Weaning My Sun - but How Do I Get Him to Sleep?

It bothers me, so many people want to wean at a year. My mother had a friend that insisted her kids start drinking from a cup at 8 months.

I just read an article that was written by an Anthropologist who is also a breast feeding specialist.

Human children are physiologically ready for weaning between the ages of 3-7 YEARS. We in the united states are one of the worst countries for being prudish about breastfeeding, and forcing our kids to grow up too soon.

Take your time, and let him tell you when he's ready...

Also, as most pediatricians do not know, breast milk actually has things in it to help prevent cavities... do an internet search. My son is 3 and still nurses at night. He has no cavities. I do brush his teeth and he gets plenty of water.

Your son sounds a lot like mine. He's 3, and I still can't keep up with him.

Don't wean AND try ot get him to sleep on his own at the SAME time. Srat nursing with the lights on and even if he falls asleep, THEN change him and brush his teeth. Then try to rock him to sleep. Or do some variation of this. Basically you want to give him the food and comfort of nursing, without haivng it put him to sleep. Once he can go in the crib without nursing to sleep, then you can try to wean him.

Around 12-13 months I started putting my daughter to bed after nursing - diaper, pjs, nurse, teeth, and then rock to sleep. It took a few says but worked great. Around 14-15 months I started, nursing anywhere from 1-2 hours before I got her ready for bed. Now tha tshe is 16 months, I am planning to wean the last feeding before she turns 18 months.

You don't need ot wait this long, I just personally wanted to nurse longer with my second baby. I used this approach with my first daughter who weaned at 13 months. The idea is to teach them to learn to sleep on their own, and then wean - it's sepearate issues, and it's nice to have the nursing as a back-up if he isn't ready to sleep on his own. Hut I think it will be fine, I know lots of people who do it around 9 months. But it may take a week to figure ourt what works for him. Kepp the environment calm, lights dim, talking softly, etc. he will just need to learn the new routine and it will provide him the cues he needs to go to sleep. Also, you could try putitng him down a little earlier aor a little later - he may be overstimulated because he is up a bit too long, or simply not tired enough.

I

If you can get him to make noises with you try laying him on his side and snuggling him like nursing, but instead of nursing have him say "ba-ba, ba-ba, ba-ba" over and over with you in time to your rocking. This sound partially imitates the mouth movements of nursing and if you do it very quietly and peacefully can be almost hypnotic for him. It's a good trick to help them with soothing themselves to sleep when they get a little older too if started at this age. It's almost like meditation for babies.

I did the big "no-no" of nursing my daughter to sleep for a long time. When she would no longer fall asleep nursing, I would nurse her and then we'd read a few books, rock and she'd go to sleep that way. When I wanted to wean her, I just skipped the nursing and went right to books. She shook her head no and said, "No, No, No" one night, but I had bought a new book about puppies (her favorite topic) and she very quickly forgot all about the nursing and got into her new book.
So, I suggest finding a substitute for the nursing. Is he interested in reading? Maybe you could try a new book that would be exciting. Or, sing a song that he really likes. Also, I waited to wean until my daughter was 17 months. She had started losing interest around 16 months and at 17 months I decided to call it quits. Maybe waiting a little longer until he loses interest might make it easier too. One year olds still need the comforts that a baby does, but around 15-16 months they become more interested in doing other things so that might be an easier time.

Best of luck!

I tried to wean my son at age 1 too but that didn't work becuse he like your son nursed for comfort not nourishment. I cut out the day feedings but kept up with the night time feeding to get him to sleep and he would be out within minutes. It was easier than fighting and by 19 months he started just falling asleep some nights without nursing and I was able to stop totally very shortly after plus it was easier on me, no pain or anything. If you totally don't want to nurse anymore or can't or something then try letting him suck your finger. That worked with my son when he was a baby. He totally liked to suck for comfort. That way it's still attached to you and you don't have to worry about him becoming attached to a pacifier and he also might like cuddling with you. Good luck.

Who says you have to wean at 12 months you don't HAVE to its a choice. You may find that just nursing to sleep just a bit longer may make thing easier and less stressful on you both.

Start the pacifier. It's easy to take away when the time comes, it's just for winding down at sleepy time, and it's a comfort to your child.

What i did with my daughter was introduced the cup at meal times and didn't offer her a an alternative again. I didn't offer a the breast or bottle i just shut it off when i knew she COULD drink out of the cup, not when she was willing. The willing to drink out of a cup only comes for some children when they have no choice. In this case he has an alternative and he uses it. If you drank soda's out of a can but when you went to the store they had no cans only bottled soda would you get it if you really wanted a soda. Of course you would. So take away his Alternative. If he really wants something to drink he will take the cup. It may take a few days to sink in the breast isn't being offered but it will and when it does he might get mad but just say nope it's broken. It doesn't work anymore your a big boy and it's broken now.
About bed time you need to give him choices of things to calm him down don't let him choose. If you say What do you want to do he will play and he's not going to calm down. Give him calming toys and require he set down don't give him a choice as to getting up and playing around the room.
Good luck