Weaning Help

[Deleted]

I'm ready to be done. My family will celebrate because they think I'm on some "hippie-crunchy-white woman" thing to be nursing still at 21 months. They haven't been shy about sharing their opinions either. My husband has been supportive.
Anyway, I set our weaning date for May 1st. We've been talking about it daily. We talk about how boobin is almost gone, Elmo drinks from a cup cuz he's a big boy, her milk will come from the cup, etc.
Do you ladies have any tips, story books to read to her as prep, ways to keep my sanity or pearls of wisdom to minimize my sadness?

[rayann687]

No advice here. S had to be bottle fed in the NICU, and was never really breastfed much before I stopped. My sister weaned around the same time as you are, with her first. What you are already doing sounds like a good start.

[Deleted]

Thank you rayann687!

[rach]

How many times a day are you nursing? You may want to gradually cut down both to ease her transition and prevent clogs, etc for you.

Good luck! I think the rest of your plan sounds good! AB never really did take to regular milk. She eats yogurt and cheese and that's that.

[gratefulandthankful]

I weaned at about 8/9 months so it was a bit different. As for making my milk stop, that took some time. I just pumped still once a day to take the edge off & then I gradually dropped the pumping. All in all it took a little over a month. GL!

[harvestmoon]

Yes to cutting back gradually. This may sound silly but with DD who nursed til 2 I just tried to stay active and avoid sitting down with her because I knew then she'd ask.

Replace nursing with another special comfort activity. Your thought about reading is good - I wouldn't even worry about finding a themed book, just make a new routine. (We did two board books, two songs every night before tuck in.)

Echoing Rach that neither kid ever took much milk once they weaned - lots of whole milk yogurt and cheese sticks instead. (I'm still nursing my 18mo DS but am actively weaning using the above, so - solidarity!)

[lioness13]

I agree you're off to a good start. I stopped at 1 year. I just reduced nursing and pumping gradually and gave her bottles/cups with half breast milk half whole milk for two weeks before moving to totally whole milk cups. She loves whole milk and almond milk. I gave lots of extra cuddles and hugs to replace the nursing comfort experience. Good luck!

[puffandstuff]

Both my girls weaned around 18 months. I did a lot of distraction with toys, going outside, etc. Both girls had one meltdown during weaning, just stand firm and don't give in. It can be hard. Hugs!

[Deleted]

Thanks ladies. I'm dreading the fight. She's sooo strong willed. Mainly I'm limiting her to 3x a day. I have no idea which session to cut next. Maybe if I have my Dad bring her out to the car I can avoid the pick up session and just do wake up and nighttime.

[lioness13]

Apr 25, 2017 20:22:08 GMT -5 @ceci8876 said:

Thanks ladies. I'm dreading the fight. She's sooo strong willed. Mainly I'm limiting her to 3x a day. I have no idea which session to cut next. Maybe if I have my Dad bring her out to the car I can avoid the pick up session and just do wake up and nighttime.

That's s good idea. Make a plan. You can do it!

[Deleted]

DS never did drink milk from a cup- so be prepared for that possibility. I switched to cows milk in a bottle and did that + sippy cups with water. I gave him a bottle before bed well past the recommended age, he just seemed to need it. But as you bf'ed a lot longer, maybe this step is a mute point.