I am just wondering how to wean a 25 month old.....he only nurses 3 times/day (morning, nap, & sometimes at bedtime). He doesn't really care about bedtime as much. Mainly he wants to nurse in the morning and definitely before his nap. I never thought I'd nurse him this long as we got off to a rough start.....but I am so glad I have! I feel it is time to wean though. There are several reasons but one of them is that we are also trying to have another baby and nursing is interfereing with my cycles.
I know 25 months is great....not sure why I feel guilt about this. Thanks so much!
Stop the one he doesn't care about first, then the others. He may even self wean to some extent. Don't feel guilty - I nursed mine till 2.5 years, and I felt a little guilty, but I also knew I would miss it. If he'll take the time to cuddle with you without nursing, that'll help you :)
Great job!! We stopped at 21 months. Drop the one he least cares about first, then move on to the others. What is awesome is at 25 months, your son totally understands reason. So have a talk w/ him and tell him that mommy's milk is going away because he's no longer a baby and doesn't need milk from mom anymore.
He may self wean soon. If you want to speed it up, take away one feeding per month, don't rush it. Distract him during the time you usually nurse w/other special activities.
I did this at around this age too :) Try substituting other activities for the nursing. Put him in the stroller and go for a walk in the morning instead of nursing. Take a car ride at nap (or read a story while stroking his hair/rubbing his back) (I've given up on nap :( At bedtime have dad read stories and do the last parts of bedtime routine, while you enjoy a relaxing bath and your own evening routine. Do this until he know longer thinks of nursing at this time. Good luck :)
Just read a couple of other responses and wanted to add, that you may not have any problems (or very little) with engorgement when you drop one feeding at a time and are down to one and then none. I don't think there is a need for sudafed either. The weaning process (and pregnancy soon after) will do this without medicating. You could just tell him there is not milk without him having to be frustrated trying to find out.
Make sure you have someone else around to help you get him over the hump, and then just stop. But you will need that other person there to do for him what you usually do. Otherwise, it is really difficult. More difficult than it has to be.
Great job for sticking it out this long. I think that is absolutely fantastic and great for your little guy. This may not be the best solution but it will be quick and easy. Take a Sudafed once a day for about 3 days. It will dry up your milk quickly. He might find this a little frustrating, however, when the milk isn't there for him when he wants it. However, I think it will be an adjustment regardless of what route you choose to take.
Kudos to you for long-term nursing!!! I, too had a rough start (both my girls were preemies and in the NICU). In NO way should you feel guilty.
I was very blessed that my oldest self-weaned a month or two before her second birthday. We went on a trip to Disney, and with the constant go-go-go, she just kind of forgot to ask for it.
My youngest. . . not so much. A few months after her second birthday, I decided it was time to take my body back (she was nursing primarily at naptime and bedtime - we had already cut out the mornings). Band-aids worked like a CHARM!!
I'd put one on each side, and tell her that they had "owies," then offer her a cup of milk. . . okay, that worked. (Remember, every 2-year old knows about owies and the magic of Band-Aids.) After a day or so, they'd be "all better," so I wouldn't get engorged. . . . then "owie" again. . . Off and on for about a week or two, longer between each "all better" until I was comfortable that I wouldn't get engorged. Then I left them on "full time" for a bit. It was funny at night - we were co-sleeping at the time, and she'd try to latch on, but couldn't. I'd whisper a reminder about the owies, snuggle up, and she'd go right back to sleep. I think there was only one night that she was inconsolable, and I gave in.
NOTE: I highly recommend that you stick the Band-aids to your shirt or pants for a moment before applying them. It softens up the adhesive a bit, and makes removal MUCH more comfy.
Best wishes and luck,
M.
I nursed two of my three kids oldest kids until they were 21-22 months old (my older daughter weaned herself at 17 months), and I loved it. As the others have said, I would cut one feeding at a time, waiting at least a few days before cutting the next one, to keep from getting engorged. In the early stages of weaning, I had to be firm about not nursing (and it was especially hard in the middle of the night with my oldest!), but even that just took a couple of days. Once we were down to just one feeding a day, I let that continue for a little while, but all of them eventually didn't ask to nurse a couple of days in a row, and that was it. Good luck!
I weaned earlier around 18 months and we were down to just bedtime feeding. so I am sure there will be different issues, but I simply cut it out of the routine. At night I knew Daddy could put her to bed without her asking to nurse, so I had him do that for about 3 nights and when I did it again, I made sure that I avoided all triggers. I say on the floor not in the rocking chair, I wore a sweatshirt instead of a nursing tank, etc. She did fine. Ash asked to nurse maybe one more time, but not aggressively, she jus tkind of tried to pull up my shirt. And I said, "Not tonight, do you want to read a book?" Oh and I also fille dher up with a sippy of milk before bed :)
It was very hard on ME, but not on her. I can't say I felt guit becaue I know I gave her a fantastic healthy start and because we had such special bonding moments. Those last few times I nursed, I made a special effort to do it myself, no on else around so I could be quiet and focus on her - you know, look in her eyes and just enjoy those moments. I was sad, because I knww she might be my last baby, and it even makes me sad to write it. But you did great for your daughter - and you will get your body back albeit briefly so you can give to another child. Congrats.
I agree that you should cut out one feeding at a time, starting with bedtime since he cares about it the least. Go to the store and have him pick out some sippy cups (even if he already has some, let him pick out new "special" ones). Tell him that his special cups are only for certain times of day. If he doesn't like the taste of whole milk, try soy milk (it's just as nutritious, but some kids prefer the sweeter taste). I agree that you can also tell him that mommy's milk is going away since he turned 2 and isn't a baby anymore =)
