How Do I Wean My 19 Month Old Daughter From Breastfeeding?
January 19, 2010 by Guest Author
Filed under Breast Feeding Supplies
I am still breastfeeding my 19-month old but would like to start the weaning process at the earliest, since I need to travel for work for 2 days in early-May.
I know she’ll be absolutely ok during the day but is in the habit of being breastfed in the night so am worried. I need help with suggestions on how to wean her smoothly. Thanks much 
it takes time and discipline – sorry
try to offer her a substitute ‘lovey” toy (not a bottle!) to cuddle up with
she may do better when you are not around, so your breasts are not available
distraction, TLC form a non-mommy adult (dad? grandma?) may help
see what other moms have said:
Time and determination are the most basic things needed. I finally stop nursing my 21 months old daughter this week. It took me about 3 weeks, because I started with baby steps. First I started weaning her from the “non critical” nursing times, those for me were times when she was not going to take a nap or going to sleep for the night. I told her different stories of why there was no breast, the one that worked best was that they left on an airplane. In a way it was like a game, but it worked out, of course, immediately after I told her that Mom could’nt nurse her I did something else to distract her. Eventually she was ok with it and even said that the breast left on a plane. Once I was comfortable I decided to wean her from nap time and night time. I started on a Thursday night because I figured that if we were going to be awake during the night, (my husband & I), that he wouldn’t be too tired for work 2 days in a row. To my surprise, it was not too hard. When it was time to sleep, I told her that we had to sleep without Mom’s breast, she cried a little bit, but I was holding her and talking to her the whole time. She finally fall asleep, when she woke up in the middle of the night, I nursed her but only a few minutes (she basically used me as a pacifier, so, I was used to give her the breast for extended periods…), then I told her “let’s sleep w/o Mom’s breast”. I used the same words all the time and after 3 nights, she stop insisting. Since it was during a weekend, she was usually on the car while taking her naps, so, after 3 days, when I was home alone with her and it was time for a nap, to my surprise, she was sleeping in no time, w/o the breast. She still likes to be very close to me when is time to sleep but I’m ok with it, I just needed to wean her due to medical reasons, but I’m ok with cuddling her as much as she wants. good luck to all of you looking for advice, if I was able to do it, you can do it too….
Slowly, gradually, and gently.
A combination of distraction and ‘don’t-offer/don’t-refuse’ usually works well at this age. At times when she commonly wants to nurse, anticipate her wishes by distracting her with something else fun or interesting — a snack, a game, time with daddy, a story, etc. You can drop one feed at a time in this way. At night, I’d probably have Dad go to her when she wakes. If your breasts aren’t there, she should be willing to be comforted back to sleep in other ways.
Good luck.
you can apply mehandi on the breast before feeding her and slowly with bitter taste she will stop asking for the feed
Very effective way. Stick white medical tape on nipple and ask her you have pain there. she will completely give up.
Please try that out, it will work
SK