4 years later..

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Look Who's Talking…

: by Tana0186; Posts 2

Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:56 am

Hi ladies!! I haven't posted on any BZ boards in almost 3 years ( I was in the Feb 08 DDC for 2 years) and I have dearly missed them. I am rather new to this again since I see many things have changed. My little man will be 4 on Saturday! He is still nursing at will though! I really loved nursing him and my daughter both but I am feeling like 4 is the time to stop as he will be starting school in August. Does anyone have any tips on how to get him to wean off in a decent amount of time, or how to end it without really hurting his feelings or confusing him? I have tried to explain to him that when he turns 4 he cannot nurse anymore and when I ask him what happens when he turns 4 he says a birthday party and no more nursing. However, he still begs for it and when I tell him not now you have to wait he screams and cries. This is really the only time he throws fits like that except for a rare occassion. My husband really dislikes the fact I nursed him past 1 so that does not help either! I really would love to wean him off soon I just am unsure how to go about it. Should I just tell him the day after or on his birthday that no more and then stick to it or should I wean him off.

I will add that it is not constantly though the day. He wants it before bed usually until he falls asleep which I am not loving these days. He wants it when hes hurt or sad which I understand so I do not want to make him feel insecure or scared when he is sad or hurt.

: by SelenaJean; Posts 6935

Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:48 am

I think I would start with a time limit for his nursing sessions like tell him he can only nurse until you count to a certain number or sing a song etc. Once he's used the that I would then cut out sessions one at a time. Since he is so attached I thinking quiting cold turkey would be really hard on him. By the way Congratulations for nursing 4 years!

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: by Diener; Posts 2617

Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:27 pm

Congrats on 4 years!! Sounds like it has been tough on you, though, so I hope you are able to wean your little man soon and with ease.

I am a total NUB as extended breastfeeding, so I will fumble around with trying to help. Have you tried asking him what it is about nursing that he likes? If you can figure out what exactly he is needing from it, you might be able to find other ways to provide that to him. If he loves the taste of the milk, maybe you can substitute some chocolate milk or a milkshake or something when he wants to nurse at night. Or if it is the closeness and being held, maybe you can hold him and have a special song just for him, or something like that? Maybe he can come up with some ideas of his own on what will help him?

Please let us know how your efforts go so I can learn from it!

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: by Tana0186; Posts 2

Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:46 pm

Thanks! I actually really enjoyed nursing him for so long it has just been the last few months that are really hard. 3-4 times a day he'll run over and want to cuddle up then he'll nurse for maybe a minute and then get down and run away to play. When he gets hurt or is sad he wants to cling right to me. I just know that with everything going on in our lives right now and him starting school early in august it is time for him to stop. I will be trying to counting or the song for him starting today! I think he'll start to just love laying there with a song or counting just with him. I just want to make this as easy as possible for him!! I was also thinking about giving him a sippy cup he can take with him to fall asleep but i've always heard thats bad to do. What do you think? Would it be ok to substitute the sippy for nursing and make that his special thing? I think it would be easier to break the sippy cup habit for a special big boy cup afterwards maybe..

: by Diener; Posts 2617

Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:35 pm

A sippy with water ought to be fine (for his ears and teeth). He might not like water too much though. I look forward to hearing about how things go. Let us know if you come up with other solutions that really work well!

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: by Sarahblythe; Posts 618

Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:11 pm

I so feel you here! I've just reached three, but with nursing my one-yr-old 6 times a day and my three-yr-old wanting nurse four of those six times...I've had it. And DH is not on board anymore. I'm trying to stay busy and spend time coloring or doing something to take his mind off the fact that we aren't cuddling on the couch after dinner and quitting that feeding for both boys altogether. Once I've adjusted to that, I plan on just getting up when my three-yr-old wakes up in the morning---even if it's 6am BLEH! And not having our morning lounge fest in the big bed. He throws tantrums, as well, and demands "Boo!" ...this annoys me all the more and is keeping me motivated to wean him. I am hoping in a few months DH will be willing to take over the bedtime routine for me, because I know a sippy at bedtime will not go over well. I really wanted to child-led wean, but I didn't think it would carry on THIS long! Good Luck!