How to wean toddler ?

I did a search on LACTNET with the words ?milk after weaning? and got lots of stories about people having milk for months/years after weaning. Also some mothers who had never been pregnant but wanting to breastfeed adopted babies getting milk the first time they tried to pump. I don?t think it is rare to have some milk in your breasts at any time ? even baby girls have it sometimes.

LACTNET archives address is http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html

Best wishes,
Barb
 
Wow, I don't know that it's so hard to wean toddlers. My baby just turned 1, and he also needs to nurse before his nap/s and bedtime. I plan to breastfeed tll he's 2 because now it's still convenience for me to do so. But I'd like to know your result, just in case mine is difficult too. My e-mail is [email protected]. Thanks.
 
It's a long shot, but have you tried creating the end of your nursing relationship as a milestone for your son. My elder daughter self-weaned (sadly at 9 months), but for getting her off the milk bottle and later nappies (2 1/2) I spent some time before telling her about the "bottle fairy" and the "nappy fairy".

Don't know how receptive a boy will be to talks about fairies, but the gist was that one night she would put her bottles, or nappies into a basket at the end of her bed and the fairy would come and take them for a younger baby. In return she'd leave some presents. It only took a few weeks of talking about this and discussing what sort of presents the fairy might leave before she came to the decision to give it a go. And it worked. No more bottles and she never asked about them again either.
 
Thanks Armstroe,

Actually I have started talking about it..just 2 weeks ago though. Haven't used the fairy thing..but "big boy" talk. And since there is no elder sibling to show as not nursing..I'm using all of sesame street characters :) Elmo doesn't nurse..he is a big boy. I think it's slowly sinking in. I have to hang in there and keep talking about it I suppose. I can't physically give some closure to it though..can't put my breasts into a basket ;). Any ideas ?

Lynn,
The last thing I want to do is discourage any mother from nursing into toddlerhood because it seems so hard to wean ! I think weaning is hard at any age..for both mother and child. But every child is different. You may find that weaning is a breeze when the time comes. Or you may have lots of support from family. I'm trying to do it alone..without help from a helper of hubby - because I have no helper and like I said hubby travels a lot. So I'm trying to do it by myself. With my son I thought potty training is going to be really tough and he'll never get trained before 3 since he was terrified of sitting on the potty. But I found that when he was ready to sit by himself he took to it like a fish to water and within 2 weeks was completely trained. I was amazed how easily it happened. With nursing I think I should talk more to him about ending it and see how it goes. I will send you an email too later. Good luck and happy breastfeeding. There are lots of benefits of breastfeeding as you already know. My son now 2.8 years old has only fallen ill twice so far..and I like to think bfeeding him has given him that immunity. Also whenever I was ill he didn't fall sick inspite of close contact..again I like to think that since my body is fighting the infection he gets protection and is not affected by my germs. No studies to prove it just my feeling.

There are lots of books for little kids to prepare them for arrival of new baby or for potty training..anyone know of one that talks about weaning ?
 
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When I was weaning my first child I discovered that it came in stages. At first she couldn?t even understand the concept of not having mummy?s milk. Then she could talk about it but not manage it, next she could talk about it realistically and ultimately take the idea and put it into practice.

As we help child grow up we explain what life will be like and I believe that weaning is no different. No changes in life happen without talking to children and explaining our expectations of them.

The only book I?ve ever come across about weaning is called MAGGIE'S WEANING. The story is a child's eye view of the nursing experience. As Maggie reflects on the time she once spent at her mother's breast, she offers her thoughts on the joys and challenges of slowly leaving breastfeeding behind.

I borrowed this book from the La Leche League library when I was introducing the idea of weaning to my daughter.

Best wishes,
Barb
 
Super :) Thanks Barb you are a ton of information.

I know my son responds well to books..he loves to read and the potty training book helped him a lot. I should have started talking to him about weaning a long time ago. But better late than never. The thought of that book "maggie's weaning" has got me excited. I don't expect the weaning process to be quick but this is a step forward.
Thank you again Barb. I have to get in touch with LLL
 
Breastfeeding Toddler Meeting

La Leche League Hong Kong is holding a special meeting for mothers who are breastfeeding beyond the one year mark. We hope that during this meeting we can provide information for mothers who are practicing extended breastfeeding - as well as support and encouragement.

Here's the details:

DATE: Wednesday 3rd November

TIME: 11.00am til 2.00pm

PLACE: Flat 2, 2nd Flr, Tower A, Villa Lotto, 18 Broadwood Rd,
Happy Valley. Tel: 2817 7475

Some parking is available.

We will have a coffee and chat for one hour or so and then you are welcome to stay for a pot luck lunch. So please bring one dish with you. If that's not possible - don't worry, just give me a call and let me know.

If you are bringing a toddler with you, who will want to eat something simple like fish fingers and pasta, then please give me a call and I'll make sure I've got enough for everyone.

Babies and children are welcome - of course!

We do want to focus on the needs of mothers breastfeeding older babes of more than one year... so this meeting is probably not suitable for pregnant mums or mothers of newborns.

Best wishes,
SARAH and MAGGIE
 
HI Everyone,

I thought I would update this thread so it might help anyone in the same position. I took it really slowly. From nursing at all odd times of the day I've now officially weaned my son :) Wasn't too bad. One of the links on this thread mentioned about shortening the feeds. My son loves to count so I started counting to help him shorten the feeds. He pretty soon started coming to me to "nurse upto 5/10/30 counts" 30 is the maximum he can count upto :D We went home in december and he was so excited that he didn't ask to nurse except at naptime and bedtime. Once we came back he just gave up napping so naptime nursing stopped. Two weeks ago DH took up bed time so that stopped too. The only time he got cranky was when he woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to nurse. I comforted him but refused to nurse. Now he sleeps through the night and though he remembers nursing and occasionally asks to nurse he doesn't really expect to be nursed. I've really enjoyed nursing him but I was ready to stop. Had no discomfort, no feeling of fullness either ! I'm now sleeping through the night for the first time in 3 years !!! Yipee
 
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