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RyaneM
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| Posted: April 28 2012 at 7:13pm | IP Logged
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Hi ladies,
I am hoping for some suggestions/support as I try to wean my just turned 2 yo. She still nurses a few times during the day and a few times a night.
She is a good eater so she totally does it for comfort/ out of habit rather than for any nutritional value. My older son nursed until he was almost 4 but he was a terrible eater so I was more hesitant to wean him. If we are busy and she is occupied during the day she never asks.. it's basically when she is bored or tired. I think redirecting her during the day will work.. but at night we have trouble since she still sleeps with us.
See, the thing is that I have in the past been unable to get pregnant until I have completely stopped nursing. My husband and I would love to have another baby (God willing!) but it seems impossible as long as she is nursing. Sometimes I wish I could just take something to dry up the milk because I think that if there was no milk she would stop asking. I don't even know if such a thing exists but, ykwim.
Any suggestions?
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Ryane in NY 
Mama to ds (3/05), ds(1/09) and dd (4/10)
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: April 28 2012 at 7:52pm | IP Logged
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I weaned my first a month before I had her brother; she was about 2-1/2 years old. We just had to take a firm, but gentle, approach. Since it was our first, he was able to sleep with her in another room out of the 'smell range'. She was restless for a week or so, and he would take her downstairs and offer a drink or food to ensure she truly wasn't hungry if she was too fussy. It was a long month, but a necessary part of our growing family. By the time we night weaned her, she was already day weaned.
The two boys gave up nursing easily right before the next child was born (probably the change in taste), and they stayed in bed with us during that time. I don't really remember too much because they were really easy to wean. I just try to distract during the day and at night my husband usually comforts them.
HTH 
Edited - He is referring to my husband. Sorry.
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
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claireg
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| Posted: April 30 2012 at 11:30am | IP Logged
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I like the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers. It has a whole section on night weaning when you're co sleeping.
http://www.amazon.com/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Toddlers-Prescho olers/dp/0071444912/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335803288&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Toddlers-Prescho olers/dp/0071444912/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335803288&sr=8-1
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: April 30 2012 at 11:36am | IP Logged
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When I have weaned we have used redirection during the day and having baby move into a room with a sibling at night. If baby wakes up, Daddy deals with them. He comforts them and offers a cup of water and then puts them back in their own beds.
It usually ends up taking us about 4-6 months to get through the entire process, because we move so slowly, but it does work!
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: April 30 2012 at 12:47pm | IP Logged
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I keep my kids in the family bed until they are four, and I also do not ovulate until I COMPLETELY wean which I normally do between 15 and 18 months.
If she is a good eater of real foods, it should be easier. I would start by cutting out all feedings except naptime and bedtime.
If she is still waking up to nurse multiple times at night, I would try to comfort her in a different way at least every other time (I find that rubbing the back often helps) until she stops expecting to nurse when she wakes. Hopefully this won't take longer than a week.
If she is nursing down to sleep, you can try just letting her nurse for a minute or two and then break the suction and see if she will settle on down to sleep without a full nursing session.
You might also want to establish a nap/bedtime routine if you haven't already. (For instance, read one book and then rub her back/feet.)
Next I completely cut out nursing down for a nap. This usually involves a good snack and cup of milk followed by lots of patience. (You really have to be prepared for it to take longer to get her to sleep, so that you don't get tempted to just give her the knock-out drop.)
If I have one that is really having a hard time being put down for a nap in the bed without nursing, I've either just let them keep playing until they fall asleep on their own (sometimes in the middle of the floor) for a few days or just snuggle on the couch with a television show at the normal nap time until they fall asleep on the couch.
Last I tackle bedtime nursing, again with a good snack (warm cup of milk), a routine, and patience.
I hope the transition goes smoothly for you.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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Syncletica
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| Posted: June 03 2012 at 11:32pm | IP Logged
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There are some herbs you can take to help diminish your milk supply. Sage is a common one. You simply make a strong tea with dried sage leaves. I suppose fresh is just fine too.
Here's an article about breastfeeding and herbs.
Here's another link with some more ways to use sage and some other beneficial herbs for weaning purposes.
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Weaning... help!
