Wean nursed 1yr old?

Gretchen - posted on 08/26/2011

as with what others are saying, It is up to you. I didn't really like nursing 100% but knew what was best for my LO so, I said I would for 1 year. At 1 year, I wasn't ready to just -stop- so, we went for a few more weeks and then I just wasn't really comfortable with it. It was really easy though because we had gotten rid of the bottle at the sitter at 11 months so, just gave out of a sippy cup instead of me and then...he was fine. I found that he was doing it more for comfort and I thought that we could give him comfort without nursing so, we just make sure we do that :O).
Don't feel bad, either way because it is your decision.

Lilliana - posted on 08/25/2011

If you're comfortable keep nursing him. It's only beneficial! There are no negatives to nursing! I still nurse my 3 year old son!

Veronica - posted on 08/20/2011

My two older kids both self-weaned at about a year- I stopped offered and they didn't seem to care. If you are ready to wean initiate it, it's your decision. If you still want your child to have breastmilk you can pump and give it in a cup/sippy cup. Remember that regardless of what is reccommened this is your decsion, if you are ready to stop nurisng, then wean. offering a snack/drink at the time he would nurse and nursing afterwards is also a good idea. good luck!

Kristina - posted on 08/13/2011

The cdc recomends nursing til 2 for brain and eye development. my son is just under 27 mo. and still fully nursed last month now we r only doing am pm feedings. It is easier to let the child self wean, they take it better if its their decision. my son did not initiate the lower # of feedings he was not thrilled. i had to stop for medical reasons for 2wks but as soon as i offered it again he went right back, neither one of us were ready so i let him back on. Every child takes it differently but if he is asking dont deny him if he self weans his behavior will be better because of it (trust me).

Aicha - posted on 11/05/2010

I am still nursing my 13 month old and am 7 months pregnant she mostly comfort nurses in the mornings and in the evenings , I am not planning on weaning her I plan on tandem nursing both babies when the other is born

Emily - posted on 10/19/2010

My son is 27mos and we're still nursing before work and daycare and just before bed. I follow the "don't offer, don't refuse" model as well... it works really well and gotten us this far! I don't see any need to wean completely until he initiates it.

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/15/2010

Did you wean anyway? Or are you still nursing?

Emily - posted on 02/12/2010

I agree with Katie. Why start weaning now? The World Health Organization recommends nursing until at least age two and for as long afterwards as is "mutually desired." I weaned my first at only 4 1/2 months due to lack of information and support, but my second nursed until 2 years 8 months, and my third is currently still nursing at 2 years 1 month... right alongside my 5 month old twins.

Breastmilk is still a wonderful source of nutrition and comfort, so there's no reason to take it away now, but you can try pushing solids a little more and follow his lead. It's also very likely that he'll cut back on his nursing as he gets more and more distracted with play and other things. And I echo the "don't offer-don't refuse" method.. it's very helpful for gentle weaning. :)

Katie - posted on 02/08/2010

Should you start weaning? In my personal opinion, no. If you're a stay at home mom, then why? Again, this is my personal opinion, but I feel that the best way to wean is to allow your child to self-wean. I honestly can not imagine taking something that is so very important to my son away from him before he is ready to give it up. And if your son is still demanding it throughout the day, then it sounds to me like it's still very important to him too.
If you do decide to wean anyways, I would suggest the 'don't offer, don't refuse method'. It's going to be the gentlest way of weaning apart from letting him wean on his own terms.

Marcy - posted on 12/24/2009

SLOWLY...try and stop 1 nursing time per day. Typically the middle of the day is best. if you try and do this before naps or at night you will only get frustrated. When he wants to nurse try and distract him by offering him something else like "oh, let's play and I will give you milk". The other thing I found was that when I sat down on the sofa or bed he automatically came over and asked for it. After a few weeks of cutting back 1 time per day then try and do another. I can't help much more than that in regards to advise. I have a 3 1/2 year old who still nurses to sleep and first thing in the morning...its completely okay by me...as long as he is happy.