Hi Moms,
I really need some suggestions for weaning my 2 yr. old son from nursing. I have been weaning him gradually, since I returned to work 9 months ago. I work three days per week, and am home with him the rest of the time. He is currently nursing when he wakes up (on days when I am home from work) and before bedtime (every night). On days when I am at work, he goes down for a nap quite readily; however, when I am home, he wants to nurse to sleep. This has become quite disruptive to his nap schedule. I am looking for any advice/suggestions as to how to wean him completely.
Thank you, dear moms!
At 2 yrs old I think you just have to stop. He isn't having a problem on the days you are working so keep it the same when you are home. He can't have what you don't give him.
Get a wall calendar, pick a date maybe a couple of weeks from now, mark it on the calendar. Show it to him and tell him on that date he will be a big boy and it will be time to stop nursing, then mark off every day until then with him. Then on that day, stop.
Good luck! I need help 2, lol
Hi Melissa,
All these advices are great! I nursed 3. They are adults now.You will find your way. Children get passed every stage. you can get in a steamy shower if you still have to much milk and it gets uncomfortable. Go to a cup and not a bottle. Reduce the feedings down then it'll be very little then ...off. or don't just do it. you will find what works for you. (once you make your mind up) Children have their routines. Change the routine.
You'll be successful, and your child will grow up wonderfully.
oh yea, study the effects of cow milk of infants. do not over do it, and make sure you give good water and not a lot of juice or milk. If you look into it excesses may cause a lot of complications.
Hi Melissa!
I remember how hard it was for me when I did it. Ayannis was a little over 2 years old (she is now 7) when I made the decision. As much as I wanted to breast feed her longer and not only it is good for her-health wise, I was having a hard time.What I can remember is that I used fresh lemon juice and bitter melon (rubbed them on my nipples each time I breast fed her). And I made sure that she was rewarded (small rewards-praises) for being a big girl and using a big girl's cup!
I hope this will help you and good luck!
M.
We just went through this. I simply told him one day that it is all gone no more. As a comforting measure I would let him touch my breast at night when he snuggled. We weaned just like that. When he got sick about a month later he asked to nurse but I just kept steady with all gone and he settled back down. One recomendation I do have is for a few nights wear your bra to bed if you don't wear a sleeping bra. It will help support you breast as they get sore and tender. It helped me so much.
I'm about to go through this again too and have been thinking about what worked for me the first time. Of course every baby is different, but here's a few tips. Since he is older (my son was 2 yrs and 2 mnths when I weaned him) you can start warning him that your milk will go away sometime; hmmmm I wonder when that will be??? So, he's prepared for this. I switched my son to a sippy cup with warm goat's milk to go to bed at first which he liked for about a week then he no longer wanted it.
No matter how you choose to do it, the biggest bit of advice I can offer is not to try until you know you are 100% sure you are ready to quit. Your baby knows you so well that if you are still holding on to that sweet time together a little bit in your heart they know and won't let it go. There will be a time where you are done and they will know that too. I tried a few times but was still a little attached to it myself and it failed miserably. But he woke up every hour wanting to nurse one night and I was so tired the next morning and I was over it. I told him that morning that my milk dried up and he never asked to nurse again. I really feel like it was my determination that he felt; but we'll see when I try with my daughter (who I'm not ready to quit with). Hope this helps good luck!! :) Please post any advice that you discover helpful, thanks!!
I would suggest stopping nursing in the morning for a week then stop the night time one. dont'nurse him at all for his nap . OR HE IS BIG enough just stop all together and tell him he is a big by now and needsa to drink from his cup. well good luck. I KNOW for my self I did not nurse my frist daughter but it was harder on me to have her give up her bottle than on her . SO GOOD LUCK S..
I am so with you. My 25 month son is WAY more attached to the breast than the other two were. I weaned my daughter at about 18 months because I was pregnant with my son, who weaned himself at 17 months. He was just too busy to nurse anymore. Unfortunately I don't really remember what I did! (The older two are almost 12 and 10 now.) My son nurses when he wakes up, before nap, and before bed. I haven't been letting him fall asleep nursing for the past few weeks. The other day, he was in his bed "reading" after nursing and he just fell asleep. It hasn't happened since, but I think what I have to remember is that it is a process, not a quick thing. I think in the morning he is thirsty, so I need to remember to have water available in his room to offer instead. I am going to start there and enforcing "quiet time" at naptime. Before bed will probably be the last to go. Although, the last two nights after he nurses he has gotten really "whipped up" after nursing and has taken an hour with me lying down with him to go to sleep (GROAN!) I fall asleep with him and then the rest of my evening is shot. Last night I put the humidifier on for white noise more than anything. Sorry for the diversion...
For your situation, the nap time nursing is the bigest issue, so I would start with that one. Try having him be quietly in his bed with books and/or some toys. Start by having him in bed for 15 minutes minimum. My computer is in the same room, so I just sit in there, too. Maybe you could bring something to do, too? For some kids, this would make it worse for mom to be in the same room for quiet time. So do what works for you.
