Weening - Dunlap,IL

My 33 month old and 9 month old still nurse.

I would nurse on demand for at least one year and then take his cues. My favorite thing about extended breastfeeding is that in my experience, my kids haven't gotten quite as sick as I or their dad did when we were passing illnesses around. That was worth it's weight in gold for me.

My older son has always had a harder time at night, so that will be the last nursing to go, I am sure. I would think if you were looking to limit nursing after a while, then the morning might be an easier time than the evening.

Do they nurse because they are hungry? As long as they are getting a good amount of nutrition from the breastmilk, then yes.

My older son hasn't nursed due to hunger, I can't imagine, for quite a while. Comfort, security, and of course, all of the good nutrition that breastmilk offers is why he does and should nurse.

Good luck. Keep up the good work!

... your son does not nurse much, as is.
He may very well just wean himself.
Both my kids, self-weaned.

A baby this age, will be hitting a growth-spurt at about 12 months old. Then, every 3 months is a growth-spurt period, in which they need to intake more, and do get hungrier, 24/7.

But after 1 years old... whole milk is recommended as well, because the milk "fats" is an essential nutrient for brain development.

My son weaned himself from breast at about 1 years old. He just blatantly did NOT want to nurse, anymore. Then we went to whole milk. Since he was 1 years old. And he was fine.
My daughter, self-weaned at about 2.5 years old. As you see though, it was my choice, for my kids to self-wean and I nursed until then. It is called 'extended breastfeeding. But that is a personal choice.

Again, your son does not nurse much. And yes, before bed, kids typically nurse or drink milk. For me, there is nothing 'wrong' with that. I KNEW, when my kids were hitting growth-spurts and by their 'cues' and that they were hungry... needing more intake to keep pace with their growing and development. Of course, they were on solids by then too. And whole milk. They still nursed, too. Though the frequency naturally... diminished.

Each baby is different.
For our Pediatrician, she says that for the 1st year, to nurse on-demand... and especially through growth-spurts. That it is a building block time for nutrients and development... and solids and other liquids are not their primary source of nutrition, the 1st year.

Each situation/Mom is different, and her baby.

Just what I did. Some babies will naturally wean themselves.

All the best,
Susan

My daughter nursed until 2 1/2 and my son till 13 months. I weaned my daughter from bedtime by nursing her in the living room then when she was done we would go read books and rock and her room. I eventually got her down to just nap and bedtime. The first one we weaned from was morning, because it was easy to make breakfast. I made fun things like pancakes, muffins, breads, that were already ready so I could sit her down in her high chair and get her eating right away. If you and your baby are happy nursing I wouldn't worry about it, children will wean! Good for you for nursing so long.

I worked full time, so it might have been easier for us. But at first I stopped the evening feeding ( I was only nursing him morning and evening). Then after a while I stopped the morning feeding. I would nurse him in the evening when I got home from work, then he would eat dinner and then we just put him in his crib. So stopping that feeding was not hard. I nursed him until he was 16 months. Congratulations on nursing this long.

I nursed my daughter till she was 18 months. I think at that point it was mostly comfort bc i wasnt producing much milk. I weaned her by cutting out a feeding each week. As far as the night time feeding, I had my husband give her milk in a cup and put her to sleep.
God luck to you! It really isnt as hard as you think. I thought she would be screaming and freaking out but really I was the one who cried!!