weaning a toddler

Hello all! Hopefully, I'm in the right section to be asking this. I need suggestions on weaning a 22month old. I don't see her ever wanting to stop. : ). I have tried before and ended up with matitisis each and every time complete with flu like symptoms and a fever,having to be put on antiobiotics. She only wants to nurse before naps and at bedtime. And sometimes during the night. She will get upset and cry saying, please, please, nurse. I do not want to tramatize her by weaning but as I mentioned she doesn't seem as if she will ever stop. I meant to have her weaned at a year and then 18 months. And now with getting matitisis each time I tried, I'm not even sure how to do it now. Any suggestion? Thanks in advance. Tina

First of all, let me ask...Is there a specific reason you are wanting to stop now?  I ask this because I went through a period where I started to wean my daughter because I felt like she would want to nurse forever and she was to old and everyone thought I should...etc and she just was not ready.  It broke my heart so I decided that I am going to hold off since we both still really enjoy it.  So make sure you are quitting for the right reasons...that you are really sure you don't want to any more and that it isn't because of any outside pressures because nursing into toddlerhood is very beneficial!  :-)

If you do really want to wean, to prevent the plugged ducts and mastitis, I would try cutting out just one feeding, nap time or bed time for a period of time and then cutting out the other.  That may be a lot easier on both of you than quitting cold turkey.  I know placing cabbage leaves on your breasts will totally dry up your milk which should prevent mastitis but you would really want to be sure you both are ok with stopping before you do that.

Have you asked your doctor any suggestions?

Good luck!

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If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart!

Im having the same problem trying to wean but my daughter is 18 months. I love having her close to me like that but at times it's trying. She's showing no signs of stopping and at night it rally seems like she wants it all the time needless to say I don't get much sleep.

im in the same boat with you my baby is 21 mo and i dont think he shows any signs of stopping. especially at night. During the day its basically when hes tired. I always try to say no and i can keep his mind off for awhile but it always come down to wanting it at nap time and if i dont he still has his hand down my shirt holding my breast till he doses off. If he would only do it at night i would like to continue but he wont eat much so i have to nurse him. i want to stop and then hes my last baby and i know im gonna miss it. how long do they take to self wean?people already make smart comments

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Live for today,Love forever,and Laugh Always

My daughter is 28 months old and still going strong. She nurses multiple times during the day, naptime, bedtime, at least 2-3 times most nights. At about 18 months and 2 years it was more. Some days she would nurse every 30 min.

I've heard that the normal weaning age for humans would be at the earliest 2 1/2. Based on some studies on mammals and when they wean (comparing eruption of adult teeth, adult weight, or other factors) it is thought that humans are meant to wean anywhere from 2 1/2 - 7 years.  On another board I'm on many moms found their nursling self-weaned at about 2-3. Some nursed longer to 4 or 5. Very few went as far as 6 or 7.

 I don't plan on weaning my daughter any time soon. It is very important to her and I can't imaging taking that away from her. It's also a great parenting tool for me. Very handy the few times she is sick, great for calming tantrums or smoothing over stressful days. So great for calming us both down and helping us to reconnect. :)

 

Leigh 

when to stop

My son is 13 months....everyone tells me it's time to stop, but I'm not sure either of us r ready yet...he has only had a runny nose once and did end up with a double ear infection,but that was it...other than that he has been so healthy, even being a baby born 3 weeks early and having problems breathing on his own for a few days...he has shown no signs of having any problems...how do I know when it is time?