Breast Feeding

Maybe if you got the baby some bottles with the small nipple that looks like a breast and will eventually start to wean like that.

I totally have been in her shoes! I've nursed 3 in all. All until after 15 months of age. Here is what I have learned from my experiences:

There is no one miracle way, since each baby is different. But one thing is for sure, if you start out cutting back little by little, that does help. Start to offer your critter alternatives and make sure they are eating enough and drinking other fluids. Once you can tell that they are nursing primarily for comfort and not because they're hungry, then it's time to stop.

I suggest that when the day comes and mom makes the decision that it will be the last day, she needs to stick to her guns. Saying no to one feeding but then giving in the next is going to not only make it worse on your baby, but be a complete waste of time. Once she decides to stop. Then that's it. I recommend her making sure baby doesn't get a glimpse of her bosom for a while. It helps to not see what you can't have. Out of sight, out of mind kind of thing. After a while they forget.

If she nurses before bed as kind of a precursor to sleeping, then start a new routine before bed. If your critter is stubborn like mine were,you may have to let them cry, stomp and fight it the first day and night. I got kicked, screamed at, my shirt ripped, the whole nine. Stay calm, ignore it, divert their attention to the best of your ability and I promise it will get easier. :) GOOD LUCK!

M.

well...it'd be best for her body to slowly cut out feedings and for him too. Say just feed first thing in the morning and last thing at night, then cut one of those out. This will make it less tramatic on him and her body for the drying up process.
I've heard other mother's tell their kids that 'Mommy's broken' or that it's 'all gone' and quit cold turkey; beware this has lead to mastitis too. Good luck and congratulations in going as long as you have.

Hi M.,
What your wife can do is gradually wean your wee one off the breast by just may be feeding your baby once a day by the breast and the rest of the time with whole milk. Or, you can tell her to breast feed at night, and in the morning, and then in the afternoon, have your baby drink the whole milk. Then after a week of doing this, just breast feed at night, and give your baby whole milk in the morning and at lunch time. Then, after a week of doing this, then it's whole milk all the time. :-) I hope this works for her. Best wishes, G.

With my son, I cut back feedings gradually to just once a day. He breastfed once daily for a couple of weeks, then instead of the breast, I gave him a cup of milk. He was very unhappy about it, but it only lasted a few days. This also helped with engorgement, I only had issues for a day or two.

If you haven't yet, pump some breastmilk and feed it from a bottle. Supplement with formula or milk as needed, and just pump when you're uncomfortably 'full.' When you do stop, if you get filled up and uncomfy again, take a hot bath, submerging your chest somehow. I did this at 9 months and had no problems.

Some Dr's say cut it cold turkey. what I did was reduce the feeding to morning and night and bottle feed during the day untill you feel less and less full then stop and you shoudl dry up.

The way I have started to ween my 17 month old is by drastically cutting down on his feedings. I think if he had his way he would nurse all day long but I was ready to stop! The night was very hard but once I got through the first week it got alot easier and now he no longer wakes up to nurse. He only nurses now in the morning, before his nap, and right before bed, and we are going to start slowly eliminating each one. I hope everything works out for you! Good luck!

Start by cutting out one feeding every 3 days until you are completely done. You can also try contacting la leche league or your local hospital, they should have a lactation specialist. They should be able to answer any questions that you may have.
Good luck

Hi M., I stopped nursing my son just after 13 months, and it was because I wanted to- if it were up to my son, he'd still be attached at the breast. Normally after 12months of nursing, your baby is likley only "comfort nursing". - What I did is starting cutting down the frequency of nursing sessions. When I went back to work I was only able to nurse in the morning (before work,) and in the evening when I got home, and then I'd nurse my son to sleep. When I was ready to ween, I replaced the morning nursing w/pumped breast milk, then nursed when I got home, and to sleep, gradually I replaced the evening feed w/formula or whole milk. So I was only nursing 1x maybe 2x a day. Nursing to sleep was the hardest, because he acted like he couldn't sleep w/o the comfort of nursing, so I held him close, and gave him a sippy cup of pumped breast milk. - Interchange the milk you give, during the different feeds to get him used to drinking whole milk or formila, instead of mothers milk. Oh, and it's very important to have your wife cover herself up- if he sees them bare, he'll want them. Another thing that helped was my husband would do the feeds rather than myself. I would leave the room, so the less accessible the breast the easier to ween. My son pulled at my shirt for a while after but that eventually ceased. It took about maybe 2weeks to completely get him off the breast.

Good Luck, and start sooner than later or you'll have a nursing 5 y.o.

T.

A friend of mine put bandaids on her nipples and told her son that "mommy has a boo boo". He never asked to nurse again. I believe he was 17m. He was not traumatized by this approach, but I think some kids might be if they think mommy is hurt.

Good luck!

I had to wean my son at 18 months due to medical issues. It was different than friends experiences weaning a younger baby. I had to first cut down on feedings. Then I had to change routines. For example, I always used a Boppy Pillow and sat in the same place in the living room. I hid the pillow and started only feeding him in the bedroom. I would cut his feeding short, not letting him nurse as long as he wanted. I quit feeding him for comfort and instead would hold him and rock him. When possible, his daddy would put him to bed, again to change up the routine. I would offer him water or juice when he would ask to nurse. Sometimes it worked, but only if he was wanting to nurse because he was thirsty. Finally, he was at the point that he was only nursing once a day or less. That's when I had to start saying no. That was really hard. I would tell him no and then pull out some blocks or toys and sit down on the floor to play with him until he was over it.
In my case, he was nursing most often for comfort so I made sure I gave him lots of hugs and kisses and snuggled him as much as I could. He is almost 2 and still is a bit obsessed with my breasts, but he knows that nursing isn't an option anymore.

If tere is still someting she'd likd o go over with an expert try this service it is AMAZING it is offered throught Scottsdale Shea Hospital talk with a Lactation Nurse RN by contacting the Comfort Line @ ###-###-#### it is an answering service leave a message and they will get back to you today (there is no charge).
GOOD LUCK!!

Just cut back the amount of feedings per day. It took me about a month to stop. Go to just nights and morning, then just one of those then every other day or so, then nothing.