SO weaning - how did you do it?

[devotchka]

I'm wondering if anyone could advise me on how to do this gradually? There have been a lot of changes in his life lately, and I think that has made Max want to nurse more at night/in the morning to make up for lost time with me, etc. He will be going to preschool in a month (glorified daycare, really) P/T so that will be yet another change - and for the last 3 weeks he has transitioned to his toddler bed, I've gone back to work P/T and he has a new babysitter (at our home.) For a while there, our nursing had dwindled down to 2-3 sessions a day at the most and now it seems like he is asking for it again (which he hadn't really done since he was an older baby) and wants to nurse non-freaking stop!

I thought I wanted to do the baby-led weaning thing but I just wonder if this surge will calm down and maybe I can take some steps to get him to wean sooner. I am thinking of trying to have DH give him a bottle of WCM in the evening, maybe sub a nursing session w/ it? But he's never taken to bottles (we really didn't use them since he was 6 mo. old and it was hard back then, I mostly nursed) - he uses a straw sippy but he is VERY particular and won't necessarily use it when he want him to, etc. He finally likes WCM (esp since we have been buying the fancy stuff) - but it's still not something he asks for.

[thedahliharpa]

Identify the feedings he is least committed to and start there, one at a time. At that time keep busy, stay out of the house if possible, offer lots of snacks, a BM alternative in a sippy, avoid nursing triggers, establish new predictable routines, and be prepared for a possible meltdown or two along the way. Honestly, him going to day care will help during those hours but may lead to increased nursing when you are together.

[thedahliharpa]

Its also very common for there to be an increase in frequency at this age.

[devotchka]

Jul 31, 2013 23:05:18 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Identify the feedings he is least committed to and start there, one at a time. At that time keep busy, stay out of the house if possible, offer lots of snacks, a BM alternative in a sippy, avoid nursing triggers, establish new predictable routines, and be prepared for a possible meltdown or two along the way. Honestly, him going to day care will help during those hours but may lead to increased nursing when you are together.

Thanks! Yeah, I noticed on the days when we are out it is less of an issue, but when I come home from work eh immediately wants to nurse, and nurses in the middle of the night and sometimes it seems like a LOT of MOT/morning sessions. I try to stay out of the house, etc. but it's harder now that I am working bc I just want to come home and chillax... sigh.