How do we wean our 3 1/2 year old son?

Question

We have two sons one almost 8 and the breast feeding youngest son of 3 1/2 years.

The eldest breastfed until age four, but now, the breastfeeding is interfering with the relationship between the two boys as my wife needs to be in their bedroom to breastfeed. Our youngest has been able to stop wetting his bed since moving into a shared room with his older brother.

The breastfeeding child still has an afternoon nap most days of the week so he is often active in the evening, while his older brother is tired and wants to go to sleep. He breastfeeds around four times a day while my wife is at home. Other times my wife is at work.

We are also concerned about disturbance to sleeping patterns due to night feeds.

We are concerned about supporting our son during the weaning process and ensuring that he can adapt to changing nutrition. Our eldest son became quite thin after stopping breastfeeding.

We also need to promote more physical activity and social activity for our family too.

Answer 1

They need different rooms. They are too far apart in years to share easily.

I would introduce a cup of milk right before the usual feeding time to see if that helps.

Answer 2

Firstly, I would get them into seperate rooms. They are to far apart in years to share rooms. It's unfair on your older son.

Secondly, cut out the afternoon nap. At 3 and a half, he should be ready to get through the day without it. If he's enegetic in the evening, he'll be keeping your older son up at night.

As for the breast feeding, start cutting down. Going cold turkey will hurt him emotionally. Start cutting down one feed at a time.

Answer 3

I breastfed my kids untill they was 1 1/2 years old. So I know what your wife is going though. If you want to stop the breastfeeding I buy all kinds of kids cups with diff colors, and size. I tell them its a big kid cup and its only for them. I would put the breast milk in the cup and slowing start out with D milk. For the night feeding I get a kid cup they pick out and put breask milk in when it's time for feeding they would drink from the cup I would tell them what a big kid thing to do and they would go back to sleep.For the family activity and social we have no T.V for 2 hrs and the kids will color, play family games that we make up for their age. For social I do play date's with other parent's from the school or preschool. I hope that help you out.

Answer 4

I wouldn't cut him off all at once, that will hurt him emotionally.  Cut back at first...Nurse him once at night.  After a while you can wean him completely.  Make sure that he has a lovey, or such, to replace the breast for his security.  Good luck to you!