Weaning While Working

Hi Gillian,
I started weaning my son at about the same time...13-14 months (June timeframe last year). It took until 16 months (October) before he took his last "swig" from "me". :) I only gave him cows milk during the day in a "big boy" sippy cup. And, at night, I had my husband do the bedtime routine with a sippy cup of cows milk. Then, I only nursed in the morning when he woke up (for about 4 months). So, we got our snuggle time in before he started the day. I was able to stop pumping at work around August. Then, I had a work conference at the end of October last year and couldn't nurse in the morning either. He didn't seem to miss it a bit.

One weekend after the conference, he started to want to nurse on the couch and I let him...but, he latched for 30 seconds and unlatched and proclaimed "all done"... He never tried to nurse again. I think he just wanted to make sure it was still available "if he wanted it"...but, he didn't really want it anymore.

I hope this helps...as the other person said...it's a very personal and individual process. If you are ready, he will sense that and start to get himself ready. But, it doesn't happen overnight.

My advise, just start slowly eliminating nursing times. Daytime is the easiest, because they are so busy. Then, either morning or bedtime (whichever works for you)...then the other one. Before you know it, he'll be onto playing and other things.

My son and I still snuggle in our nursing chair with the sippy cup in the morning and after naps sometimes and he's a little over 2 years old.

Good Luck...I'll be sending good thoughts your way!!

Just cut out the nursing you are trying to replace. If he's hungry, he can have the cup. If not, then don't stress it. He's at an age where he will start moving toward a more 'normal' eating schedule. So always have him sit with you and daddy at meals, with his own food and cup (even just a little finger food, you can feed him when you're done eating). He'll still want a few snacks throughout the day. But by 18 months he shouldn't be getting more than 16-24 oz of milk a day (double check with doc for exact amounts) so you'll want to make sure you're heading him in the right direction

Hi, Gillian. Boy, I can sympathize with your dilemma! I work full-time, too, and my kids have been in daycare since 10-weeks old. My son is 16 months now. I also weaned him at 14 months, but by then he was down to just nursing before bed. I got to that point by cutting down on his daytime intake, supplementing/replacing with a snack vs. a bottle, and distracting him with a book, a walk, etc. when he wanted to nurse and it wasn't snack time. You'll do great! Good luck!
S.
P.S. I wish every day to win that darn lottery! :)

I read the other posts, and agree! You are doing a great job, and I support your approach. I think that you should continue for a few more weeks with replacing only one or two feedings with the cup. Like others said, if he's hungry or thirsty, he'll take it. It was hard for us to give up the nursing, too, but having our little one in day care probably made it easier. Your instincts are good. I was given the advice to give up one nursing session per day per week, until you are finished. It took a little longer than that for us, but that approach worked. Good luck.

Since I work from home, I have not experienced the weaning on weekends only. I would just to continue doing what you are doing on the weekends and be consistent if you really want to wean.

My 3rd child self-weaned just before he turned 16 months by dropping a feeding every few weeks, so I would recommend going about it the same way. Try dropping only 1 feeding for a couple weekends in a row and then drop a 2nd one. It may take longer than you want, but it may be less traumatic for your little one this way. Good luck!

Make it a GREAT day!

S.

I know it's tough to wean the little guys (in my case a girl) - both physically and emotionally for BOTH of you. First of all - I think we all have different experiences and you have to above all else follow your instincts about what is right. It sounds like you are doing a great job so far, and his reluctance is because he likes the comfort he gets from breastfeeding. I would suggest that someone else give him the replacement cups when you aren't around (even at home if possible). If he doesn't see you there when it's time to eat, maybe that will make the initial tranistion easier. Also, even with transition from a bottle to a cup (as we used bottles of breastmilk - and she didn't want to give up her bottle for anything), they will refuse the bottle/cup. Let him. Eventually he will get hungry enough to take it. At least that worked for us. It was tough, but only took a few days. Good luck and hang in there!

You'd probably appreciate the book "How Weaning Happens." You could borrow it for free from your local La Leche League group (find it at www.llli.org) or buy it cheap online--it's in paperback.
I found it very helpful with lots of great, non-traumatic ideas to help with the weaning process that I had not heard anywhere else.
Congratulations on your breastfeeding relationship. Best wishes as you enter a new season in your mothering.