Weaning My 1 Year Old from His Bedtime Nursing

I would slowly reduce the duration of the session and not cut it out completely at once, particularly if he nurses to sleep.

I never knew how to do it so I let my son self-wean at 21 months when I was pregnant already and the flavor of my milk changed due to my pregnancy so he weaned himself. But, a lactation consultant might have ways to help you wean him because that's part of what they do. Good luck.

I nursed my son until about 17 months & was just about ready to wean him from the 1feeding a day about the time we took a vacation. I started only giving him 1 side about a week before we left, continued that while on vacation -- and when we got home, we did the whole bedtime routine & I just put him down without nursing him at all. I was nervous he wasn't going to go to sleep, but he went RIGHT down! He asked to nurse the next day, but I just got him a sippy cup of milk instead & he went on his way to play.
SUPER easy & he wasn't upset at all.
Good luck to you!

I did it a little later, but when I got pregnant with my second child I decided it was time to wean the firstborn from nighttime nursing.

First, I blamed it on the dentist. It might be a little early to take your son to the dentist and also I don't know how much he understands at his age. I found it easier because my son was two and understood what I was telling him. After his check-up, I announced that the dentist had said "No boobies at night" because it's bad for his teeth and then we just went cold turkey.

Instead of waiting until lights out, we made a point of nursing at the beginning of the bedtime routine, then brushed teeth and all the rest of it. Then when the lights went out, I laid down with him as usual, but instead of letting him nurse, I just hugged him. He screamed and cried and tugged at my shirt. But I just kept repeating that it was the dentist's orders and "No boobies at night" became my mantra. Eventually he settled down and let me hug him until he was asleep.

Surprisingly, he only screamed like that for the first couple of nights, then he seemed to accept the new rule. He is fiercely stubborn, so I really expected more of a resistance. Then I worked on lying with him without hugging while he went to sleep, then I wiould sit beside him on the bed, then I would sit at the foot of the bed, then I sat on the floor by the bed, then I would sit by the door, then I sat outside the door and checked on him every minute, then longer stretches of time. It took several months, but these days I just tuck him in, kiss him goodnight and leave and it doesn't feel "mean."

Now getting him to stay in bed is a whole other problem that we're working on!

What i would do is stop feeding him until he's sleep. Stop just short. If he's starting to go to sleep stop before he does. Than put him to bed. You need to choose a day to do this and not turn back. Babies will conform. If you don't do it ONE day he will know you don't have to and will fight for another one. If you don't give in he will stop after a few days.

Your night routine is a good one. Don't forget to brush the little guys teeth. I know it sounds strange, but at least going through the motions will help later. As far as replacing the nursing, how about holding him for a bit and singing him to sleep and cudding with him for a few minutes. He doesn't care if you can sing well or not. After you lay him down you may have to sit with him for a few minutes. Every few nights I would move myself further from the crib. It was tough and made for some longer nights for me, but now the little guy goes right to bed without a fuss. A great book is Good Night, Sleep Tight.