Family Forum / Pregnancy / Breastfeeding / July 2008

When I weaned my 2.5 year old, I told him that we weren't going to nurse
anymore but that I would rub his back. I think he cried for a couple days. I
rubbed his back and offered him water in a cup. He still asked for it for a
long time afterward, but I was always available for cuddles and backrubs, so
I think that might have helped.

I do regret weaning him, but Alexander had chipped his front teeth in a way
that made nursing very painful. :(

I have no advice re the weaning and ttc because I was able to get pg while
still nursing (even at night - god knows how!).  However, after my DS was
born and my DD wanted to nurse MORE than the newborn, I realized that
something had to give.  It was hard to wean this way and I don't recommend
doing it in this order, but it DID eventually work for us...bear in mind
that my DD was a bit older than yours, but still...

We had specific times for nursing and I made it the ones that would be
harder to give up for her.  So what we did was say "We are not going to
nurse at night any more because xxx (whatever reason will make sense for
your situation and maturity level of the kid).  This means that when you DO
nurse in the morning, there will be more milk and you can nurse for as long
as you want.  Once you are done, then you will have to wait until tomorrow
morning again.  You can nurse in the morning, but mama's na-na's need a rest
from nursing at night now.  Instead, you can have some warmed up [cows] milk
in a big girl cup" at night time."

I chose a time of day to start this when she was not already asking to nurse
and when she was not thinking about nursing.  She asked some questions about
it and I answered as honestly as I could.  It was difficult to understand
that her brother was allowed to nurse ("but he can't eat other big kid foods
like you") but she couldn't.  When the evening came we made a big fuss about
the milk and what a big girl she was, and while there was some resistance it
she did not try to pull up my shirt and I was determined not to give in
anyway.  After the first night she just accepted it.  If she woke up in the
night, I just held her very close and told her that as soon as it was
daytime she could nurse and that I was "saving" the milk for her.  I found
that while I was still drowsy I did not mind letting her nurse for as long
as she wanted (I got to sleep a little longer too!).  We also specified that
we could only nurse in bed.  Sometimes she would totally forget to nurse in
the morning and then if she asked again, I would take her up to the bed (and
sometimes then she would fall asleep!) and nurse her later in the day.

We gradually just cut the allowed nursing times down, to the point where she
could nurse up to the count of 10, and then cut the number of days down
(like every other day, then just weekends etc.).  If you are not nursing
another one, your milk supply will eventually dwindle to the point where
they realize it's just not worth it.  Whenever dd wanted to nurse I'd get
her some warmed up milk and feed it to her, but she also recognized the
additional playtime and freedom she got by roaming with the cup of milk so
she did that often as not too.  I tried to give her as many opportunities to
have close time with me as I could and when her brother nursed, I'd read a
book to her or just snuggle with her in front of the TV.  I took it very
slow though, and I don't know how quicky you'd like the process done with.
Even over 2 years after weaning she still occasionally asks to nurse (her
brother is still going strong), but always knowing that I will say "no".
She is 6 though, so I know she doesn't really expect me to, she's just
testing me like when she asks for chocolate pudding for breakfast ;)

Good luck - I also recommend the book "How Weaning Happens" by La Leche
League.  It's full of helpful tips :)

Jumping in late...

Cjra, what if you wean your little one now and still don't get
pregnant?  Would you regret weaning her?

I don't see why you need to wean right now, unless deep down you're
sick of nursing or having some "ick" factor nursing a talking, walking
child (toddler).  Those are good reasons to wean, in my book.

Good luck with TTC!

Pologirl