I'm sure this was asked before....but was wondering how those of you wean dc from the breast? I know many mothers who say they will nurse for 1 year and only 1 year. I don't think me or ds is ready just yet, but wondering IF or when I am ready before he is...how did you do it?

I weaned my daughter at 2 years of age. She too was just never ready. And by 2 she was more ready (she didn't self wean) and I was just ready to be done nursing by 2.

By 2 she just understood so much more and I was able to reason with her that much more. It wasn't easy, but we did it cold turkey.

And I am sooo glad I waited till she was two instead of listening to "loving" relatives that stated she seemed a little bit old to be nursing if she could say nursing. How rude! My goodness Mandy could say "nursing" by 1 and that was waaay too early for me to wean.

Keep nursing Israel! If its what you want and baby wants-- continue. There is no magic age of weaning and to each her own. Pray and just continue to do what YOU feel and want to do.

Hugs you are doing a great job nursing this long, keep it up!~

subbing as I would like to know as well. I'm just done with Bf'ing. Micah is still feeding about 3x a day, but I'm just ready to wean him. But don't have a clue how to do it bcuz it's how he gets to sleep. I know I'm being selfish but I really just want to be done. Anyway, sorry for hijacking.

I weaned ds1 and dd both at one year. With ds I started the process, but he happily joined in. He was biting me a lot anyway. [whatwacko] With dd, it was definitely led by me. I just took away one feeding at a time, starting with the least important ones. ie. bedtime feed was the last to go. I think I gave her about 4 days in between before we took away another. We just made sure she was getting other fluids (milk, water) and kept her busy with things during the day. She hardly noticed the lack during the day. The bedtime feed was always the hardest to let go of....but we had a familiar routine for bedtime that involved things other than just nursing (bath, stories, song, etc) and that helped. We didn't have any major issues. I think it took her only a few days to adjust. My kids transitioned fairly easily and without issue. Sorry I'm not more help.

nak


pretty much what kim said, only mine may have been a tad older

I remember going for many walks with eldest...pop him in the stroller and away we'd go. setting a new 'habit' for him at that afternoon nap time.

mine always seem to start making the same adjustments at the same time...they would get to where they would nurse to sleep, but, not sleep :p so I would just go put them to bed, awake. sometimes they would just fall asleep right away, other times we had a few little whines because they wanted to nurse...I just said 'no, you already nursed to sleep/for bedtime, you didn't go to sleep...you're done...goodnight' and that pretty much was it. if they fussed a bit again after that hubs would go in and basically say the same thing and that was generally all it took

yes, i had compliant young ones lol sorry, I'm not sure how that happened :p i know that doesn't help if you run into issues...but, that's how it went for us

just take your time, go when you're ready, but don't rush...engorgement is awful!!! and the tendency to develop blocked ducts then too...oh my...no, you don't want to go there

around 1 i start feeling like i am wanting me back...that's when they start slacking off some too so i think then it's kind of like i'm getting a small taste of 'freedom' and therefore, desire more ... aka get off me kid! :p so, they start nursing less frequently and i pretty much begin 'don't offer/don't refuse' then we work toward weeding out some of those little daytime sessions

sorry, hope this wasn't too jumbled..nak and the 3 yr old is *supposed* to be napping..um, yeah ;)

I am ready to wean too but can I start giving milk before a year? What should I use to supplement the breast milk that she isn't getting? Will she get enough from solids alone?
Our problem is she has never had a bottle and I don't even think she would take one....now I am taking over the thread-Sorry!!!

Hey Gina! As you can see from my ticker, I've never weaned anyone before, so no help there, lol. But just wanted to encourage you, you've done great going this long and don't let anyone pressure you to quit unless you are ready. People may make comments, but just let them fly in one ear and out the other. :D

Yes, some people say that if they can ask for nursing, they're too old for it. So I just don't go running around advertising that my 2.5 year old can do that and much more. [rofl]

Just go with your gut--you'll know when the right time is to wean.