I have a 13 month old girl and I am currently breastfeeding 3 times a day, although even that is a struggle as she wants a lot more. I am 2 months pregnant and really want to stop the feeding way before birth of second child - I don't want to be tandem feeding, as it will be tiring enouth just looking after them and I presonally think toddlers should be moving on and becoming more independent.
Anyway I'm finding it really hard as she really likes feeding and is constantly pulling on my top, if she doesn't get fed she cries and is really annoyed. I try distracting her with a cup of milk or juice and a cuddle but that doesnt really work.
I have heard conflicting advice on what is the best way to stop - some say cold turkey, some say gradually.
What is your advice?
2006-10-25 08:50:40 · 18 answers · asked by cigaro19 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Why do you keep saying don't breastfeed someone you can have a conversation with?
Since when can you have a conversation with someone whos only words are no, that and there?
2006-10-25 09:09:54 · update #1
You need to break your toddler of that. It is ok to give cows milk at this time. warm it up before you give it to her. It's not a good Idea to stop cold turkey. But only you can decide if you want to stop cold turkey or not. Warming the milk up will let her think that it is still you only in a cup. Take it down to just two feedings for a week and then take it down to only once by the end of that week she should be ready to stop feeding off you. But like I said only you can decide if you are going to go cold turkey or not. But I would suggest it. It will make her worse than what she is acting now.
I agree people need to stop telling you that you can have a conversation with a 13 month old. How IS it that you can have a conversation with someone who doesn't really comprehend what you are really saying unless it is no or yes.
2006-10-25 08:55:18 · answer #1 · answered by Kimberly S 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Oh, he is getting nutrition from you - maybe not all of it, but it is there. So what is the problem? Your husband? Well, the baby is still a baby, until he turns 3 years old, and really kids don't need or really want their dads until they are 4 - and my son who I nursed until 2 years is plenty independent but not overly so either (as in he doesn't run off away from us). As for separation anxiety, well weaning him isn't going to help that and will in fact make it worse.
2016-05-22 13:26:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh I am so feeling for you. My son was 15 months when I became preg with baby 2. HE was still nursing 4 times a day and twice a night..I cut him off at night at 18 months then gradually my milk decreased and he was down to once a day by the time number 2 was born in August.
So the fact that my milk was running dry helped.
My method was don't ask don't offer. If he didn't bing it up I wouldn't either. Denying it when they ask will just open a whole new can of worms which is just more stressful then letting them nurse. My son was 24 1/2 months when #2 was born adn still nursed one time every few days..now he is 27 months and nurses once a week just to see if I will let him it isn't so bad just alittle annoying...gl
2006-10-26 16:55:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try trading it out. At this point, the nutritional value isn't an issue. It is a comfort for her. Try trading it out for something. A doll, or a security blanket. And don't breast feed until bed time she'll adjust and then eventually she won't want it. And so you don't quit cold turkey, try telling her that she can have your milk right before bed. you also don't want to "tandem" feed because more bacteria will be passed to the new born, and, nipple stimulation can trigger labor/contractions.
She may throw a fit, but eventually, she will get hungry enough to take the bottle.
I also wouldn't suggest quitting cold turkey because that could cause resentment from your daughter toward the new baby.
good luck.
2006-10-25 09:16:14 · answer #4 · answered by Laura R 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wow I feel for you, I think I'm glad that breastfeeding for me stoped at 7 months cause at a year and pregnant that's going to be tough, but try substituting a little more, sippy cup with milk or juice and maybe she'll wing off before 9 months. Good Luck
2006-10-27 18:13:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being pregnant, you are really not going to have much of a choice but to stop. Your body is going to start "reallocating" those nutrients to the growing baby and will make less and less milk. (I don't think that you are doing anything wrong by nursing her at this age. In many other places in the world, moms will nurse until age 2 or 3. It can't harm them. It seems to disgust most people in this "civilized" nation.)
You should start by only nurse her twice a day......once in the morning and once at night. Then cut out the morning feeding. After a while, you will start having to cut out the night nursing. Your daughter will soon realize that you do not want to nurse (She will start picking up on how you feel about it...and don't let her pick up on any guilt that you might be feeling.) and hopefully with the decreased milk production that she will not be as interested.
If your daughter is not wanting to be a baby anymore, encourage her to be a big girl and reward her when she make the choice to be a big girl. You might want to let her have some control of what she drinks and what she drinks out of. You might let her pick out her cups or let her pick out "her" bottle of juice. You might even want to treat her to chocolate or strawberry milk when she does not nurse.
I hope this helps!
2006-10-25 09:20:19 · answer #6 · answered by Mum to 3 cute kids 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I talked to a few parents who did this and they said it worked and still benefited with health and emotional benefit still.
They would pump enough for one cup a day of breast milk, place in sippy cup and rock them as if they were in the breast feeding position. Sing to them, rock them and talk to them. Adding in cow milk instead of breast milk. There is a difference in taste and your daughter might bulk at it for alittle bit. Warming it up a little also might help.
Then gradually (with in a month time), the milk would be completly cow milk (or soy milk, based on the parenting diet)
I don't know if that is what you meant by "cuddling" or not, but can repititious it and see if she catches on.
As far as breastfeeding, once in awhile can help her wean off it. Some children can do it cold turkey with alittle battle while others will give a major war. Do what you feel is best for your child and talk to more parents who are battling the same thing.
2006-10-25 09:13:09 · answer #7 · answered by Mutchkin 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
This will be the first of MANY times your daughter wants to do something you don't want her to do. Please realize you're in control and you can tell her no more. If she cries and gets really annoyed - so what. She'll get over it. Come up with a story about how she's no longer a baby and will be drinking from a big girl cup from now on. Take her to the store and let her pick out a new big girl cup. After that, when she demands breast feeding, tell her firmly 'no' you drink from a big girl cup now. She'll get over it/used to it in a few days - a week tops...as long as you are firm. Go cold turkey.
2006-10-25 08:58:31 · answer #8 · answered by ravenwood4455 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
You're just going to have to stop cold-turkey. You don't want to be breastfeeding her when you're 6 or 7 months pregnant or even worse--9 months pregnant and about to pop!
Just tell her "no" (but nicely) and tell her she is going to drink from a big girl cup from now on. Maybe even take her to pick out her own "big girl cup" from the store.
Give her praise for drinking out of a cup/sippy cup and tell her she's doing a great job. Maybe try telling her "Mommy doesn't have any more milk in there..sorry." (Meaning you don't have anymore breastmilk therefore she can't breastfeed anymore) Tell her it's all gone and she drank it all. There's plenty of ways to do it, and it doesn't have to be some traumatic thing with her if you handle it the right way. Good luck and congrats on your new little one :-)
2006-10-25 08:56:00 · answer #9 · answered by CelebrateMeHome 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
I would think that you know best. I have watched a lot of this on TV, kids at 6+7 still feeding from there mums. I am not really sure as i only had 1 child and shes 22 now. Really was something i missed out on as she wouldn't feed from me. I wish you well on what ever you descide to do
2006-10-25 09:04:36 · answer #10 · answered by chass_lee 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