https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:28:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2611688 Fri, 26 Aug 2016 15:03:59 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2611688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: congratulations! I am reviewing this thread for everyone's excellent tips :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2611471 Fri, 26 Aug 2016 09:12:46 +0000 PixieStix 2611471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UPDATE (tl'dr: we have weaned!):</p> <p>I started weaning Nathan by taking away all day time nursing and only allowing him to at naps and at night. He'd ask for it periodically during the day, but seemed to accept me explaining how he had to wait for nap or bed time. There was only a little fussing here or there.</p> <p>Some where in this time he began dropping his nap. First it was only napping a couple times a week and then I just stopped trying all together, so then we were just down to nursing at night.</p> <p>I switched over to getting him to drop the going-to-bed nursing by telling him how he was a big boy. I explained he was a good boy and comforted him through any fussies, offered chocolate for when he wakes up if he did "no booby." He accepted this a few times, though some nights he'd get a little worked up and would insist on booby.</p> <p>After several successes, he was down to just nursing a few times a night to get back to sleep. I dropped those quickly by simply telling him "no" and cuddled him back to sleep. He would start to complain but I think the sleepiness took over, and he'd fall right back asleep -- no booby. :)</p> <p>Now we're at about 2 weeks with no nursing what so ever. He needed booby twice during the final transition. I think those were the nights where he was probably teething because he was very upset. So, I gave in and nursed, but he still didn't need it the rest of the night.</p> <p>I can't believe I made it almost two and a half years and now it's over, and it happened quicker and easier than I ever thought possible. Thank y'all for reading and for all your advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580404 Sun, 03 Jul 2016 08:33:16 +0000 mamabolt 2580404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cold turkey on her 3rd birthday. We told her mommy milk went away when she turned 3, and it worked great. Only asked a few times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580387 Sun, 03 Jul 2016 06:02:26 +0000 Lilbear 2580387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started cutting back on feelings gradually around 18 months. We just did morning, nap time and at night for 5 months. Then, I cut out nap first, then the morning session. Then I tried to reduce it to every other day, but eventually I had to just fully cut her off because she didn't want to stop on her own. She finally weaned at 26 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580294 Sat, 02 Jul 2016 17:29:12 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2580294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: gum! If she made it through the night, no wake ups, she got a piece of gum. After 3 nights in a row- she got a cake pop at Starbucks. We wanted something easy, non monitary daily to reinforce, but then something she could build towards! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580290 Sat, 02 Jul 2016 17:00:44 +0000 PixieStix 2580290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@OldpuebloJenn: That's fantastic. Thanks for the insight on that. </p> <p>What was your reward system if I may ask? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580251 Sat, 02 Jul 2016 14:15:24 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2580251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: breaking the latch wasn't easy, honestly, the first few times I waited until she was almost asleep, when her latch was loose already and worked from there. We talked about it a lot too, how big girls fall asleep without milkies, and for a while I even did bed time nurse in the living room, then dad or I took her to bed. There were some melt downs and tears, but I held fast to cuddles only, no milkies after I broke the latch. We did regress a bit on night time feeds, but we instituted a reward system and knocked that back out. </p> <p>I felt that weaning her, as slowly as I did, gave her a chance to adjust- but me too! It changed the way I patented. Before it was need a nap- boob. Tantrum- boob. Need to calm, comfort, sick, tired- boob. She and I both had to learn how to work through these emotions and events without nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580171 Sat, 02 Jul 2016 10:27:42 +0000 matador84 2580171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: will be 3 in february! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580170 Sat, 02 Jul 2016 10:24:33 +0000 PixieStix 2580170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@OldpuebloJenn: How did it work when you first started breaking latch? I can so see N throwing a fit if I break latch.. especially at night. :/</p> <p>@junebugsmama: I think that's my problem.. need more distraction! I admit it.. I get lazy and let him nurse and for way too long. Oops.</p> <p>@matador84: It's nice to have someone to relate with. When is your LO's bday? :)</p> <p>@Kemma: The common thread here does seem to be gradually and at designated times, i.e. a schedule.. I like the designated nursing area idea. He does like "booby in the big chair" so that settles that.</p> <p>@pastemoo: This sounds like a realistic and hopeful goal for me as far as length of time to wean.