https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 07:38:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606558 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:56:20 +0000 catlady 2606558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I weaned really gradually, but each time we dropped sessions, there was a reason. I dropped all the daytime sessions at around 13 months because I had stopped pumping at work and she was used to taking bottles and food during the day at daycare so she didn't really notice the difference at that point. I kept morning and evening at the time though because neither of us was ready to fully wean. </p> <p>About 6 months later, I was just tired of always being the one to get her in the morning so I weaned her from the morning session. </p> <p>I was hoping she'd initiate dropping the last session on her own but by 27 months, she still asked for mama's milk every evening. I would have gone longer (I really didn't mind it) but I had two miscarriages in a row at that point and was nervous that nursing was somehow causing them. Plus whenever I was pregnant, nursing hurt a LOT, and I knew I wanted to get pregnant again soon. So we finally weaned completely at that point.</p> <p>The nice thing about doing it gradually was that I didn't really experience any issues from weaning and she had really easy transitions each time we dropped a session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606540 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:35:29 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2606540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: everything you said, so much. I have a feeling when we finally wean I might gain tons of weight! Unfortunately I started my period at 6 freaking weeks pp though, so that's where we differ haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606535 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:30:45 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2606535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>P.S. I also love that it helps me keep weight off AND keeps my period at bay. Haven't had ol' Aunt Flow since March 2014!! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606532 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:28:09 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2606532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: All I have to say is that I am in the exact same boat. I think I will just keep going until my daughter is ready to stop. However, I get judgement from my mother-in-law a lot. I don't really understand why she would place such judgment on something that is so healthy for my daughter. I realize that pulling my boob out all the time might make her uncomfortable, but it's my choice. Nobody else's. Anyway, my daughter is also 19 months. Nursing helps calm her, get her to sleep, comfort her and just all around makes us so bonded and close. I love it. I'm not ready to stop and neither is she. There are some afternoons/evenings when I kind of wish she didn't want to nurse SO MUCH, but there will come a day when I will miss it. So, I'm cherishing this period in her life as long as I can. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606524 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:23:25 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2606524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: hopefully I'll say something similar at some point in the future!</p> <p>@Peasinapod: congratulations on your pregnancy and :heart: s for your amazing 22m nursing relationship. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606522 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:20:56 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2606522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tofuwad: oh my goodness! I can't believe your ped... That's pretty shocking to me. Talk about an emotionally sensitive subject of weaning and throwing weight into the mix! I wonder if a similar discussion is in my future... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606270 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 13:18:28 +0000 Peasinapod 2606270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I weaned at 22 months just a few weeks ago because I am pregnant. My daughter is boob obsessed and I didn't want to deal with jealousy to the new baby over nursing. </p> <p>I honestly miss it so much and if I wasn't pregnant I don't think I'd have stopped. It was the perfect fix all! I'm probably just emotional about it due to pregnancy hormones as well but don't quit until you're ready! Even having a very good reason to stop I'm somewhat regretful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606202 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:41:03 +0000 Foodnerd81 2606202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: surprise pregnancy, supply dip, weaning- that was actually the final straw for us I think! She was definitely rest anyway but I found out i was pregnant again a week after she totally weaned, so I wonder if it was related. </p> <p>Fwiw I remember reading about kids self weaning a few months before she did and I was like, no that will never be my little boob monster. But it was and I am so grateful for how it worked out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606160 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:13:23 +0000 tofuwad 2606160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: I'm right there with you. My ped is nervous about my LO's weight. Right now it's normal but it's trending higher than she'd like. She says it's because my LO is basically eating three meals of solids plus three+ meals in nursing per day. So she'd like me to get down to like twice a day. </p> <p>Honestly today was the first day I didn't nurse before nap and it was a little sad. But if I'm honest with myself, she doesn't always want to nurse when she asks to nurse during the day. Sometimes she just wants a quick snuggle. </p> <p>And I was thinking I'd be pregnant soon so I haven't been thinking about weaning at all. It's hard to know what's right when nursing feels so emotionally weighted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2606064 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 10:40:47 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2606064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: thanks for that. Yesterday I was offering him some milk in a straw cup instead when he was trying to do his marathon evening nursing and then thought to myself... Am I crazy? How could this possibly be better! I guess unless I don't want to nurse at that moment for whatever reason, but teeth wise...