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How to Wean
I've been weaning my 18-month-old from the breast for six months. Now I nurse only at bedtime, but he still won't give up that one feeding. If I don't nurse, he screams for hours, and I'm forced to give in. How can I get him to sleep without nursing?
Michelle
Cincinnati, OH
Get a New Routine
When I weaned my 22-month-old, I cuddled with him in the living room instead of in his bedroom and played soft music to soothe him. Without his usual cues for nursing, he quickly learned a new way to fall asleep.
Marian
Las Vegas, NV
Count Down to Success
Try cutting down gradually. For instance, if you nurse your son for 20 minutes a night, cut three minutes off your time each day. Be consistent, and as you get closer to zero, he'll realize that it's not worth his time to suck for only a few minutes and should be able to give it up on his own.
Kris
Cottage Grove, MN
Enlist Daddy
I weaned my 19-month-old son when my husband took over bedtime duty. If my son woke up in the middle of the night, Daddy would be there to help him get back to sleep, so my son wouldn't see me and be reminded of feeding.
Debbie
Goodlettsville, TN
Pack Your Bags
When my son was 14 months old, he was still nursing a couple of times a day. My husband and I had to leave him with his grandparents for a week while we went on a trip. Without me around, my son was forced to give up those last few feedings and, with all the distractions of being away from home (and being spoiled, no doubt), he didn't seem to mind. I figured that when we returned, we'd be back to square one, but my son seemed to be doing fine without nursing.
Laurie
Chelmsford, MA
Go Shopping
Introduce new items to the routine. My daughter weaned herself after she got a new stuffed animal to sleep with. Try to make the process fun rather than treating it as a loss.
Lynette
Hilo, HI
What's the Hurry?
Your child might not be ready to give up this part of his day. Why not indulge him for a few more months? Try to relax and enjoy his dependence for a little while longer.
Maija
Metuchen, NJ
Introduce a Cup
I started expressing my milk and offering it to my 15-month-old in a Sippy cup before bed. He wasn't sure about it at first, but he drank it because it was familiar. After three days, I switched to regular milk, and he didn't even notice.
Terri
Henderson, NV
8/99
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my baby is about 3 months old and i leave her once a week to go to school but she does not want to take the bottle and hates formula the first few weeeks she was ok with the bottle with breastmilk but now she doesnt even want that what can i do?
11/30/2011 11:32:56 PM Report AbuseOk so im reading all of these and i am relieved i am not the only one that had and is having problems for my oldest one with autism his doctor recommended Melatonin its an all natural over the counter product it is non stimulant and was formulated for blind people that have a hard time sleeping its a natural chem ur brain produces to tell u to sleep i still use it for him i put it in a spoonful of applesauce or his bottle a half hour before bed
11/9/2011 11:11:47 AM Report AbuseSo ive been breast feeding for 4 years straight 2 different kids the first one is almost 4 and just got him off 9 months ago i thought it was so hard because of his autism but now my almost 2 year old wont even look at a bottle i dont want to use melatonin like i did with the first one if i dont have to. i believe in long term breast feeding but im done lol any tips?
11/9/2011 11:01:54 AM Report AbuseTo queenmandy2.. It helped my daughter, who was about a year at the time to have her straw sippy cup, with water in it, right next to her crib. It was just a little difficult. When she woke up, for whatever reason, teething, etc. I could give it to her right away. I also used it to rinse her mouth out after nursing, when I was too lazy, or she was too tired, to brush her teeth. But after a little she didn't mind. But, that was just her. I hope this helps.
5/24/2010 11:31:32 PM Report AbuseI feel your pain my little girl is almost 11 months and refuses to take a bottle. I work so she drinks a sippy cup with water or juice when I am at work but refuses any type of milk in the cup including my breast milk!! I Want to wean her but I am afraid she wont get any milk in her!! I dont know what to do. I am glad I am not alone
3/31/2010 11:56:07 AM Report AbuseTo anyone that can help!!!!!!!! My 10.5 mth old want take a bottle and want take any kind of milk in a cup!!!!!!! How do i start weaning him????????? He eats 4 times a day but has started get up at night just to be close to me . I have 2 other kids and have to get up early so i just started feeding him so i can get some sleep. The only way i know how to stop the middle of the night thing is to stop nursing all together! Please let me know what yal think!!!! Jan 21,2010
1/21/2010 11:22:53 AM Report Abuse