheartedly! Except for us, I chose to give up the morning feeding session first and still BF at night. Just make sure you have a sippy ready with you when you go into the baby's room in the morning. (Initially, I slightly warmed the milk so that it wouldn't be so shocking first thing in the morning... more like my breastmilk.) I didn't have any problems.
When we changed out the evening BF session, hubby took over bedtime for a week or so... that way the little one doesn't get confused.
Good luck and congrats on making it to the 12 month mark. The next year will be a busy year and so much fun!
T. B.
Mommy to Katelyn, 3.5 and Matthew, 18 months

I was exactly where you were at 12 months with both my boys.
what I did was to choose which one of the 2 feedings would be easiest to give up. I chose the night one first. I thought it would be hard but it was not.
I went by "don't offer/don't refuse" 'rule.'
I just decicided one night (with the second one) to just try not breast feeding him before bed. i did the usual routine and gave a sippy of milk instead. to my amazement he didn't throw a fit or really even try to nurse! if he had, I would have first tried to distract him, move around the house, rock him, etc, but it was easier than I thought!!! with my oldest, I went out one night and my husband put him to bed. then the next night I did the same and by the 3rd night I did the above- I didn't offer the breast and wound up just putting him to sleep without it.

as for the middle of the night: absolutlely give a sippy of water. better yet, send your husband in there with the sippy (or if you don't have another person in the household just do it yourself...)

for the morning: I weaned by 15 months. I 'worked' on weaning from 12-15 months with the morning breastfeeding being the last one we gave up.
in the morning, I started offering a sippy of water or milk when I got my boys from the crib. I'd bring them into another room (the playroom) instead of bringing them to my bed and offer the sippy, again not offering the breast & trying to distract...

it worked!
it just took little time (3 months) from the time I was at just breastfeeding 2 x a day.

you're almost there!

I applaud those who were able to drop feedings and their child adapted. I decided to go with aloe vera (i am from the caribbean). It worked like a champ, the only problem was I was not ready. The engorgement was something to deal with. Gradual is the best if it works for you. She still plays with the breasts here and there mostly for comfort.
C. Magloire

Good luck with the weaning. I think my 15 mon old could have nursed a little more but not much. I had only nursed him once before bed for quite a while. It was really me who prolonged it( because it was easier to nurse than to make a bottle!) I wanted to nurse longer because I know it was so good for him but had to wean to go on medication (Boniva).
He had taken a bottle since I went back to work, so I simply replaced the nightly nursing with a bottle. He sleeps through the night. Hope I was some help.

Hi G.,
At 12 months, your baby should be sleeping all through the night. If you truly believe he is thirsty, you should only offer water in a cup or sippy cup. He is too old for formula, as a baby can transition from formula to whole cow's milk at 12 months. As for weaning the last two sessions, he is young and may not be willing to give up the last two sessions easily. Since you are down to only two sessions a day, the best advice I can offer to try to distract him from the morning session first. It could take a few days or a week or two. Every child is different but you "distract" him by first of all, not offering your breast and make your breasts difficult to get at. Stop wearing a nursing bra and wear shirts that will make your breasts inaccessible. Offer cow's milk in sippy cup at breakfast time and when you feel ready to remove the last session, do so with love. The night feeding before bedtime is a tough one but with patience and a whole lot of kisses and cuddles, it can be done. And, offer water in a sippy cup before bedtime instead of your breasts to begin the weaning process. You may have to let the night session last a bit longer than you hope for.