Cold Turkey Weaning of 21 Month Old?

Maybe just cut back to one or two times--like waking up and going to bed times. Also I liked the idea of "manners" another mom wrote about--asking nicely, and/or only at home, etc.

K. Z.

My son was diagnosed with Autism at 19 months old. WE had a lot of upheaval with the various screenings, therapies and military dad was away during all of this. I knew he nursed for comfort more than sustenance, so I let it slide. As I was actively trying to reduce his nursing during the day, I limited the number of places where he nursed until finally, we had it down to right before bed when I sat cross-legged in a certain place with my back resting against the wall. It came to pass that I had to go away for a few days (actually to go pick up Daddy from training) and my dear son stayed with my family. That was it. He tried to initiate nursing a few times when we returned home, but I would distract him and stand up with him and dance and sing and cuddle, but completely avoid those places that triggered nursing memories. All in all, it took a while (he was 25 months old at that point) but it was less traumatic for all of us.

I've nursed all mine, but I quit at the latest at 13 months. When they can talk, etc. I just didn't quite enjoy it as much, but have known mom's who nurse for 5 years or more.

I believe I would refuse beginning Now, not on vacation - you'll be stressed, have to express, or take pills, start leaving her more with your husband
(when he's home) in control of her, playing, bedtime, etc. But, refuse I would, so you can all enjoy your vacation (including your extended family). Don't nurse anymore, express some milk and give that to her in a sippy cup, cutting down little-by-little....or alot. Tell her there is no more left! LOL...
Get rid of your nursing bras (or hide them) take her with you to get new bras, just a few, so she can see they are different..I did quit - well, almost cold turkey with the 13 month old. One time a day, evening....Good luck.

Good luck. I'm there, too, with my two and a half year old. :)

We weaned my son at 18 mos. I think cold turkey is the way to go. I think grays are hard color to understand for most people, much less a toddler.

My mom walked over to the trash can with me in her arms one night and dropped my bottle into it. She said see it's gone,lol. It worked. She said that I did not fuss or ask for it again. With my children, I did closely the same thing. I told them they were getting bigger and then moved on. I had to watch myself so I would not talk about the thing they could not have. Went just fine for us too. Their bottles, blankets any thing they wanted all the time that they were out growing.

I ended up doing the "cold turkey" thing with my first. I assumed it was more of a comfort thing by the time I was ready to wean. I decided to stop offering and she never really put up much of a fight. Some nights she was harder to get to bed, but I would snuggle with her a little more, or have my husband put her to bed. If she woke up in the middle of the night, my husband would offer her water in a sippy cup and hold her for a moment. It was nice for my husband because he got to step up his role a bit more.
I know what you mean about changing up the routine since you are going on vacation. That would have worked for me! All kids are different though, good luck!!

You are on the right track....my granddaughter was weaned cold turkey after a doctor's visit in which the doctor told her "no more milk"!
My daughter might have prompted the dr. too, because she was ready to quit like you are.
It worked too, and my granddaughter repeated what the dr. had said many times when she would get the "notion"....or my daughter would remind her if the doctor's admonition.
So, go for it, and the trip is a great opportunity to get it done.

My kids self-weaned. I breastfed.
My daughter weaned at about 2.5 years old.
My son at about 1 year old.
Both were on solids and whole milk by then.

My friends, put Band-Aids on their nipples. And said to their child that they have an 'owie' or that the milk was 'broken.' They said this worked fine for them and their child. They wore the band-aids until nursing was forgotten.

For my daughter, by the time she self-weaned and per her age, I ALSO taught her 'manners' about it. ie: that it was MY breasts, she could not ask for it outside the home, could not just lift up my shirt, and to ask nicely. She understood and did that with no problem.
Also, if she asked... I would sometimes say "In a minute, Mommy is busy..." then I would NOT sit down and make myself REAL busy. Then before I knew it, my girl forgot about it. Or if I did sit down and I was tired, and she asked, I would say that "Mommy is tired, let me rest.. in a minute..." and then she would get distracted and 'forget' about it.

But ultimately, she self-weaned on her own. Just one day out of the blue, she told me "I don't drink from you anymore" and she giggled and that was that. That's all. She never went back to it nor regressed.

For my son, by the time he hit 1 years old, he HATED nursing. I would try and he'd get angry and literally slap my boobs away and turned away, and that was that. The end.

Do what you feel is best.

Al the best,
Susan