I weaned DD and she's a mess :(

[froggy76]

I feel like a terrible mother. DD is almost 14 months and was down to nursing 1-2x per day. Honestly, she didn'teven seem that interested anymore and was generally happy to get a bottle of milk instead.

I haven't let her nurse for 3 days and she's been a handful. Very clingy and throwing tantrums over everything. DH thinks it's related to weaning. She pulls on my shirt and signs for "more", but she's happy if I give her a bottle instead... except that now she CONSTANTLY wants a bottle, which is not good because I need to wean her off the bottles, too.

Is this normal? How long is this going to last?!

[justjen]

Aw, I don't have any advice, as mine is younger, but that sounds so sad Hugs to you.

[soozy87]

Will she take a sippy cup instead of a bottle?

[Deleted]

Very normal. It's up to you - if you really want to wean now, I'd expect this to go on for a week or two (could be less, but my child is very resistant to change). If you don't want to wean now, it's not too late to change your mind.

[karinothing]

Jan 4, 2013 10:18:17 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Very normal. It's up to you - if you really want to wean now, I'd expect this to go on for a week or two (could be less, but my child is very resistant to change). If you don't want to wean now, it's not too late to change your mind.

This is what I was going to say. If she doesn't seem really ready you don't have to wean (although obviously you are the ultimate decider in the matter and she will survive, even if it is tough for a little while).

[Deleted]

You're not a bad mom!

[froggy76]

She's great with a sippy cup, but pushes it away when she wants a bottle.

I really feel ready to wean. I thought I'd be an extended nurser, but now I just feel like I'm done. I didn't think she'd have a problem with it and now I feel so guilty. I almost nursed her this morning and then decided to stick to my guns.

I guess I'll just stick it out. She is getting more and more demanding lately, so I expect it would only get worse if I put off weaning for now. Thanks for the feedback, ladies.

[Deleted]

Hugs to you, that is rough! My advice is tackle one thing at a time. Get her weaned from BFing first, just keep offering a bottle. Once she's completely on the bottle for a few weeks and not trying to nurse, then try a sippy cup w/ milk. Then offer the sippy more & more and the bottle less, and eventually she'll be off the bottle.

[Becca]

awww Froggy, that is tough

I always that I would be an extended nurser too, but by the time we hit 16 months, I was DONE. I stuck it out longer because I felt bad, but eventually it had to end and I needed to be firm about it. It wasn't fun!

DD was miserable like you described, but I was at a point where I needed my body and sanity back. I got all the shirt tugging and crabbiness and everything else. But then one day it just magically stopped. It wasn't fun going through it, but she admitted defeat at some point and never looked back.

Hang in there - it will be over soon!

[bunch]

I will add that it's probably your hormones as much as her reaction. I was a crazy mess when I weaned dd. I was sure I'd ruined her for life. I'd cry to dh every night. A week later I couldn't imagine nursing her again. It was just the hormones .

[karinothing]

Jan 4, 2013 10:37:20 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

She's great with a sippy cup, but pushes it away when she wants a bottle.

I really feel ready to wean. I thought I'd be an extended nurser, but now I just feel like I'm done. I didn't think she'd have a problem with it and now I feel so guilty. I almost nursed her this morning and then decided to stick to my guns.

I guess I'll just stick it out. She is getting more and more demanding lately, so I expect it would only get worse if I put off weaning for now. Thanks for the feedback, ladies.

I will say that DS is 14 months too and these past two weeks he has become super clingy and wants to nurse ALL THE FREAKEN TIME.

So maybe it is just some developmental thing at 14 months. Maybe try again in a month?

[h]

I think her behavior is pretty normal. 14 months was right around the time that my kids seemed most clingy and least amenable to weaning. My "solution" was to just delay weaning them until they seemed more able to handle the transition, but I realize that is not helpful if you really want to wean now.

[rootbeerfloat]

14m would've been hard time to wean for both of my kids, but if you're ready, then I would stay strong for another week or so - lots of cuddles, a bottle if you have to, but no boob.

[nonsenseabound]

My kid is 13 months and we are slowly weaning. We are down to nursing for nap only at this point. What has helped us is Daddy doing bedtime now (or whenever it is hardest for your kiddo to go w/o the nurse) and giving him extra attention prior to those trigger times. I get down on the floor and play cars and stuff with him. I did the same thing with my DD when we weaned her at 15 months.

FWIW, I consider anything past 12 months as extended nursing! Don't beat yourself up! Sometimes you just want your body back.

[froggy76]

Thank you so much, everyone. I feel better knowing this behavior is normal. I really do want my body back so I'm going to just stick with it. My hormones probably do have something to do with it as well- been feeling really down the last few days.

Mrswindycity- DD has been flipping her shit in the mornings, too. She actually walked out of her room and into the kitchen when she woke up yesterday before we could even change her diaper. Now we know to be ready with the milk! Sheesh!