HELP in weaning 23mth old!!!

First of all, is it really bothering you that you nurse him to sleep? That's not a bad thing necessarily. If you really want to wean, you can try giving him a sippy cup of milk or water while you rock him, but otherwise, if you both still enjoy it, there's no "rule" that says you need to stop.

I did not nurse longer than the first month but I would assume that it is the same as bottle breaking at bedtime...just take it away.

All of mine lost their bottles on their first birthday, the oldest cried for a long time the first night, asked for it the next day a couple times and that was the end of it. My other 2 gave theirs up willingly before their first birthday.

I understand about wanting to enjoy every moment with your child; congratulations on having this precious miracle!! I had my third at 40 and so every stage ending was almost traumatic for me as I knew it would be my last experience. Is it even an option to have Dad take over rocking your child at bedtime? My first son was unwilling (what an understatement) to even take a bottle of breastmilk, much less a straight bottle. When he was 9 months old, I developed a horrible kidney infection and my milk dried up overnight. So my son had to be weaned to the bottle. Which he refused. So I had no choice but to wean him to a cup at 9 months. It was hard, but we did it. If dad can't help, I'm thinking you might have to just go cold turkey, it seems to me it will be too confusing to just slowly wean off the breast, especially since your child is almost 2 (my youngest is 2 so I relate). Its not like with a bottle you can put in water at night so they lose interest. And isn't it just the closeness your child really wants with you? Maybe when he/or she realizes Mommy holds just as well even without the breast; or maybe sing a song together. I got in the habit of putting my kids in the crib when they were sleepy but NOT asleep. And giving them some time to learn they could fall asleep on their own. I'm happy to say all three learned to fall asleep not being rocked, none of them ever cried themselves to sleep; just learned that is what you do, lay down and go to sleep at night after prayers and mommy kissing you goodnight. Goodluck!!

I will see if I can help you. There are one of two ways that might work. I am also a first time mom and had a hard time weaning my soon to be 2 year old. Some told me to just cut her off and let her cry and get use to it. But you might be like me and kind of enjoy the time together and and don't want to upset the little one. I still can't stand to let her cry herself to sleep. I first weaned her during the day and kept the night time feedings for about a month or two. I found that putting milk in a sport top Nuby cup worked. It was a different type of of "nipple thing" than a bottle so she took to that. And after a couple months, she would go to sleep with water in that bottle. The think that your little one probably likes the most is being next to you. So I would still cuddle up next to him while he has a bottle/cup. Hope this helps.

I'm chiming in as a mom who has nursed all three kids, first one til he was 2 1/2, second one until she was 3 and now I have a 9mo. (just so you know where I"m coming from)

I'd agree that there is no reason to stop nursing him to sleep unless it's bothering you. I *totally* understand about not being able to leave them with others at nap/bed time!! Esp this time around, my baby is a huge mamas boy who won't take a bottle or paci and pretty much just wants me. I guess what I keep telling myself is that I know full well how fast this time goes, and in a heart beat, they are grown up and don't need what they need as babies/toddlers. It helps me to keep on going to consider it with that perspective.

Also, something to think about (only if it encourages you, I always say "take what you like and dump the rest :)" is that historically and still today in much of the rest of the world, weaning from the breast didn't happen until 3-4 years old. So you are in no way doing anything *weird* by continuing to nurse as long as it is a happy thing for both of you.

I found both of my big kids weaned almost on their own because they did it when *they* were ready. I'm not sure I have any "advice" about how to do that ( you could look at the La Leche League website, I bet they have articles). I would imagine it is much different than weaning from a bottle, since a bottle is a plastic *thing* and your breasts are, for better or for worse :) attached to your body!

I'm glad you are enjoying your baby so much, they are such a blessing and the time really does fly by!! Best of luck to you!

Hi! I dont have any advice really beacause I only nursed for about the 1st month, but just wanted to say WOW! And WOW to all the mommys who nursed that long!! I wish I could have with my son, but with going back to work, post partum depression and a really sucky pump it just didnt work. I cried when I stopped and it was a VERY hard decision. I think nursing is the best bonding experience you can have with your child!! So I just wanted to say that i think its great you have nursed so long, and good luck with the weaning, I bet thats gotta be difficult, for both of you :) And good luck on your baby! Two year olds are so fun (most of the time)
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I agree with other mama's, if your enjoying it why stop now. Although I can see it being tough not being able to leave him with anyone close to nap or bedtime. There are many benefits to extending breastfeeding out there. However if you do want to change it up I personally wouldn't reccomend cold turkey as breastfeeding can be a very intimate relationship, but that's my personal opinion. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you and your son though.

It's different for me because I wasn't nursing at the time, but my concern was for our son falling asleep with milk on his teeth. What we did was withdraw the nipple from his mouth a little earlier and earlier every few days until he was still awake and it was being taken away. It took a good few weeks to get him to not make that little sucking face with his lips -which if he ever did, we gave the bottle back- and eventually he was okay to feed, then just cuddle for a few minutes before being placed in bed. He was groggy after that, but not quite asleep. From there it was another few weeks until we were able to just rock him some and put him in bed still awake. I felt it was time for him to be sleepy, but not asleep and adjust to taking it the rest of the way himself. He is almost three now (four days from it) and still likes to rock, but we've integrated stories and such, so it's more of a lights ON sort of bedtime. Works well for all of us.

I also a SAHM and nursing a two year old. It takes time, patience and a lot of love and understanding to break sleep nursing. We spent many weeks going back and forth; nurse, cuddle, nurse, cuddle, etc. She eventually started falling to sleep during the 'cuddle' times and not needing to nurse to sleep as much. Sometimes it worked to nurse her and then let daddy rock her and put her to sleep. My husband started getting up with her at night and that also helped. You might have some stressful nights but you will make it through. I agree with what EarthMother said; don't stress and just enjoy it, it goes by way too fast.

I don't have any real advice for weaning because we have always practiced child led weaning. Nursing at two is not that unusual since children really don't outgrow the need for nursing until much older. I can recommend some books Mothering your Nursing Toddler & How Weaning Happens. You can find them on Amazon, through LLL or perhaps free at your library.
As long as you are both happy then enjoy your nursing relationship. If you need to eliminate some sessions then you can offer snacks while you read a story and cuddle or plan other activiites during those times or teach your child that nursing is for night time or whatever else works for you.