I need some advice and/or support with how to wean my 16 mo. old son. I have to (and it breaks my heart), so I can take some much needed medication my doctor has prescribed for me. - LaartMom
Answer
Please talk to your doctor. There definately are medications you can take while nursing. Unless you really want to wean your son right now it might be better to find an alternative medication. Weaning is a stressful time if your child is not ready for it and you might not need the added stress right now. This past spring I weaned my 20 mo. old because I was 5 months pregnant and just wanted a break from nursing before I had to start all over again plus I didn't want to nurse 2 at the same time. He was nursing about 4 times a day. We just went "cold turkey" and told him mama's milk was all gone. When he asked for milk we gave him milk from a cup (chocolate milk was a big treat). He kept asking for mama's milk for about 2 weeks and was really sad. He was generally out of sorts for about one month. After that he returned to his bright cheerful self and never asked for mama's milk again. Even after the baby was born and he saw me nursing he wasn't interested. He asked to nurse once and I told him he could but he didn't really want to. - Beth
My son pretty much weaned himself,at 15 mos., with a little help from his 21 month old cousin. At that time my sister and her son with us. My son became so interested in keeping up with his cousin, that he lost interest in nursing. He wanted his cousin's sippy cup all of the time, so I began offering him his own, instead of my breast. I sometimes still nursed him at night, before bed. The whole process took a couple of weeks. It didn't happen over night. I think it was harder on me than him. I felt a sense of loss/emptiness. But this too passed. So, I guess my suggestion would be during daytime nursings, offer him a cup instead and keep him occupied with other actvities to distract his want for the breast. "Sleepy" times may take a little longer. Be easy on yourself and him. One day at a time...This is enough! Good luck! - Bernadette
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