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Weaning off breastfeeding help!!

13 replies

MamaN
Hi ladies,

I have a son who will be 1.5 years old at the end of this month. I'm breastfeeding him and my wish was always to nurse until 2 years. We're now trying for a second child and I'd really like to wean him off breastfeeding so I can give that to the second one. But Mr. absolutely does not want this! He pulls my shirt down himself to grab my breast and at night he'd rather lie on it all night, more like a pacifier. I don't mind giving him the breast in the morning and evening, this has also gone well in my phases but now it's all night and preferably also during the day (if distracted well). When he was 1, he sometimes slept through from 7 to 7 but that really doesn't happen anymore now. He's getting his molars but they're almost there, last month his premolars so there was also trouble at night and he was sick too. I keep telling myself it's a phase that will pass, but that phase lasts surely 2/3 months. Anyone have experience? Tips on how to handle it? I've already tried letting him cry for a bit at night and that helped when he was almost 1 but now it becomes inconsolable screaming which only makes it take longer to get him back to sleep...

Replies

  1. Anonymous Guest #2

    You could consult a lactation consultant. But I think it should be possible to breastfeed children of different ages at the same time if he really doesn't want to stop. Maybe you can teach him to drink your milk from a bottle first; then his need for your breast might decrease, and later you could put something else in that bottle.

  2. Amy #3

    As for night feeds, it's worth taking a good look at why your little boy still wants them. With my son, when he was around a year old, I had a period where he started waking up more often at night and didn't want to sleep anymore. It turned out it wasn't about the milk at all; he was just waking up and found it very cozy to nurse and get attention that way. Eventually, we went with letting him cry it out and not picking him up. It was really tough for just 1 night, much better on night 2, and by night 3 he was sleeping through again, and ever since then.

    So if it's really just about attention and the dummy, you can try that.

    When I got pregnant with number 2, my son was 1.5 years old and still had breast milk in the morning as an extra alongside his regular meals since he ate normally from the pot. But when I was pregnant, he didn't want it anymore. I think either the taste changed or the supply dried up. I didn't make a big deal out of it since it went on in a very relaxed way.

  3. MamaN started this #4

    Thanks for your replies,

    Yes, honestly I think it's a combination of teething and just wanting some fun company.. I do try letting him cry for a bit sometimes but he really starts screaming. Did your little boy do that too? I hope it goes the same way for me and he stops on his own once I'm pregnant with the second one.

  4. Amy #5

    Yeah, the first night was such a drama. I was even crying in the hallway because he was crying so much, but I'm really glad we stuck with it. Because now he basically falls asleep on his own again. If he cries at night, then something's up and he can naturally just come to bed with papa and mama.

  5. MamaN started this #6

    I think I should start again. Last time I did it when my husband was on a business trip, so he couldn't catch him. He sometimes finds it pitiful Did you just let him cry without going to him? Or did you check on him after 10 minutes? Honestly, that 10-minute thing never worked for me...

  6. Sas #7

    Maybe it helps to set specific times for yourself when he gets a bottle. He also needs to learn that he can be comforted by mom without a bottle. And that indeed takes a few nights and days. Better now than later when you're pregnant or just gave birth and he 'claims' the breast.

  7. MamaN started this #8

    Yeah, that's right, and if I'm not around, it goes fine too. But as soon as he sees me, he indeed claims the breast. I'd also rather that he stops now than that I end up with two babies at the breast later on, one of whom could actually do without it.

  8. Amy #9

    We definitely went to check on them a few times those nights, but we tried to give as little attention as possible. Just let them know we were there and everything was fine. I don't remember if we did that at specific intervals.

  9. MamaN started this #10

    Umm Amy, how far along were you when your little boy just wouldn't come out anymore I'm pregnant too and hope he'll also want to come out less and less, but so far I don't notice anything...

  10. Amy #11

    I'd say 2 months.

  11. Sas #12

    Congratulations!!!!
    So, you're going to wind it down soon?

  12. MamaN started this #13

    That’s my plan, but I don’t think Mister agrees. Phew, and I don’t even know where to start. Do you guys know that feeling?

  13. MamaN started this #14

    So, I started weaning last Friday. My little boy cried from 2 to 5 that night

    The following nights got better and better. He now only feeds in the early morning instead of morning, afternoon, evening, and whenever he wanted at night. So yay, I'm glad it's working out. Soon I'll also drop the morning feed and then I can get ready for baby number 2.

    But of course, not everything is smooth sailing. Now he doesn't want to sleep in his own bed, or at most for 2 hours, and then he starts screaming. He gets really angry and wants to hit me and pull my hair. Phew, anyone have any tips for this

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