how do you get a 2 yr old to stop breastfeeding?

Question

although i am only the father I i get very emotional hearing my daughter cry.
How do you get a 2yr old girl to stop breast feeding without major tantrums

Answer 1

You have to do it slowly. If she breastfeeds more than once a day, then for one of those times start giving her a sippy cup. Maybe take her to the store and let her pick out a couple sippy cups. Call them her "big girl cups" so she'll be excited to use them. After a week or so of doing that, start slowly breastfeeding less and less. She will have tantrums, but if she does just comfort her and tell her that she is a big girl now and getting too big for mommy to feed her. It'll be hard at first, but after awhile it'll go smoother and be easier. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 2

Congrats to you and your wife for giving your child the very best, breastmilk!! I agree with another who said to be sure the mother is ready to wean the child as well.
I have a 21 month old who is still nursing and we plan to do so until he is two. There IS still nutritional value after 1, by the way! (email me if you want the data)
Knowing that I would only breastfeed until he was 2, we have been slowing dropping nursings. The first ones were the night ones. When he woke and did the nurse sign (ASL) I would tell him, "no, it's night, time to sleep." He would just go back to sleep.
The next nursing we dropped were the nap time (before & after) nursings, I had dad put him down and be there when he woke to immediately distract him.
We are down to bedtime and morning. The bedtime will be OK because dad can put him down...we started slowly, where I would nurse him then leave the room and dad would hold him and put him to bed. Eventually I will not nurse at that time.
Most people say the morning nursing is easy to drop because you can just get up and go!! But for us that will be the hardest!
Good luck!

Answer 3

I have a 21 month old son who is still nursing. Tell your wife congrats for nursing so long it is very hard. My son is down to a morning, nap, and bedtime feeding. But is still up every 3-4 hours a night feeding. We are slowly weaning. He takes cups and bottles, but at night he enjoys the comfort of me. I think babies will wean themselves when they are ready. Also there is no negative findings on breastfeeding after a year, only positive. So don't let people tell you there is something wrong with breastfeeding for so long. This is the best thing we can give our children. Good Luck and tell your wife to enjoy this time because it will be over soon. P.S. Try finding another soothing activity your wife can do instead of nursing.

Answer 4

First....Does the mother wish to wean your daughter too? If she doesn't then the breastfeeding relationship has no reason to end.

I breastfed for 2 years and 6 months and my daughter weaned herself. I never refused but never offered.

If your wife is wanting to wean now, i would recommend eliminating all daytime nursing first. Eliminate the favorite feeding last. This is a delicate process and should be done slowly and with lots of love. You must keep in mind that this relationship has been a very close one and can be hard to let go of. Much differnt than a hard platic bottle and crappy ole rubber nipple ;)

Answer 5

First of all, you should be proud of your wife that she has been able to do it for so long!
Nowadays, people are in such a rush to wean, have kids sleep through the night, potty trained and send them off to school!
Kids are all different, some need the comfort of breastfeeding and some get weaned on their own.
My daughter weaned herself at the age of 18 months. It started by us going out in the evening, and by the time we came back home, she had fallen asleep in the car - so there was no need for nursing. It happened exactly 2 nights in a row, and after that she never asked again.
Please, don't stress over it - I am sure that she will not be 10 and breastfeeding! It will end at some point.
My advice: don't push into weaning and don't rush. The more you try, the harder she will resist.
Maybe she still needs that closeness with her mother!
Good luck!

Answer 6

Try giving her a sippy cup and have you wife do what she normally does with her when she breast feeds. It's gonna be hard because shes a little older but just take one step at a time, I know you don't like to hear her cry and have a tantrum but some times you have to let them do that just to show your not going to give into them. Good luck

Answer 7

Just say no and mean it. The crying is hard, but will be short lived. Try rewarding her with a treat if she goes all day without the breast. Eventually she will lose interest. Introduce her to regular milk and sippy cups. They make cute ones with bright colors and decorations. Tell her big girls use them. Be sure she gets plenty of loving attention from both parents during this transition so she doesn't feel she is being rejected.

Answer 8

You have to do it slowly, one feeding at a time. Make it a big deal to go pick out a really awesome sippy cup at the store. Make sure you mention how you are so proud of her for being a big girl and how she's going to use this special big girl cup. You can wean her down to one feeding and then just phase it out. 2 year olds can reason more than we give them credit.

Answer 9

A 2 year old breastfeeding ! You may go thru a few days of whining and crying but its best just to do it and get it over with. Does this child use a cup as well? I hope so. Just give her lots of praise on what a big girl she is and have patience it wont take long.Tell her thats for babies and next time (if there is one) stop sooner like 1 year And goodness dont give her a bottle like someone suggested its just something else to wean her off of later. A sippy cup is best.

Answer 10

Congrats to your family for breastfeeding until the age of 2!
You have to wean her slowly.
Start by weaning her of 1 feeding for a few days, until she gets used to it, then wean another feeding. Again waiting a few days between so she gets used to it. Before you know it, she'll be boob free!