weaning nightmare!!

[taysmommy]

hello everyone..im new to this forum, i have an 11 month old baby girl,who i still breastfeed...well all the time, im a stay at home mom and my husband and i are ready to ttc again in a few months, i want to stop breastfeeding but im having a hard time, we never gave her a bottle(big mistake on my part) and she refuses to take one now, it seems like she is in love with nursing and i feel so sorry for her that i want to stop...has anyone felt this way? how do i stop? is it normal for me to feel so badly for stopping...

[aridza]

does she take a sippy cup?
You can do it cold turkey or just drop nursing times little by little and keep it to just once before bed, pretty soon she will not even think about it (that's how I did with my DD)
Wait until she turns 1 and start giving her some whole milk in a sippy cup, she probably won't like it at first so try to dilute it with either breastmilk or water and just progressively increase the whole milk amount.
Try to make your breast unavailable and explain to her that she is a big girl now and there is no more boobies.
I know it is hard, I breastfed my DD for 15mo and she barely ever had a bottle (which is a good thing because it's a hard habit to break)try to distract her during the times she would want to nurse, I know that when I would sit on the couch my DD would want to come and nurse so I would try to distract her with a game or something to keep her mind off of it and to stop her from lifting my shirt.
Good luck, try to be consistent because they pick up really quick if you give up.

[tam2girls]

I agree it is like all comfort behaviour weather it is breast bottle pacifier toy etc... you will have to either go cold turkey or be patient and slowly take it away. It will be hard but if this a habit you want to break remember to be consistent and not give in or she will think you are a push over. Set boundries and stick to them. Good Luck

[sam2]

It is very hard to quit, I've been there twice.  First DD took until 16 months, she never took a bottle either and made my life difficult. She got coxsackie, the blisters in the mouth and fever and I took advantage of her not eating and stopped then as it was time. Second DD took until 24 months, (way too long), she started asking for it and that was when I said enough is enough. I never knew how to stop either.  Good luck.

[myproblem]

I would get her on a sippy cup, and then cut daytime feedings one at a time. The last feedings to go will probably be naptime, then bedtime. It may take a couple of months. Also if she is down to just 1 or 2 times a day, it will not affect a new pregnancy at all.

[taysmommy]

thanks so much! yes she takes a sippy cup(although she would rather chew on it rather then drink!) and its comforting to know that it will not affect a new pregnany...that is if im able to concieve right away...im goin to start limiting one middle of the day feeding today..ill keep you guys posted on my success..well hopefully! and on another note..did you guys have mixed feelings about stopping...i guess im feeling a little guilty

[dizzybee1978]

wow i cant believe, i have been going through the exact same thing. my son is 11 months old and i am 21 weeks pregnant.  i am still breastfeeding as well and i need to stop.  my son also woudlnt take a bottle at all.  my doctor has told me to quit nursing since my baby is a bit behind in growth, and my appetite has been the pits and i still get morning sickness.  

anyhow the last week or so my son has been taking more whole milk out of a sippy cup and actually since i have pretty much cut out all daytime breast feedings, he gets thirsty and he does drink out of a bottle now.  it takes a few days, but babies are smart and they wont let themselves starve... no worries....

its so hard and nursing is such a bonding experience and its hard for both mom and baby to quit.  but take it from me, better to quit nursing before you conceive again, not all women experience this, but nursing while pregnant drains your energy.  i know the Leche league would totally disagree with me, but thats how it has gone for me...

[anxiousmomtobe?]

My dd was no problem to wean, my ds took until he was 17 months.  I would cut down slowly, the day time feeds are the easiest.  By the time ds was 13 months he was only nursing at bed time.

Don't sweat it, in lots of cultures they breastfeed for years.

[Trialanderror]

Hey, Taysmommy....my son stopped nursing abruptly on his own at the end of 11 months because it was the first time I had taken some evil tasting herbal medication against a cold. The taste must have ended up in the milk and I will never forget his appalled look. We were both in tears for 2 days. He never liked to switch to a sippie cup or formula before but out of the new dilemma, he now accepted water and cow`s milk out of it. I always believed that a baby has to be the first to start the weaning process, at least when they are under 12 to 18 months old. They develop initial trust and attachment by knowing there will always be that person who gives them food when they ask for it - or shelter, or excitement etc. If I were the baby, I would feel betrayed if that same person called mother would suddenly withhold the food and offer something out of a piece of plastic....

[taysmommy]

thanks everyone....im kinda feeling a lil down in the dumps because i feel so bad..but i know that once she quits she wont remember...im going to try all the things you guys suggested! i cut out two feedings today and so far so good.....best of luck to you all...hopefull pretty soon ill be posting "im pregnant ...yeahhhh"

[taysmommy]

i feel the same...thats why i feel so guilty about wanting to stop, she has 4 teeth(upper and lower) and bites me all the time, thats one reason i want to stop, ive tried what my book says(what to expect, the first year) they say to tell them nooo in a firm voice, she seems to think this is very funny for some reason, i have never laughed when shes bitten me, some say that makes them want to bite again, but ive been successful in eliminating 2 day time feedings in the day time, by feeding her baby food and a little cows milk, i have not however been able to bring myself to eliminate the nighttime, and morning feedings, i may just stick with that for a while..( just to note ive only been attempting the weaning process for 2-3 days)