Weaning 19 month old because I'm pregnant...?

Question

He eats plenty of food, but sees me as his walking, talking pacifier. (never wanted a plastic pacifier, none of our babies did, they used it as a toy) He does use a cup and has for many months.
Our other sons weaned at 15 months and 24 months on their own, but it was summer in both cases and they got really busy out of doors. I am pregnant and our 19 month old has some serious teeth! Lol
I have never initiated weaning and feel a little guilty, but I know it is time. He co-sleeps, as have they all, and nurses throughout much of the night. He doesn't have scheduled feedings, never has. I'm not sure how to distract him when we're all trapped indoors with the winter winds blowing out there.
When we go out, (library, market, etc.) he totally forgets about it. But when we're home, he wants to have a seat in my lap with a ninny. Lol
Thanks for your advice! :o)

We'll have however many babies the Lord sends. Thanks! :o)

Well, we can't get out until all of the studies are done. (Other two sons are 10 and 13 and have homeschooled from birth.)
We have plenty of evening clubs, etc., but while we study our books during the day, he knows he's got me. Lol

Answer 1

Well all the best advice by far is at:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html

Firtstly congrats on the pregnancy and way to go on the breastfeeding. Sorry about my typing I am NAK right now.

I am not, in the slightest telling you that weaning at this point is wrong, it is entirely your choice. However I do want you to know that you absolutely do not have to wean. You can breastfeed throughout pregnancy and you can feed a toddler and a baby. Check out:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/index.html

It is your choice, do what is best for you and your family. Not anybody else.

There is a fair chance you will loose your milk around 12 weeks this may (or may not -ack dry nursing gives me the willies, god save me from it if I get pregnant) or may not cause him to wean. Sometime during the third trimester your milk will change to colustrum, this also may cause weaning. On the other hand it is very sweet and may cause MORE nursing.

My favorite ideas (from a mom who has never weaned, so this is all based on stuff I have heard in my parenting groups ;-)

Night weaning: Set up a nightlight on a timer and when the light is on the ninny is sleeping. "Shhhh sleeping ninny, you sleep too". Gradually increase the amount of time the light is on each night.


Scheduled nursing:
Get a cheap clock. Replace the numbers with pictures and put pictures on the clock. Either only nurse at the same time each day. (IE tell your son he can nurse when the bear visits the dog, cat and mouse. Or more sneaky. Put the same picture on different hours during the day. Say you can nurse when the dog sees the cat. Reduce the number of cats over time.) Don't remind if he misses a feeding. Or you can have it so you only nurse at quarter after that way there is a chance each hour if he notices. He will pay more attention to the clock on days he really needs you.

Go walking around the mall or find a local parenting group to get out of the house.

Best of luck from another human pacifier who one day wants to have another (and hubby wants one right NOW! sheesh)

Answer 2

All of these are good tips-- also, you're going to lose some sleep (but hey, you're pregnant, so who's sleeping anyway, LOL) but you have to start breaking his latch at night-- You can try to be a ninja and do it without waking him up, or you can just break it and then cuddle him through the crying until he falls back asleep-- I did a combo of both. Your husband might want to camp out on the couch for a week while you do this. And once he's okay with letting go, you can start using other techniques (like turning on music or rocking) to get him back to sleep. We had to night-wean at about 20 months because of dental problems, and it was rough, but we also carried on the co-sleeping for a while. You probably want to night-wean first if you're going to try to get him out of your bed since you have a baby coming, so it's not like his whole world is collapsing around him if you do it in stages!

Answer 3

LOL..I have a feeling this is going to be a little more painful process than the other two. He probably sees his siblings drinking from cups, etc. I would probably start talking to him about being a "big boy" and drinking out of cups like his brothers, and give him a cup at lunchtime when they are eating. Another thing I would probably do is not have him sleep with you anymore, because keeping the "ninny" in front of him, but not allowing him to have it, would be torture for him. What I've found with my kids is "cold turkey" works the best, not "gradual" weaning. It's painful for about a week, but then you're done. Good luck!

Answer 4

Try giving him a special sippy cup whenever he wants to feed. I think you have created somewhat of a monster (so to speak) letting him nurse on and off all night. In any case you are going to have to replace yourself with the cup. I think it is mostly about the cuddling at this age so you could still hold him while he is drinking. He really should be sleeping throughtout the night without waking up to nurse at this point. This is going to take some time so you are going to have a lot of tears along the way but you will just have to stick to it if you don't want two nursing at the same time. Good luck.

Answer 5

Some older kids naturally wean themselves when a new baby comes along. Your milk will change to colostrum for the little 'un, and if he doesn't like the taste then your little boy will probably stop wanting to be fed.

Edit: There is no evidence to suggest that nursing causes you to miscarry. o.O If it did, the human race probably wouldn't have lasted so long. Nursing your son is not going to put the new baby at risk.

Answer 6

If you don't want to stop, don't. When you reach 20 weeks pregnant, your milk will change. Its your body's way of getting ready for the next child. The consistancy and taste will change, so he'll start disliking it and wean himself. Check with your doctor if you want a second opinion. Weaning can be hard, just cut out 1 feeding per week until he's no longer feeding from you. It will give your supply a chance to go down slowly so you don't engorge badly.

Answer 7

I was three months pregnant before anyone told me that nursing causes uterus contractions and therefore increases your chance of miscarriage, you must stop, he will be fine.

Answer 8

OMG So how many more kids are coming?lol Good Luck.