Weaning Advice Needed

you could try pumping and giving it in a bottle or sippy cup when she goes to bed (so she has something to sooth her) and eventually wean it to whole milk or formula, then wean to nothing at all. Personally if she's only a bedtim nurser...I would just let her continue your milk supply should adjust. Yet everyone does things their own way that works for them. Sounds like your little one just needs that comfort...maybe hold her with a bottle or sippy of plain milk or breast milk for a while until she crashes.

J. Van Riper
director of Operations
Portland, CityMommy
http://portland.citymommy.com

Is your husband home at bedtime? Maybe you can distract her. That's what we did. My son was 1 year, and the only time he wanted to nurse was at bed time. So he spent a few nights sitting in my husband's lap while we read our evening bed time story. It didn't take long before he completely lost interest.

I suggest that you keep nursing. My sex drive came back normally as soon as my period started again (12 months). My husband though my breasts were way better when I was nursing (even if they did leak a little).

It is very early to wean your daughter if she's not ready. Children can get 40% of their nutrition from nursing until they are 2, so if you nurse her a little more often she could greatly benifit from the touch, nutrition and special time.

Cows milk is designed to grow a baby cow, breast milk is designed to grow a baby child. Breast milk gives perfect, healthy nutrition. The average age to wean in the world is 4 and the WHO suggests nursing until 2 or beyond.

Hi K.,
I had to wean my daughter quickly when she was ~ 1 1/2. She was down to only nursing a little bit at night, but still REALLY wanted her "num-num's". The best advice I got and followed, was to tell her it was O.K. to touch them, but not with her mouth. That way I could hold her the same way, snuggle the same way, give her a bottle, and let her little hands cup me. She was very reassured and comforted, and I didn't get much of an argument at all. It worked like a charm. Good luck!

I agree with the previous posts. That A she is only doing it at bedtime, she definetly wont be doing it on her prom night. :) Also the distraction does help, if daddy is around at bedtime that should help. What if you tried holding her in the same positions that you would nurse her in but keep your shirt on. Maybe it is just being held that makes her able to go to sleep. Gradually you can change the way you hold her until you arent even doing it.
Stef