Weaning a Toddler? - Spring,TX

If you are ready to wean, need to take medication and he's not nursing right now then you've got all the signals you need that this is the time to do it while it will be less stressful for both of you.

I wean my daughter at 20 months and even though I knew I had done the best for her and it had been 20 months it's still hard/sad. It is letting go of one part of their babyhood and moving on. And it's hard to give up that control that this is something that is good for baby that only I have and giving it up to the cow or the soy or whatever. but we have to do it at some point and it sounds like this is your time.

It can take time for your milk to dry up. I started on bc after I weaned my daughter and my milk was gone in no time flat.

You might think ypu've dried up, but it takes months, even up to a year or more. If he gets sick and wants/needs to nurse, it will be there, or in a couple days if he wants it again, once he starts nursing it will be there. I nursed my son for 35m, allowed him to self wean, it's the best way to do it. He too was just at 2x a day nap and bed. If you're ready to wean to get pg, although you don't necessarily have to, even w/your med, it's probably fine, they're over cautious about meds, check the particular drug on LLL website... anyway. IF you are ready to wean, just drop one feeding at a time. Maybe drop bedtime first, replace it w/a longer bath or more stories or songs... then in about a month, drop the one for nap. I dropped the night time one, then waited several months to drop nap. If you wait till he's ready it will be so smoothe a transition.

If you want, pump & use the milk on his cereal... your milk is THE best med for his cold, flu....

If you want to know for sure whether your medication is breastfeeding incompatible or not... please personal message me. I have the Mother's Milk & Medications book as well as the traditional drug reference guide.

Whether it is for comfort or nutrition, why does it matter? Your child is getting their needs met. You can always force a wean... but that may have some unfavorable side effects with your child's behavior and self esteem. I'd worry more about balancing his needs, yours and the fetus's. Two years is absolutely fabulous! Since you've done so well for this long, why force wean now?

Many medications your Dr will say wean for it is from a habit/ignorance, not from truly looking up a specific medication.

As for milk... most women will say Blah Blah Blah dried up my milk. That would have been half false. Once you lactate (which starts during pregnancy), your body is able to very quickly go back to that default setting. Your breasts will never be 'dried up' again. Your breasts will simply not be producing enough in order to quantify it thru suction (unless being suckled by baby/toddler). I have not been able to pump ANYTHING since my daughter was around 4 months old. She continued to nurse on and off as she wanted until 2 weeks before her 5th Birthday.

Everyone takes and reacts to medications, herbals, treatments, etc differently.

It has worked pretty well for me to tell mine that "I think there is no more [breastmilk] ... get in my lap for a while" (so we could hug and/or snuggle). You are right in the thinking that, at this age, he is breastfeeding more for comfort than nutritional needs. Make sure he gets plenty of clear liquids (especially with this cold) or that there is always water available (keep the sippy cup full if that is what he is using).

As to how long before your milk dries up, I don't think anyone can estimate that. What you should watch for is engorgement which could lead to plugged ducts and possible infection (yuck). Keep yourself hydrated and express the breastmilk if you feel "full".

The weaning process is not just a change in routine for your son but also when there are some changes your body will respond to. Just the fact that your son stops the breastfeeding will tell your body that there is no "demand" for it and will reduce the milk production before "stopping".

I had both the occasion when we got pregnant after weaning my first baby as well as when we got pregnant with the third even though I was still nursing at the time. LOL

Good luck with your next baby!

He's probably not getting much now, as you say more for comfort. This looks like a good time to wean him. He's giving you the signals that he's ready by refusing the breast with his cold. Just don't offer to nurse again and see how it goes. You'll be a little sad, but he is growing up. As for drying up, it will probably be a week or so to completely happen, but shouldn't give you much trouble. Good luck on trying for number 2.

If this can be an automatic wean, you may want to take this opportunity. It can take a bit for you to dry up, but he won't know that. Get him to either not take it at all, or use a cup. Then, when he feels better, let him know that he is such a big boy, that mommy doesn't have any more milk.