</p> <p>So far today I've been able to successfully get N to not have any booby after the wake-up session today. I keep telling him no and reminding him he's getting booby at nap time. He is accepting it well each time. Maybe this'll be easier in some ways than I thought. Thanks for the inspiration, ladies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580086 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 22:08:38 +0000 pastemoo 2580086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: I started purposefully stopping at 24 months, finished at 26 months. In the end it was only 5 am and not every day.... Very gradual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580074 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 21:12:17 +0000 caterw 2580074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I weaned at 20 months and it was about a 2 month process for us. DD1 was a total boob monster! I dropped the non-sleep feedings first for a couple weeks, then swapped naptime and bedtime nursing for sippy cups of warm milk while I rocked her. I do not recommend this- she got just as attached to the milk cups as she had been to nursing and it took me months and months to get her to stop needing milk to fall asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580072 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 21:03:34 +0000 Kemma 2580072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: you could try having a designated nursing chair / space during the day, he might be less inclined to nurse if it's an inconvenience for him!</p> <p>My big girl finally dropped her last session at 3y3m and we switched it out for two special new books, we had been talking about giving up her "nummies" and it took her 1-2 months to decide she'd rather have stories at bedtime. She had gradually dropped / reduced her daytime nursing as her nap schedule changed and my milk dried up due to pregnancy. Fortunately, although she was a real booby baby she wasn't too worried about nursing if we were busy and out and about so keeping busy was helpful for us. I also think that being that little bit older helped with her weaning because she understood when I explained that it wasn't comfortable for me and she was ok when I told her she could only nurse once a day.</p> <p>At the end of the day, you probably need to just make a plan and stick to it. Your wee guy will most likely protest the change but if you can stick with it for a week then you'll probably be over the worst of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2580027 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 18:47:18 +0000 skipra 2580027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was pretty gradual with both my kids. When they were able to drink cow's milk I started cutting back on the nursing sessions. I stopped offering it throughout the day and eventually they were just nursing before naps and bed and MOTN. When they went from 2 to 1 naps, there went another session. Next I cut them off MOTN. LO1 gave up bedtime session when LO2 was born and it was just a few months after that he was mostly just playing and not really nursing at the final nap session so I cut it off. LO2 kept both nap and bedtime until almost 2 but I think my supply was mostly gone and I was pregnant and it was super uncomfortable so I just ended it. When LO2 would ask for it at first I just gave him his cow's milk and he was pretty satisfied with that. He asked for about a week or so before it was the new normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579977 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 16:27:28 +0000 matador84 2579977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am really looking forward to reading this thread! I am going on a trip away next weekend and that will be my time to wean. My LO is 28 months old and demands it when I am home with her first thing in the morning and before bed at night. Since I've been home with her for the summer I've caved and nursed several times throughout the day to help her take a nap because it's easy. I'm over it though! I need her to just go to her crib at night and fall asleep on her own. She is nearly potty trained and we are switching her to a big girl bed soon, so I need her off the boob. </p> <p>When I had her 2 year well check 4 months ago, the ped told me when I'm ready just to go away for a weekend and take lots of Sudafed. I'm selfishly kind of sad, but really ready for a non-nursing mom life--I've been nursing almost non-stop since 2012!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579972 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 16:14:32 +0000 winniebee 2579972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gradually. Dropped a feeding or two a day starting at 11 months. By 13m he only nursed before bed and overnight. We totally weaned at 13.5 months. One night I just didn't offer before bed and he didn't ask. He continued waking overnight for a few weeks but I just gave a bottle of whole milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579950 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:42:55 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2579950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: good luck! It's silly for me to be giving you advice... My son is only 18 months but holy cow he's started nursing so so often! It frustrates me and I want to put limits on it so I don't end up totally burned out and quitting on a bad note. I can tell what kinds of things would work (not being at home, distraction) and may start implementing them myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579928 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:20:01 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2579928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter was a total boob monster at that age too. We fully weaned at 3y4mo. I started offering milk, or another beverage first and encourage cuddles. At night i let her nurse, break latch before she fell asleep and rock her to sleep. Eventually she would break latch on her own and I could leave before she was asleep. Once she was night weaned, the rest of the weaning came naturally. Towards the end I let her know she could only have milkies once a day, it was her choice right now, or later. That lead to days of no nursing and so on... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579907 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:38:08 +0000 PixieStix 2579907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugsmama: I think you're right.. and nope! Hardly ever asks for it unless he's super tired, and even then he doesn't really ask that adamantly.</p> <p>@LemonJack: I'll try. My activity here is very limited and random, but I'd love to be able to report when the nursing finally comes to an end.