Advice please on breastfeeding a 17 month old and when to wean

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/27/2010

Self weaning age is btween 2.5 yrs and 7 yrs

So, no, most 1 1/2 yr olds won't self wean, they are just too young to be done breastfeeding.

World average weaning age is 4 years so that's why you will have a hard time making her wean now, shes just not old enough.



It's never natural if you have to force a baby or toddler to do something!

Weaning is ment to be a special time when the child grows out of the need to breastfeed.

It's never fun or easy to make them grow up before they are ready.

But our culture wants our toddlers to act like adults and not need mom anymore.

Nicola - posted on 11/27/2010

hi my daughter is 17.5 months old and for the first time today she fell asleep on my lap (for her daytime nap) after what seemed like hours-instead of my breast-it is very emotional and now i will do the same before her bed-she is only breastfeeding for sleep reasons and also comfort if she is upset or teething so my supply is low i guess.
i dont see my daughter self weaning at all so i felt today was the day to try-i know i will miss the special closeness also.

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/01/2010

hey Heather, I see this is a year later, did you end up weaning her? or is she still nursing? I am aiming on nursing my son at least 3 years hopefully 4 and I am wondering how this all ended up!

Courtney - posted on 09/10/2009

Hello Heather,
Regarding your second post:
You will know when both yourself and bubs are ready to wean. If people are giving me a hard time I like to quote facts to them. For example 'World Health Org recommends breast feeding for a minimum of 2 years".
My daughhter is almost 20 months and still a strong breastfeeder. Feeding for comfort is natural and a great way for a child who is feeling tired, upset, uncomfortable etc to reassure themselves.
Don't feel pressured. If it feels right, makes you and bubs happy then it is the right thing for you.
I have found some organisations helpful as a source of facts, ABA is one (I'm an Aussie) http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
They can help with all sorts of issues and they will help with weaning also if/when you decide to.
Good luck and enjoy every moment of early motherhood, it goes so fast.

Kristin - posted on 09/10/2009

Thanks Ladies, you have had some great advice. I have a 14 month old, who breastfeeds 4 times a day. She never asks for it, it is just scheduled. I don't think she would even miss it. Should I wait for her to start refusing, or just accept that she is weaning?

Heather - posted on 09/10/2009

Thank you Johanne. I am sorry the medication interferred with you breastfeeding. I kept getting breast infections with my first baby and I had to give it up. I was under tremendous pressure not to breastfeed because, unfortunately, my husbands family is filled with ignorance. I had it in my head this time that I was going to succeed and I did! I guess, I, like you, feel like I want my baby girl for a little longer too but she definitely wants to breastfeed more ... I think it is okay. I am going to try slowly for now. Thank you for the tip! I know she likes her back rubbed but I can put her down awake in her bed and she goes right to sleep. I will still try it though. Thank you again and I wish you the best! =)

Heather - posted on 09/10/2009

LOL! Teresa! I know exactly how you feel! Thank you! =)

Heather - posted on 09/10/2009

Thank you Gayle! That is what I would like to do, set certain times. She was like that before, but recently, she is a breastfeeding addict! LOL! She nurses a lot at night too. Thank you for the advice and I am definitely going to try it! =)

Gayle - posted on 09/09/2009

Good job! Yay! Personally I think there is no reason to go to bottles now since she can hold a cup. When nursing my kids as toddlers, we started compromising about when to nurse - I made them wait "when we get home," "before your nap" "after your bath." This helped them learn to wait which was good I think. Also, I was trying to help them understand that I felt the breasts belonged to me and the milk belonged to them, so we were going to have to compromise now that they were older. I started this at between 12 and 18 months and my first one weaned himself at 22 mos.

Johanne - posted on 09/09/2009

my 17 month old daughter would throw a tantrum when i refuse her the breast! there are even times when i think that she nurses like a newborn baby! unfortunately, due to the medication i had to take due to an illness, i had to stop breastfeeding this week. i actually delayed taking it for two months because i couldn't imagine forcing her to stop something she's been accustomed to doing for so long! she is staying at my parent's house and is taking the bottle*. come to think of it, she was ready all along. she would drink from a cup, heartily eat table food, and take a bottle when introduced to her! mommy just wasn't ready for her little girl to grow up... :-p

*my baby never had the bottle until this week. but when repeatedly introduced, she got used to it. i'm not telling you to cut it off cold turkey like i did (had to), but i'm sure yours will get the hang of it, too. also, try soothing her in different ways so that she won't seek comfort only from the breast. my baby likes getting back massages and tummy rubs. they put her to sleep!

Teresa - posted on 09/09/2009

My son is also 17 months old and is a major 'baboo' addict. I'm not interested in weaning yet, but would like to set some limits. Unfortunately I have no idea how to do that w/out causing major tantrums (I have tried). Most of his nursing is definitely for comfort. I am his pacifier and security blanket in one. :)

Heather - posted on 09/09/2009

Thanks Meaghan! =) Maybe I do need to wait a little longer. Kaleigh does drink A LOT of BM, and I am not convinced it is for comfort. If it was, I doubt she would be gulping down milk like she does. Thanks for the honesty, advice and support! =)

Meaghan - posted on 09/09/2009

She will eventually self-wean but it may be much later than you want. Some don't wean until they are 3-4 years old. Be honest with yourself... if your not ready then don't! Even if she is only nursing for comfort she is still getting lots of GREAT benefits fro your BM. I'm sorry your family isn't more supportive but good for you for going as long as you already have!



Here's some info on gradual weaning you might find helpful.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/how_w...

Heather - posted on 09/09/2009

Hi Susanna,



Thank you for posting a reply. Thank you again! I tried so hard to nurse my first but 2 breast infections and my in-laws not wanting me to nurse (husband too) kept me from trying and gave up after 6 weeks.



Kaleigh is my second baby and she does not like bottles. She had to be supplemented due to weight early on but we made it through that very well. She takes sippy cups and eats pretty much everything in sight! LOL! She drinks cows milk too. My doctor told me that she is nursing for comfort and it is a good time to wean her ... another doctor says keep feeding. My husband would like hear weaned now and my own sister who breastfed thinks it is "sick" to breastfeed a baby over a one year old! (Not that I care what my sister thinks! lol)



As I type this reply, I realize that maybe I am just not ready to give up breastfeeding? I know Kaleigh is not. I cannot, and will not, cut her off cold turkey. (Not that I am saying you are suggesting that.) I am confused on what to do next. Thanks again Susanna! =) x