Weaning a VERY RELUCANT 16 month old?

Question

I need some more information on weaning my 16 month old. I love the breastfeeding, and she loves it too, but it is getting to be way too much for me and I don't know how to go about weaning her.

The problem is that she has only ever fallen to sleep with the breast, and now when I try to put her to sleep, she will scream for milk or as she calls it "boobies!" and then when I give it to her, she just wants to play or takes it for just a few minutes and wants to get down. I need a new bedtime routine, and a way to do it so that it WORKS. She drinks milk and juice during the day from a sippy cup or a regular cup, but she always wants "boobies" ... basically all day she asks for it. She is still waking at all hours of the night and she shouldn't be anymore.

Please someone give me some good advice! Serious answers only please and people with some experience at weaning a toddler.

Answer 1

Any routine is good if it is a routine, you know snack bath teeth story tuck good night

I am guessing that what she misses is not the mike but the holding and cuddeling

why not give her a little bottle of water or juice or even milk while you are holding her (in the old nursing position) and sing her a song till she falls asleep

Answer 2

Why is it kids with bottles don't have these extreme issues when it is time to give them up at a year old? Sorry, but this is ridiculous at 16 months old. You need to get the kid some sippy cups and put regular milk in them and let her scream for a few days. When she learns you are not going backwards and not giving in any longer she'll get with it and eat normally.

Answer 3

You need to start replacing nursing with food.  Wear a shirt tucked in that she can not get to---put on backwards and wear a dress if you have too.  Sit her in your lap away from you when playing with her so she can not get to your breast.

Set a plan for the day and stick to it.  There will be crying.  Can someone else put her to bed for a week or so?  Is she drinking regular milk during the day?  Then, we know she likes it right.  

She will need to be distracted with new things.  Take her outside and keep her busy.  Go to library, museum, etc.  Keep her very busy.  Do puzzles, books, etc.

I have a 16 month old and she can do all those things.  So  just put them out there.  Wear her out and put her down for a rest and know that she will cry.  Give her  a luvvy or something.

My child still gets up occasionally too--she is teething.  No help there!  Smile.

Tell her "no boobie"  but you can have a cup!  She will understand and tantrum.  Be strong.

My daughter self weaned a couple of months ago and keeps trying to start again.

Good luck..it takes time and commitment.

Answer 4

I started by insisting that my son nurse at regular times (first thing in the morning and after naps). He stopped asking to nurse all day after a couple weeks, and was content with the times he got. Then I cut out his feedings one by one, and he hardly protested at all. I found other things to do, like instead of nursing after nap, we had a snack and went outside. The last feeding was the hardest, but I just told him no firmly and gently, and he accepted it. One thing you might try is cuddling with your daughter at bedtime instead of nursing. Snuggle and read a book, or sing a special song, as long as you do the same thing every night. It will be your new special time together. Good luck!

Answer 5

I went through the same thing with 2 toddlers (1 at 22 months and 1 at 19 months).

You can try reading stories, or watching TV together. Anything to distract from "the boob." When she wakes at night (and ANYONE who says BF'd babies sleep through night as well as bottle fed is full of c**p) just refuse and offer a sippy cup instead. She's gonna scream, she's gonna pitch a fit. But it will pass.

If you don't co-sleep, make sure you take her out for some cuddle time at night anyway, maybe another story or a song, just to make her feel you aren't abandoning her (they feel that way when refused the breast).

I empathize, darlin', I really do. It's so hard to wean babies who have well-established themselves on the breast. And the books are useless.

You just have to suss it out, figure what works best for her. Good luck! I don't ever want those days back, I'm glad they're a fond, beautiful memory though!

Answer 6

i had the same problem with my baby boy he only would take the breast and he would do the same thing only take it for a minute like a confort thing i guess. Well one day i had enough and i said no more milk its all gone. It was around 5 pm and he too woke up all hours of the night just wanting to suck doing it at night(because i had enough) was a lot easier for me because i didnt give in ever time he would wait up i would pat him back to sleep and then in the morning i didnt give in because i thought wow we made it through the night i dont want to mess up all that hard work he stopped asking for it in about a week. Good luck

Answer 7

At 16 months old, I'd probably start with night weaning, and then see how you feel.  Once you're sleeping well, then see how you feel about setting limits on daytime nursing.  

The link below is a great article on gentle nightweaning, and that technique has been useful for several moms I've known in situations similar to yours.

Answer 8

Also if the throws a big fit for them don't let her get the best of you. I think now she wants them more for attention than anything else so if she starts to cry for them do something else fun or just cuddle