Trying to wean??

Question

I've breastfed my daughter for almost 16 months now, and this week we've been trying to wean. She is getting a bit more used to the idea of not nursing, but we have absolutely no routine at all at bedtime now. We start rocking, she gets really upset, so i try to lay with her and cuddle...she doesn't like that, I pace with her in my arms...doesn't work. So, she finally ends up falling asleep from exhaustion after rolling/fussing around on the bed for about 90 min. I think it would be easier for her to transition if she could get back into a routine. How can i help her?? Any advice would be gratly appreciated.

Answer 1

It's going to be a while before she gets used to a new routine. But start a new one now and be consistent. You can try giving her a bath and brushing teeth, then read a story to her, and then a bottle if you want to give her one. I wouldnt give her milk at night though (it can sit on teeth and lead to decay) but you can give her water if she'll take it. Don't do anything very stimulating like watching TV or playing with toys-that's just going to make it harder for her to fall asleep. The main thing is to just be consistent. She'll adjust to the new routine in time.

Answer 2

Have you weaned all other feedings? Usually the morning feeding and the bedtime feeding are the last to go. If you are working on weaning the bedtime feeding you may need to just let her cry it out altough, like you said, a routine would be best. Try starting with a warm bath, then reading to her in a rocking chair in her room or in her bed/crib. keep the lights low and the area as quiet as possible. Use a lullaby c.d. works to help her calm down and sleep. This worked with my first and second but my third wouldn't do anything but cry no matter what I did! Hopefully these suggestions work for you.

Answer 3

Have you tried warm cereal at night? A good idea i found when weaning my daughter was to leave the house and let my husband feed her when I was usually nursing. She knew my husband wasn't going to breastfeed her! Ask the baby's father to put her to bed if you can. If this is not possible, try to get into a routine.. warm bath, book, cereal and same bedtime every single night. Try some calming music. remeber to turn off the lights too! The brain gets ready for sleep when there is no light! It also gives your baby lessto look at to keep her up.. hope this helps

Answer 4

Since everything I read indicated that it is best for babies to choose when to wean, we went with that method. So, all of this stress, sturm and drang, tears, fussing, etc is completely foreign to me. Just nurse on demand, sleep with your baby or hold her until she falls asleep, and move on with your life. It is so much easier just to do what nature intended that to keep fighting it, trying to make humans, who are primates, into reptiles or something.

No other primate besides humans even puts their baby down for the first few years. This is how our babies evolved. This is what they require. Give them what they need - no separation from mommy, nurse on demand, mommy's arms on demand. It's a pretty simple recipe and it's so satisfying because everyone is happy - unlike when you fight nature and try to force babies to adapt to non-healthy adult notions.

Answer 5

I have a question...why are you trying to wean her? Just curious...when I know that, I can provide some suggestions

Answer 6

i weaned my son who slept with me and nursed on demand when he was 15 months and it finally worked at 18 months. I finally had to let him cry it out one time and he was good from then on. I walked around bouncing him ... rocked him...sat with him for hours...you name it I tried it. It BROKE my heart to let him cry it out because I never ever had....but it did work. I'm so thankful it worked. I thought his pediatrician was cruel. but it worked.