</p> <p>@twodoghouse: Thanks for that. It makes sense, considering that N slept better once I put him on a better schedule. Lol, go figure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579894 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:25:44 +0000 twodoghouse 2579894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't totally weaned, but I did cut back majorly because my twins were wanting to nurse around the clock. So right before they turned 2 I sort of instituted a schedule. Scheduling it (morning wake up, before nap, after nap if they ask, and bedtime) helped the kids a lot. If they asked to nurse in between the scheduled times, I would remind them "we nurse at naptime!" And it only took them a couple days to catch on and start talking about nap time is when they get to nurse. I think giving them a concrete time of when they cou do nurse was easier for me than saying no to them all day. Getting out of the house really helped them too, as they rarely ask to nurse when we are busy with something outside. But if we are reading or have a show on, they were used to nursing the whole time. So scheduling a lot of fun activities during the transition time helped a ton. Good luck, I know it was so hard on me emotionally but my kids did better than I expected once I started sticking to our schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579881 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:12:11 +0000 LemonJack 2579881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following as I'm in the same boat. DD turned 2 last month and I'm ready to drop the overnight feedings. I'm planning to do it this month but am dreading it. Keep us updated on how it goes for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579867 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:38:26 +0000 MrsRcCar 2579867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: I distracted E with lots of other things toys/snacks/"special" juice boxes. Sometimes he would fuss at me but I just continued to distract. It was easier. He didn't fuss at all when we dropped our finally session. N got him his cup and said here bubba your juice and that was it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579855 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:19:14 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2579855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: I think you need to distract distract distract! Does he nurse when you are out and about? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579838 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:57:56 +0000 PixieStix 2579838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: @Mrsbells: Sounds like gradual is the way to go.<br /> @catlady: Absolutely, it helps. Any insight with 'big kids' is something I can use!</p> <p>So how do you guys deal with the fussiness, when you say no to some of the feedings? I only say no every now and then but it feels mean. That darn mommy guilt sneaks up on me. Were you able to stand firm on your "no's" and got used to the crying? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579831 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:46:04 +0000 catlady 2579831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if this will be helpful for your situation. We replaced daytime nursing sessions with bottles pretty early on (around 13 months) and got down to just two sessions, morning and before bed. She was already sleeping through the night at that point. Around 17 or 18 months, I was tired of always being the one to get up with her in the morning, so we weaned from that session by sending DH in to get her in the mornings for about a week. She never asked for milk in the mornings after that. I finally weaned her from the before bed session at around 27 months by telling her that she was a big girl and that she didn't need mama's milk anymore. We told her that every evening for about a week and then one night I said, no mama's milk tonight and she accepted it. I think she cried a little that one night but by the next night, she was fine. So it ended up being very easy overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579826 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:43:28 +0000 Mrsbells 2579826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PixieStix: we weaned gradually. Once she turned a year a stopped pumping and only nursed at night or nap time then cut back to nights only. Then I would only nurse her to sleep but not breastfeed if you woke up in the night. Finally I just stopped breastfeeding her at night. It was tough for her but within about 2 weeks she was over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579824 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:42:03 +0000 MrsRcCar 2579824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We slowly worked our way down with E. We dropped any "extra" nursing sessions (like just because of comfort). A few days later we dropped the nap time session. Then about a week later bed time and a few days later wake up. He has been weaned for a bit now and sometimes will still ask I just offer his cup instead. It wasn't easy but we made it through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-decided-to-wean-your-toddler#post-2579805 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:21:31 +0000 PixieStix 2579805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>... Did you go cold turkey, or gradually? I'd love to hear stories from both.</p> <p>I've got a two year old (almost 28 months) who is CRAZY about the boobs. He needs it to fall asleep at night and nap time, and requests booby several times a day.</p> <p>He does not use a paci or bottle, or have any kind of lovey. He sleeps with me (DH has his own room) and uses booby to fall back asleep at night. He wakes up 3-4 times at night. But I feel so ready to stop now. I feel bad about it considering our rough start, but I'm getting annoyed with BF.</p> <p>He wants it when he's bored, fussy, watching a show, after getting a boo-boo, after playing outside. Blehhh. I do not want to be nursing a 3 year old. I just don't. </p> <p>I'm not against using DH to help us wean the night feedings but I'd prefer to handle this on my own. I'm leaning towards cold turkey method but I'm unsure of taking on that battle.</p> <p>So please, share your experience. Thanks in advance! </p>