Weaning a Toddler...how to Begin?

My youngest daughter didn't stop till almost 3!! My oldest at 3 months.. All kids different, but I felt the same way at 2 I just kept limiting her time in 3-6 months she was only doing it at night and she woke up one morning & said she didn't need me anymore :( - she meant feeding but it was a little strange nursing her that long and had you asked me years ago whether or not I would have nursed that long I would have said NO WAY! My daughter is extremely well adjusted and a FANTASTIC kid, she had come down the a pretty bad staph infection when she was young & had it not been for the nursing, the doctor said her chances would have been that much less. Sorry for all the info but I wish you the best, he may stop tomorrow; never know -- I have heard stories..when they are ready they just stop.

K

First I would say don't be embarrassed. I breastfed my first until she was 27 months old and my second for three years. Not so much because I wanted to (although there were parts of it I loved) but because I couldn't figure out a way to stop. I was embarrassed sometimes, too, but we really shouldn't be. There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding a toddler. Anyway, with the first one I had to go on some medication that made it impossible to continue breastfeeding. I thought she would be devastated, but I told her the milk was bad and she couldn't drink it and still be healthy and she seemed to handle this okay. I continued to spend a lot of time in the evening snuggling her and being close, we just didn't breastfeed anymore. The three year old was harder but I was so ready to stop. As we approached her third birthday, I told her three year olds don't nurse but they do get to pick out any dolly they wanted from the toy store. She was fine with this and picked out her doll. Everything was great until the first night of no nursing. She screamed! I held strong and we didn't nurse and she eventually fell asleep. For about four nights she was pretty miserable...but since then it has been pretty much smooth sailing. One thing, every once in a while she likes to hold my nipple when we are snuggling and reading at night. I have heard this is not uncommon or crazy, so I let her do it a little bit and she is doing it less and less as time passes. Anyway, good luck with this and feel good about the wonderful intimacy you have shared with your son.

I weaned my daughter at 20 months and did it gradually and with love. When it got down to the last feeding which was before bedtime, I just cut that one off cold turkey. I explained to her that she did not get any more "booboo" and that we were ready to stop. There wasn't any crying or anything like that. It just happened. I did just ask a question on here about my daughter rubbing my chest because that is what she started doing instead of breastfeeding. So, hopefully, that won't happen to you, but I do know she is using it to comfort herself now. Best Wishes!

I weaned my daughter by 20 mos but she was kind of the same way. She would walk up to me and just pull my shirt up! She mainly used it for comfort as well. I basically weaned her slowly. I'd say whatever feeding he is most attched to save till later and start with the feedings he isn't as attached to. At first I suggest limiting his time he feed instead of just cutting the feeing all together. Good luck hope it helps:)

S.,

I know from personal experience exactly how you feel. I also have a toddler that is/was pretty attached. (literally) When we started the weaning process, instead of telling her "no, you can't nurse" I started cutting the time she was nursing short. I'd let her latch for maybe 3-4 minutes, then 1-2 minutes and then say, "OK, all done." and just put myself away. At first she seemed stunned. Like, "What do you mean done?" Then I just very matter-of-factly put her down and said something like "Now we are going to go eat lunch." or "OK, now we are going to go play with a puzzle." It worked really good. She started to realize I was in control of the nursing, not her... per say. Eventually I was able to say, "no nursie right now." Very matter of fact, and she kinda just shrugged in agreement.

I had one lady tell me she let her son nurse just long enough to sing the alphabet to him, and then she told him all done. He weaned AND learned his ABC's all a the same time.

I would also recommend the book "How Weaning Happens" by Diane Bengson. It is put out by the Le Leche League. I found it to be very good. It'll definately reassure you that you are not alone in nursing a stubborn toddler!!!

Congratulations for nursing this long! BRAVO~