Gradually cutting back the number of times you breastfeed during the day is the weaning method of choice for experienced BabyCenter moms. Not only did a slow approach help stave off the breast engorgement and depressionthat can accompany early or abrupt weaning, but it made the transition to a bottle or cup an easy one. While some moms had no problem nursing a toddler through a second pregnancy, most found the physical demands too much and opted to wean at that time. Teething prompted others to start cutting back on nursing. What wasn't recommended? Going coldturkey. In fact, those who tried it swore they'd never do it again.
The following are weaning strategies sent in by members of the BabyCenter community. We hope they'll help you with your own weaning decisions.
Snack vs. breast
I nursed for almost 12 months and started weaning around 11, by dropping a feeding out every few days until the evening meal was the last one left. I replaced it with a snack and whole milk before his bath and stories. Then after reading a few books, I rocked him and sang to him for a few minutes before placing him in his crib.
—Maria Steiner
I weaned my baby at 10 months and it was really easy. I just started giving him a cup with some juice at snacktime, and a bottle instead of nursing once a day. Then I increased the bottle to twice a day, and so on, until he was completely off the breast.
—Jennifer Tribout
Let your child lead the way
In spite of my mother telling me that it was "embarrassing" for me to still be nursing my son at 18 months, I let him tell me when he wanted to wean and at what pace. We got down to just twice a day for a month or so. He was finally completely weaned at 20 months. I didn't even realize he was weaned until one day it dawned on me that he hadn't nursed for almost a full week. No emotional trauma, no engorged breasts. Just a happy and loving end to a very special relationship.
—Maridee Hunter
Change bedtime routines
My then 26-month-old daughter Elise's favorite time to nurse was at night, right before bed. Instead of nursing, I read to her from her favorite books. She would then drink her milk, and snuggle into the pillows ready for sleep. It took a few weeks to get her used to the routine — and some crying — but we learned to bond in a different way.
—Jackie Duda
Introduce the cup
I started giving my son a cup periodically at about 6 months. When I stopped breastfeeding him at about a year, he was so used to the cup that he didn't even care that I'd stopped nursing him.
—Tina Hogan
A few months before my son's second birthday, he and I shopped for a special cup. He picked out a red one with a built-in straw. I began to substitute a cup of warm water for the breast and let him choose the times to give up nursing. He still uses his special red cup for his bedside water and we still cuddle in my bed every morning.
—Jill Fox
Avoid familiar nursing positions and places
When I became pregnant, my son was 19 months old. I started to cut down the feedings gradually until it was mainly at nap time and bedtime. As I became more pregnant, my breasts became tender and breastfeeding painful so I had to stop. I avoided getting into our favorite nursing positions and places so as not to trigger any breastfeeding associations.
—Jessica Bailey
Tricks for the family bed
I weaned my daughter just shy of her second birthday. When she woke in the middle of the night, I would just hold her until she drifted back to sleep when she realized there would be no "nursy." I kept a cup of milk ready for her when she woke up in the morning, then we read, read, read until she got used to this pattern and not nursing. Bedtime was tough. I would just say no, mommy has no more milk or I'd let her dad take her to bed and I stayed away until she drifted off.
—Cindy Haskell
What not to do: Go cold turkey
I weaned my son on his first birthday because I thought that's what I was "supposed" to do. It was terrible! Neither one of us was ready to wean. The night I stopped nursing I was so engorged, and he was a screaming mess. Our lives were upside down for weeks. With my next two children, I let them decide when to wean and it's been a much more pleasant experience.
—Terry Kent
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