Tips on Weening from Breast to Whole Milk

Why do you need to? If you're not ready and she's not ready, why would you choose to substitute a perfect food (breastmilk designed for a child) for an imperfect food (breastmilk designed for a cow)? The nursing relationship is just that...a relationship. If you are doing this just becuase your doctor told you to, I suggest you find a doctor who supports extended breastfeeding...you may want to contact a La Leche League leader who could help you out with that. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH NURSING PAST ONE IF YOU AND YOUR CHILD ARE NOT READY TO WEAN!

First of all I want to say I feel you totally. I was in your situation. When my daughter was a year she was still nursing. She never took a bottle but she did drink from a Nuby sippy cup at around 7 months. Okay on to the advice. Please, Please, Please don't stress yourself out trying to wean quickly or even wean when your child is not ready. Try to gradually give your daughter whole milk or even expressed breast milk in a cup (you said she takes one sometimes with water). If your heart is set on weaning then try to cut out ones during the day and save the one right before bed last. My daughter was not totally weaned until 15 months and it wasn't until I stopped pushing that she gave up her lovey (the breast). One night I put the boppy in the closet and she just didn't want it at bedtime, I was shocked but it happened. You will read all kinds of advice out there but ultimately you need to do what's best for you and your daughter. Good luck to you and you can email me if you want more of how it all came together.

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There is truly no reason to worry about weaning now. If she is still nursing strong, that is great! Just because they hit the one year mark doesn't mean that they suddenly have no need for it now as they did yesterday. They need it just as much. Many women go on to nurse their children for several years, and the children are only that much healthier and happier.

She gets so much more from your breastmilk than she ever will from cow's milk.

Please see this link regarding nursing after the first year: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html

It's best to do it slowly. Drop a feeding (I always dropped a mid-morning or midday nursing first) wait a few days or even a week and then drop another. My kids like the last night nursing and the first morning nursing the most, so I dropped those last.

Don't make a big deal out of dropping a feeding. Just make it business as usual or even fill that usual time with a treat (trip to the park, special snack) for the first couple of days. You might be surprised at how easily she adjusts!!

Good luck!!