Weaning Off Last Feeding

Andrea - posted on 08/03/2011

My daughter is 12 months old, and weaned herself off all feedings other than the last bedtime feeding. Would also love a few tips on this...I would love the freedom, and I don't think she'll even care, if I did this properly.

Karla - posted on 12/02/2010

Glad it is going well!!!!

Beckie - posted on 12/02/2010

Thank you for all the input. ladies! My daughter hasn't nursed since last Thursday, and both she and I are doing great!

Nicola - posted on 12/02/2010

hi everyone- i just stopped brestfeeding my 17.5mnth daugher its been 5 days now and like karla mentioned i had 2 nites of tears then she accepted it and slept in my arms an i then placed her in bed it also broke my heart.im proud of my daughter but i feel guilty of the cold turkey method but also now if id allowed her 1 of her 2 feeds id be confusing her even more.
so i was very engorged very much in pain-but today day 5 im feeling less hormonal and think i could sleep on my side possibly.

Alicia - posted on 12/02/2010

How long is she nursing for that one session? I had my son down to two nursing sessions a day, and then started actually limiting the time he had at the breast (he could nurse for an hour on one side in the morning, if I let him), starting from 20 minutes and moving downward five minutes at a time every 4-5 days or so. The second nursing session he cut on his own, and that side is doing okay (it's getting a little full now, but it's been three days), and this morning I gave him a sippy instead of doing our morning nursing session (it was down to 5 minutes for a few days).

So far, he seems to be okay with this. My right-side was my superboob, so I'll see if I get uncomfortable. I started weaning him when he was 12 months -- due to personal issues, I wasn't comfortable continuing for much longer. He's still a rather healthy kid.

Karla - posted on 11/27/2010

Laura-I am aware that you don't have questions about weaning. I was referring to Beckie's question, that you chose to respond to with statements regarding extended BF'ing and it's benefits rather than actually answering her question.

It is quite obvious from Beckie's second post that she also felt that you were dispensing personal opinion.

I fully support your decision to BF your child as long as you and he see fit. PLEASE, just give other moms the same respect.

Celeste - posted on 11/27/2010

If she's nursing at night, have you thought of nightweaning?
http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleepp...

One of my twin boys was down to one feeding. I gently encouraged him to wean and I did get a little bit engorged but it wasn't as much as it would've been if I had nursing several times a day.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/27/2010

I'm really quite content with natural weaning, so I have no questions. I just am an advocate for childrens rights. So I love to help parents choose natural parenting styles.

Not 'my beliefs' just natural ways :)

I don't even get close to sharing my personal beliefs! Lol I'm a MOD here and I know better then to start going into my personal beliefs. I play it safe and stick to facts.

Karla - posted on 11/27/2010

Now you have!!! I am proud of the way I parent and happy to answer questions that other moms have about weaning...rather that pushing my personal beliefs.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/27/2010

Lol, ok. I never heard a mom proud of mother led weaning before. I was just trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I apologize.

Karla - posted on 11/27/2010

No....i, the mother, eliminated one feeding at a time until he was only nursing at bedtime. Then I did what I posted previously. I know it is hard for you to believe, but it WASN'T child led AND it worked AND we are both happy and healthy!!!!

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/27/2010

Karla, sounds like your son did lead the way in weaning!

Karla - posted on 11/27/2010

I was in the same position with my little one when he was that age. I was only nursing at bedtime for a couple of weeks, I decided to try just not offering, but not refusing for awhile. It's been awhile, but if I remember correctly, on the third night he didn't ask or act like he cared about it (and it absolutely broke my heart). The next night he didn't seem to be interested again, so I just went with it. And he was done. No engorgement issues at all!!! I didn't have any issues or difficulties with weaning. Many of the extended BF'ers say on here that it will be traumatic and horrible if you don't let the child lead the way...I get so tired of hearing that. Everyone must do what works for them and I am happy to report weaning on mom's schedule can and does work:) GOOD LUCK!!

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/27/2010

No I don't think one breastfeeding session dropped will cause engorgement. If you have such little milk that you think, then odds are you wont notice a thing. If you do get engorged then you were making alot more milk then you thought. You can't wean her any slower then one feed at a time so there's not much else you can do except to just stop one day.

Beckie - posted on 11/27/2010

I realize that there are added benefits to extended nursing, which is why I have continued it as long as I have. However, since she nurses so little, whatever she gets is minimal. I'm ready for her to be done, and I think that she'll adjust pretty easily at this point. So I ask that any further posts just answer my question. No personal opinions, please.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/27/2010

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/i...

One nursing, will provide her with as much immunities as if you nursed her hourly, so that one feed even if tis small, is very healthy for her!

I bet it's annoying just cuz it seems useless, but it really is doing a lot for her immune system!

The American academy of family physicians says a child is at increased risk of illness if weaned before two years.

They say this because they have almost no immunity without your milk.

Soo, I'm not saying you must keep going, but I just want you to know, that even one breastfeeding a day is very important to her immunity. So if you just feel like it's useless, it's not!

If you are ok with continuing, she will benefit from just one feed a night and she will eventually decide she is done on her own. Then you won't have to 'do' anything!

Personally, my son who is 20months is breastfeeding about 8+ times a day! He's very much comforted by it, and also gets a lot of his diet through me. So there's always both ends of the spectrum!