Still Nursing and wanting to stop!

Ginene - posted on 03/23/2009

I was able to wean my daughter by 13 1/2 months (she had eight teeth and was biting), I cut her down to only morning and evening breast feedings and gave her a bottle when she wanted the breast during the day. If your baby already drinks from a bottle or sippy cup, great, just mix some breast milk with regular milk or stage 2 formula. My daughter loves to walk and explore and once she realized that the bottle was more portable than my breast, she weaned herself. If she's not eating that many solids right now, don't worry, she's probably teething and doesn't want to chew because it hurts. My daughter is now 17 months and has backed off from eating solids due to teething pain. Substituting with a pediatric drink and giving her Tylenol is what my doctor recommended. Good luck!

Kara - posted on 03/21/2009

Try weaning her at different times of the day on different days... first daytime feedings but do the evening ones, then viice versa.  see which ones are easier for her to go without and stop those feedings, then gradually lessen the amount she nurses at feeding times.  I also tried pumping  and giving bottles to my boys then switching to whole milk bottles and that eased the process.  I was producing less milk, so they actually were getting more with the bottles and they liked that!  Good Luck!

Megan - posted on 03/18/2009

Hey Lynn~

It's SO hard to wean a 1 1/2 year old when they're so attached! My girl wasn't weaned until she was 14 mos. and it was so hard to get her weaned. But I have to tell you, it was so worth it. Before she was weaned she was so dependent on me for everything and it was difficult to go anywhere... and forget leaving her with anyone. My husband decided to help me by taking a couple of days off work, so that he could be up with her in the middle of the night and I slept in the living room away from her. I felt SO SO bad for my daughter in the midst of the weaning process, but I'm literally still shocked at the difference in behavior I've noticed from her!



Have you tried giving her whole milk? Does she seem to tolerate it? If I were you I would probably offer her food and whole milk more and cut back on nursing her. Do it gradually, and try not to nurse her as much during the day. I would offer my daughter the breast in the evenings only and distract her with other food and drink when she'd come to me to nurse during the day. It was the hardest thing I've had to go through, but BE STRONG and don't give in! You'll both be better off in the end!



I have a journal that I kept during the weaning process that might be helpful to you, just to see where another mom came from and how I dealt with it. It always helps to have other moms who can relate to you! Let me know if you would like to read it and I'll be glad to post it.



~Meg