how do I wean a nursing toddler?
By busymomof3
@busymomof3 (33)
United States
December 19, 2006 9:42am CST
Let me first preface this discussion by saying that, knowing this can be a touchy subject for some, I am not interested in receiving comments and replies that are meant to belittle my decision to nurse my daughter. If you are not a parent (specifically a mother), lactation consultant, pediatrician, or nurse, please reply with great care.
My daughter is approaching 18 months and still nursing. While my husband says "enough is enough" and I am inclined to agree, I also recognize that her nursing is her source of comfort. She has refused a pacifier since day 1 and does not care for blankies or cuddlies of any other sort. While I don't want to stop "cold turkey," I would like to start successfully weaning her. She's very much attached, and it doesn't help that I feel guilty if I try to stop her . . .
Real suggestions are welcomed!
6 people like this
15 responses
@juliocstryfe (2019)
• Brazil
19 Dec 06
Hmm, my little siblings stopped weaning at the age of 2 and a half (two of them) and the last one at 3.
You should gradually reduce her weaning as you diversify her diet, and when you manage to get it down to 2 times a week for a few consecutive weeks, you can try stopping it altogether.
@Tanika (632)
• Australia
20 Dec 06
heya, i nursed my daughter till the age of ten months but i would have liked to keep going untill she was two. she weaned herself and flatout decided she didnt like milk anymore. The World health organization reccomends nursing until two because it gives them more resistances to sickness and also the longer they nurse the less likely they will be to develop food intolerances.
if you are determined to wean her then i suppose feeding her more solids and lessening the amount of nursing feeds per day might help her. other than that though i suppose i am not much use as my daughter made the desision herself.
hope it all turns out well, Tanika.
@cloud_kicker_32 (4635)
• United States
20 Dec 06
hello there! First off i want to give you props for nursing this long..I know how hard it was for me..just thinking about nursing is makin my twins cringe! lol..I stopped when my son was a year old..It was reaally really hard..I talked to my my frieds that went threw this and most just up and quit..cold turkey..well myself,went out and bought him 7 sippy cups..i let him pick them all out..and the first time..i madea huge deal out of it,,.and he was ok..but i nursed during the day..and sippy at night..next day the same with diff sippy..and on..by the 7 th day.,.i had the extra special Sponge bob..that he loved soo lol..and i made a deal no momma milk just sippy cause hes such a big boy..and he went for it..and after that he was off.whoo hooo!! but thats what i did.G .luck!
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
20 Dec 06
My twins were done at 2 1/2. I started by offering a cup at meals and only nursed at nap and bedtime. They whined at first, but they still enjoyed cuddling.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
20 Dec 06
In some communities like mine, it is the norm to nurse till the age of 3.
If you don't want to wean her now, you shouldn't. But you can start slowly. Now that she is 18 months, I suppose you are giving her solids to. Start weaning slowly....maybe reduce the time that you nurse her....10 minutes instead of 15...then go one to skipping one nursing session. This still gives her 'comfort' time with mommy and you can totally wean her when she and you are ready for it.
@iloveit (316)
• Canada
20 Dec 06
I have a child in family, quite close. They were in similar situation, the child wont stop and would refuse to take bottle. But eventually it has to be done. I know that they start the child on bottle milk in between feeding so the child got used to it and slowly stopped lactating. It takes a little while so keep trying.
__________
check out my site for ideas and tips
http://reviewszone.blogspot.com
@catlvr2239 (26)
• United States
20 Dec 06
unfortunatly I have no advice for you since I didn't BF my oldest and my youngest which I am BF is only 3 months old. I feel the need to congratulate you on BF for so long, at times even now I've thought of giving up on it but then I think about how good it is for my baby. It is mothers like you that inspire me to keep doing it for as she will do it (to a reasonable age, I don't want to BF a 5 yr old lol) or untill my milk gives out.
So congrats and you have truley inspired me to keep going. Thank you =o)
@chocklitchip (472)
• Pakistan
20 Dec 06
hmmm....ya u must increase the intervals of nursing the baby...instead when she wants it u must put forward som weaning stuff to her...i know its really difficult but u must start her wth soft diet...encourage her to eat food stff..n try to distract her som how...i hope u succeed..
@funlola (26)
• Nigeria
20 Dec 06
first i must congratulate u for taking such a bold step to ensure the safty of ur baby.feed her very well with solids rich in proteins and iron,after everymeal give her milk to drink(get a sippy cup,an attractive one)any time she feels like nursing give her the cup.the if u nurse her 4 times a day reduce to 2 then 1 thn only at night.involve her in a lot of activities coloring,take her to the park,play in the yard so dat she is not bored at any point in time,and make sure u feed her well especially at night so she doesnt wake up often to be nursed.gd luck.
@mythmoh (3984)
• United States
19 Dec 06
If you feel that it is compulsory now you can start to stop.but personally i feel 2 years will be good enough as it has lot of nutritional values.the only asset which we can leave to our kid is health.just in the time of feeding give other foods which your baby likes.otherwise try to change the mood of her by diverting in various other activities.if possible take her out of your house to any play area.My sister stopped by applying some bittergourd paste and hence making her child to forget it.
