Weaning-A Good Book!

kellymom.com - excellent online resource.

I didn't have any books that I used - but just take one feeding and use a bottle instead. The nighttime nurse is the last one to go usually due to comfort...

Good luck!

how about Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? my son is also about a year.

Congrats for sticking with breastfeeding for so long! I actually just finished weaning my almost 15 month old today. It was harder for me than it was for her!! I'm expecting my 2nd in July so I wanted to wean before the new baby gets here. I Was still nursing on demand so first we started only nursing in the morning, nap and at bedtime. I always gave her a sippy cup full of cow's milk at nap and bed time so when we switched from nursing to only a sippy cup it wasn't too big an adjustment. Then after about 2 weeks we cut out the morning nursing session. It was easy to distract her with toys, food or milk. Then after about another week, my husband started to put her to bed. I would rock her and read her a story and then my husband would give her the sippy cup and put her to bed. Today was he first day we napped with no nursing, and it also went well. We did the same thing as bedtime. I hope I did an OK job explaining, but if you have any other questions feel free to email me. Good luck!!

Hi J.,

Yes, the Womanly Art of Breatfeeding is wonderful. I'm not sure you need a book to help you not to feel guily. How about us Moms? Breastfeeding for a year is amazing in a society that does not really support it (the "support" comes from research about health benefits, thus the guilt). If you worked during that time, well, it's heroic! I began weaning my son at one year. He was so hooked, i thought it would take forever It took about 3 months, and was not a struggle, i was glad to do it gradually, but i don't think it has to take that long. He was getting breast milk in a bottle, since I worked, which helped (if your son does not take bottles, you could start by giving breast milk in a bottle or a sippy cup, takes patience), I transitioned him to cow milk (mix breast milk with some cows milk) while gradually skipping nursing sessions and pumping session, keeping his most favorite until the end. Most favorite is often that last feeding (for us it was morning).
I'm sure lots of Moms will weigh in so I won't go on, but I would say you have done just great. I think it is wonderful to continue nursing if it works for all. I do think the potential down side is that some Moms may use it instead of more age appropriate forms of comfort (since it works so very well!). Like everything in parenting it is a delicate balance sorting out everyone's changing needs. You should feel great about nursing your baby for a year. It was also sad for me when that time ended, but so many new and amazing things come next!

All the best,
C.

Hi J.,

I don't know of a good book, but it's really fairly straightforward, especially if you're willing to give it a few months. I would recommend picking the feedings that are least important to your bonding (one at a time, with long gaps between) and substituting milk in a sippy cup (or bottle if he won't take a cup). I would suggest holding onto the nightime and morning feedings as long as possible--those tend to be the most emotionally charged and snuggly. I'd drop the midday first--it really frees you up to keep going with your day since he can hang out and sip his cup or bottle on the go. Your milk will adjust, and you will find no engorgement or any other issues by taking the long route, and I don't think your son will have any issue with it either since it will be so gradual (you may find it very hard to give up the last feeding or two :)). Good luck with it!

J.

My daughter is exactly the same age. A gal at our mom's group mentioned that, "The baby whisperer" had some excellent advise. I haven't bought it yet (it's on my to-do list), but she said it was a big help to her. There is also a website with a forum etc.

Best of luck!
-Ann Marie

I don't have a good book to make you not feel guilty...but do you love your son less because you're weaning him? answer...NO!!! So don't feel guilty!!! I nursed all 5 of my boys for different amounts of time...the first 2 for about 8-10 months(because I got pregnant again and was recommended to stop by my dr)my 3rd son I stopped after 12 weeks because my other 2 son (who were almost 3 and 1ans1/2)were into everything and I was sooo stressed out sitting down to nurse and pull baby off every 2seconds to go rescue whomever it was that was climbing the tables/counters/ walls!!! :) my last 2 babies I finally nursed #4 12months and my last child for 16 monthes(because he ia allergic to milk/dairy)...my point being is i don't love my 5th child anymore than my others because i nursed him longer, it was what the situation called for, same with the one I weened @ 3 months I figured a less stressed me was healthier than a crazed nursing one...and as far a weening goes...it's really easy...replace one feeding at a time with whatever it is you want to supplement with(formula/milk)you can delete a nursing session as quickly as 3 days and still be comfortable and once you stop altogether you may need to squeeze out a lil milk to be comfortable once or twice but that's really all there is to it besides watching to make sure your child is accepting/tolerating his "new milk"...just watch for rashes and a dramatic change in his diapers... Good luck and don't feel guilty!!!