After showing NO signs of being ready to wean, I cut Liv cold turkey from the boob at 18 months. It was a little rough at first, but she did ok and stopped asking for it. Just recently (shes 20 months,) she has been BEGGING for it and SCREAMING if I dont give it to her. I figured "go for it, theres nothing left in there" and unfortunately, that little exposure was like crack. Theres no milk, but she only wants it for comfort. Problem is, now she wants to sleep latched on ALL NIGHT LONG. Has anyone else dealt with a regression like this? Why did it happen? And how do I re-wean her? I was just away for 4 days, and the second I walked back in the house, she pulled down my shirt and asked for it. Im so ready to be done....
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That is a tough one. I do not have any experience with actually wanting the boob but DS was obsessed with his paci. He LOVED that thing I finally weaned him of it at 3yr old. I tried almost everything but the only thing that worked was just taking it away cold turkey. It was a rough week but it did work. Maybe try not letting her nurse anymore. Just refuse it and she will eventually stop asking for it.
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I would say just stop allowing her to. It's not like you are feeding her, it's just for comfort, so redirect her to a new thing. Maybe a paci or a new toy to love? I would stop cold turkey.
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Wow. I am going through something similar with my toddler. We weaned right at 18 months (she was down to only once or twice a day anyways). Its now been just over a month and she is constantly touching my chest (reaching down my shirt, skin to skin). I really think she misses the bonding connection.
So I have give in twice and let her try but there is nothing there. After a minute or two she stopped and said "All done?" and I said yes, its all gone.
She hasn't asked to nurse again, but she still CONSTANTLY wants to physically be touching me skin to skin.
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Oh I should also add, that after a bad soar throat the other month she also suddenly got attached to a paci. Yes at 18 months she decided she wanted to take a paci for the first time in her life. So we cut the boob out but she still is obsessed with a paci. If you are really desperate I would maybe try a paci or bottle and see if that offers the comfort she needs? I figure I will wean her from those later.
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@T.H.O.U.: Ive tried a paci. Shes never taken one and still wont. She weaned herself off the bottle at 11 months and still has no interest. She uses her old one to pretend feed her baby and thats it. She knows that "milkies" are all gone. She just needs it for comfort. It kind of kills me and makes me feel like Im not adequately providing her with closeness if shes that desparate to have it back. Im sure thats just mommy guilt, but thats how it makes me feel.
@Mrs.B: @MrsTiz: I think Im just gonna have to deal with some screaming...ugh
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@LivsMama: What about something like @T.H.O.U.: mentioned. Just holding her on your chest, maybe with a bra or tank top on so she can get the comfort but not try and feed.
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@LivsMama: Will she shower with you? My LO loves to be held in the shower with the water hitting her back. I'm not big into baths, but this is a great way to get some skin to skin bonding.
While you are cutting it out, I'm sure there will be screaming but maybe with lots of attention, special activities, treats, and bonding she will still feel the good connection?
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oh man i feel your pain. i could totally see olive doing that (though she's still not weaned at almost 18 months).
if i let her anywhere near my boobs without letting her nurse she'd throw a fit!
how about if you put lemon juice on your nipples? a lot of moms use that trick to wean. or something more unappetizing (some kids like the taste of lemon) like vinegar.
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@MrsTiz: she roots around frantically looking for the nipple like shes an infant. Even in her sleep, ll suddenly feel her gnawing on my shirt or neck. Its a total regression, Im baffled.
@T.H.O.U.: She will, and we shower together occasionally. She enjoys it.
@Mrs. Bee: You know, thats a good idea. She likes lemon and vinegar though, so Id have to do something else. Franks red hot sounds mean, but I know she hates it lol.
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@LivsMama: she could be going through some developmental spurt and this could be just a phase!
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@Mrs. Bee: it could be. Shes been much more vocal lately and is getting super tall, so I wonder if thats what it could be. Plus shes cutting her eye teeth. And going through some serious 20 month separation anxiety lol
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I was just going to ask if she was cutting teeth. My LO isn't completely weaned but when she's not cutting teeth she doesn't nurse much at all, when she is cutting teeth it's like the only thing that soothes her. It is fairly annoying but at the same time it's hard because she acts completely desperate and not easily distracted from her nursing goal, when normally she isn't like that. Sorry I donno what the answer is, just last time after her teeth came in she went back to normal.
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