How do I wean a 2yr.old from breast?

Question

SHE JUST TURNED 2 IN JULY AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE SHE WAS BORN. NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK AND I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO HELP ME OR THAT I CAN LEAVE HER WITH, SHE IS USED TO ME AND ME ONLY AND DOESN'T CLING TO ANY TOYS OR BOTTLES OR CUPS. SHE DOESN'T DRINK MILK AT ALL. ALL SHE WANTS IS WHAT SHE CALLS MY MILK " ME MEES" I AM SO TIRED OF HAVING HER CLING ON TO ME ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M EATING. PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

My son also had a hard time giving up nursing. First of all, you can set limits at age 2. If she wants to nurse, and it is not a good time, give her a hug and redirect her. Get her involved with a toy or if it is mealtime, her meal. At 2, she can eat meals at the same time you do. Also, let her pick out a special cup or two from the store. If it is not convienent to nurse, just offer her milk in the special cup. She can understand the choice either the cup or nothing.
Weaning does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Some women choose to wean during the day and breastfeed at night, depending on their work situation and their schedules. It's up to what works for the mother and the baby.

Here are some suggestions for making the transition easier for both of you:

Engage your child in a fun play activity or an outing during the time when you would usually nurse.
Avoid sitting in your usual nursing spots or wearing your usual nursing clothes.
Delay weaning if your child is trying to adapt to some other change in his life. Trying to wean your child when he or she is just beginning child care or when teething is probably not a good idea.
If your baby is younger than a year, it's a good idea to introduce a bottle or cup when you would typically be nursing. If he or she is older than a year, try a healthy snack or maybe even just a cuddle.
Try changing your daily routine so that you are otherwise engaged when you would typically be breastfeeding.
Enlist your partner's help to provide a distraction at a typical nursing time.
If your child begins to pick up a comforting habit such as thumb sucking or becomes attached to a security blanket, don't discourage it. Your child may be trying to adjust to the emotional changes of weaning.

Answer 2

I know how you feel because I experienced the same scenario three times. (I've got 3 kids) I would just tell them that the milk was all gone...that they drank it all! When you say this you can never make the mistake of letting them suckle or they won't believe you again. At this age it is mostly for comfort, so whenever you take something this huge from a child you want to have something as a replacement. Something for comfort and especially something that only mommy and daughter can do together...some special time. To your daughter nursing is her mommy and baby special time. Although she is not so baby anymore. So when your ready be firm and spend lots of time with her because it is a hard transition.

Answer 3

I agree with the first 2 responses. Although I would think the night nursing is the one you would want to wean last. Find what works for you. I have a funny story that my aunts friend told of weaning her son. Her son was doing the same thing and same age as your daughter. She just lost patience with weaning and one day while her son was sleeping she took a red lip liner pencil and drew red dots on her breasts. When her son woke up wanting to nurse she told him sorry mommies "me mees" are sick. She showed him the red spots and he didn't want to nurse after that lol. Like I said find what works for you. :0)

Answer 4

I would maybe let her pick out her own special "big girl" sippies so she can get jazzed about trying whole milk. Most folks I know who nurse to two years are down to morning and night nursing only - I would try to gradually cut back on the frequency of her nursing, and really hype up drinking water or milk.

Answer 5

Slower is better... first you need to start setting some boundaries. At 2, your daughter is definitely old enough to learn that she can only nurse at certain times. Start by limiting nursing to appropriate times.

If you haven't night weaned, try that first. Night weaning is usually the first step.

Weaning cold-turkey can be traumatic, and is not recommended.

Answer 6

Tell her the milk is all gone now, and take her to pick out a new special cup to replace it.

Answer 7

Check out http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html

Answer 8

UMMM DONT TAKE OFFENSE But sometimes you just need to be stern........ she is 2 dont let her "latch" on anymore. That must be embarresing! hand her a bottle and say THIS IS ME MEES!!!!!!!!!!