</p> <p>@mamabolt: I was kinda hoping we would have a surprise pregnancy and then my supply would dip, and then I realized that's both unlikely and a little nuts! </p> <p>@Kemma: that makes a lot of sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605835 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 07:09:41 +0000 catomd00 2605835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew it was time because she was only nursing for a few seconds at a time and I was drying up because I was pregnant. It was super painful and I was not enjoying it. She was around 20 months. I had been setting limits with it since around 15 months or so. I wouldn't let anyone else dictate for you. It's about you and baby. And I doubt it has anything to do with your son's cavities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605815 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 06:02:44 +0000 mamabolt 2605815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kept waiting for my girl to be ready on her own, and waiting, and waiting. At just past 2.5 I realized was done. I was newly pregnant and hoped the supply dip would take care of it, but then I had a MC. I ended up telling her milkies went away when she turned 3 and we stopped cold turkey on her birthday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605814 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 05:59:24 +0000 nana87 2605814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I weaned when lo was 22 months. Honestly, I was going through a chemical pregnancy and it HURT like crazy. She skipped a couple sessions by being distracted (like dh did bedtime so she forgot to ask...) and all the sudden she hadn't nursed in over a day and I was just done. She definitely had a few tantrums over it but it wasn't as bad as when we weaned her off the bottle (at 17 monyhs). I think by that point she was just comfort nursing and my supply had basically dried up already-- I thought we were weaning a month before when I was out of town for a week but she asked to nurse immediately when I came back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605809 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:50:04 +0000 Kemma 2605809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: I weaned my big girl at 3y3m and we were both just ready! She'd been down to nursing just once a day since around 2y3m (she dry-nursed right through my pregnancy) and we had been talking about having special stories instead of nursing before bed. We went and picked out two special story books and one night she just decided to read stories instead of nursing. </p> <p>I think that as they get older, the nursing becomes more about connection than milk so keeping the connection can ease the weaning process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605793 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 23:39:16 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2605793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I remember reading different stories like that in the back of my mind, when my son was younger. But now I see those anecdotes like "ohh... My son passed those months and he's in no way self weaning. Will he ever????"<br /> When it stops working for us is gonna be my mantra. :)</p> <p>@daniellemybelle: sigh. That's one of the thoughts in my head for sure! </p> <p>@ALV91711: that would be perfect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605785 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 23:03:23 +0000 ALV91711 2605785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coming up on 20 months I was ready to be done. Since it was coming up on the holidays I figured we'd keep things status quo and ween at 21-22 months, hope to be done by 2.</p> <p>At 20.5 months DS just stopped. I offered a few times throughout the weekend but he just refused. So that was that. </p> <p>I was surprised because he was a boob monster. But I think you will both know when the time is right to stop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605757 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:43:13 +0000 daniellemybelle 2605757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @sarac: said... I just knew that I was done and I knew she was old enough (19 months) to "handle" it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605678 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 19:24:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 2605678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO pretty much self weaned around 19 months. She had started dropping sessions as she dropped naps- like when she went down to one nap a day she stopped asking for it mid morning, we we were on 3 times a day (wake up, after nap, bed). Then one day after nap she didn't ask for it and I offered her a snack after she woke up and that was that. The morning one was a surprise to me but she just didn't ask and didn't seem that interested at some point so it was just at bedtime. The it got to the point that I would have to ask her a few times if she wanted milk before bed, so I knew she was ready. One day, when *I* was ready, I didn't offer, just did the rest of her bedtime routine and out her to bed, and she was fine. So I would say she led the way and I very gently encouraged her. </p> <p>I will say the months after she turned one when everyone and their mother asked when I was going to stop breastfeeding, I had a lot of doubts. Once I decided I would keep doing it as long as it worked for both of us and answered confidently, I felt a lot better. </p> <p>I probably would have wanted to push it a little more if she was still asking for it when we were out and t was inconvenient. It's hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605673 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 19:16:47 +0000 MrsSRS 2605673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with @sarac: DS weaned himself, weird little dude. DD is a boob monster. She's 14 months and nurses at least 4 times a day and also at night. But when we are out or it is inconvenient I say no. I started when she turned one. She doesn't like it, but she doesn't like hearing no ever, so tough cookies little diva. I love nursing her, neither of us is ready to wean. But if I don't want to nurse, I offer a snack and a drink and some fun distraction like a dance party or a cool toy or wearing her on my back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605652 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 18:37:09 +0000 MrsKoala 2605652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew it was time because he didn't nurse for long anymore and was so easily distracted when we would nurse. He just didn't need it at all. We were only down to nursing before bed and after waking up at that point at about 5 minutes each time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605651 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 18:30:10 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2605651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: well that is very straightforward, thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605641 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 17:58:14 +0000 sarac 2605641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know it's the right time to wean because my baby is 1, she eats well, and I am done nursing her. That's enough. If you don't feel done, it's fine to keep going. It all about you and the baby - when one or both of you is done, stop. Don't let anyone else pressure you into stopping before that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-when-the-time-was-right-to-wean-toddler-edition#post-2605598 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 16:39:50 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2605598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ideally my 19m old would be nursing 3 times per day right now, and I would be happy with that, thinking it would slowly drop off less and less. If we are busy and out of the house, he doesn't ask to nurse, but especially in the afternoons, he wants to nurse nurse nurse when we are home. Sometimes it doesn't bother me, sometimes it does... especially when he gets super insistent. That combined with his cavities... I know my husband wants to me to wean, his dentist, and probably my family is thinking it too. </p> <p>Before I started having these doubts, I was thinking I would keep things status quo until he was 2, and then start setting more limits, hopefully weaning completely by 2.5 or so. Especially since my husband doesnt want to start trying for baby #2 yet, I feel comfortable with this in theory. But I don't know if I am making the right choice, or just being lazy. How did you know when to wean, if you had to be more proactive about it? </p>