Hello all,
I am a 28 year old mother of a lovely little girl who will be 3 in March. I have been breastfeeding her since birth and have decided that the time to wean has arrived. Unfortunately, it is I who has decided this and she is still VERY much in love with her "chi chi" so I am expecting the weaning process to be a long, hard, emotionally-draining road. It feels as though everywhere I search the only information I can find is on child-led weaning, which just hasn't seemed to happen with our situation. The idea of child-lead weaning sounds absolutely wonderful and so easy compared to forcing weaning on her, but I just can't nurse any longer. It has become a painful, unpleasant task instead of the serene, peaceful time of bonding that it once was. Plus there is an issue with my health that is forcing me to go on medication that just isn't compatible with my nursing her. Anyway, the long and short of it is I am seeking advice from some mother & fathers that have already been through this or are going through this now. I would like to know how I should go about this and how I can make it easier on my daughter? Please contact me if you can help! Thanks!
Erika

Boy do I know what you mean! If I had found the answer I would have been able to stop when brendan was 3 yrs old but I'm still nursing him at 4 yrs of age. It is getting even more uncomfortable and I just wish I could find a way to get him to stop nursing and when I asked questions of how to 'wean' reduce feeds - i don't keep track of the feeds i give him! He chooses when he's thirsty and ask!

So I'm like 'sigh' and each time i tried to say No he would get really upset ! Saying he needs a boo viee ! But it's just he is getting stronger/taller /heavier which is crushing me if he wants to nurse at the daytime .

At nite time I don't mind that much !

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Traci
Loving Single Mommy to Lovable Brendan and a proud cat owner to Wild Mr Blackie
Missing & loving my heaven babies Alizah 6/2002 and Trey 2/03

I weaned Noah at 2.
But it wasn't really a choice (I was pregnant with Abby and she needed the "good stuff")
I gradually cut out one feeding at a time until the only one we had was a night time feed and then I just stopped one night.
It was rough but I had no choice.

Cudos to you both for being able to nurse so long!!

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I nursed my ds until he was 3. He was only nursing a few times a day usually to go to sleep. He wouldn't really ask to much during the day. But I would just tell him it was all gone. He cried a little and I held him and told him mommy is here and I love you but the mama milk is all gone because he drank it all. I even aske if he would like something to drink. He cried a little and rolled over and went back to sleep. It took a few nights of saying no but it worked. I had tried a few months before and he way too upset. Let me know if I can answer anymore questions. Good Luck!

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