Suggestions for weaning my 2 year old

[onthefly]

Argh, you do sound conflicted about all this.
So, is the main reason you're wanting to wean so you can conceive? Have you looked into taking clomid while breastfeeding? It may well be possible - you can check with rodney white and monash for eg, if you haven't already.
Going slow is generally best - for both mother and child. It's a big upheaval, both physically and emotionally. Many mothers surprised at the very strong feelings that weaning elicits in them, even when it's something they really want. And of course it's hard for the little ones. Your daughter knows what's good for her and sounds willing to fight for it. Good on her - it's a good quality to have, really. But, of course, the breastfeeding relatinoship has to work for the two of you.
I guess it's good to bear in mind that 2 is still quite young to wean, biologically speaking, so we shouldn't be surprised when they resist. I've been trying to cut my daughter back for a while and it's still a bit of a battle! I'm not trying to completely wean, however, so it's a bit different.
There's a weaning toddler article on the ABA website. You could also give the helpline a call for some more ideas. Perhaps if you're able to set some limits you could find a compromise? You cut back enough to get your cycles sorted, but you both get to continue your breastfeeding relationship.

On the fertility/medical side of things, perhaps you could talk some more with your carer about why it would be necessary to wean completely? OLr even consider getting a 2nd opinion? Different doctors often tell mums different things, as this is an area quite lacking in good information.

Good luck! It sounds like you've been doing the 'right' things, but that it's a bit extra hard for you with your partner away so much. Sometimes it really is better to just do the easy thing and try again later. Take care

[Cherished]

Hi hon, I'm doing this right now actually. Here's a thread I started about trying out a toddler bed instead of co-sleeping. I started actively weaning off the boobie about a month and a half ago now. I started by telling DS (also totally boobie obsessed!) that my milk was running out and that he should save it for just sleep times. During the day he has special Koko milk (a glass bottle filled with organic rice milk that has a color picture of Koko the train from Chuggington on it). He LOVED this idea! However there were plenty of tears and times where he wanted mummies milk. You just need to be strong and talk to your little one. with some reasoning they understand the concept of 'running out'. Personally it would have been very traumatic for us and DS to go cold turkey and that's not something that we considered. I did have it down to just nap time and bed time and thought that it would be smooth sailing from then on in as within a week or so he was asking for Koko milk during the day. But then teething happened and for a week I allowed him to be on the boobie all the time which I think confused him. But today he's been pretty good. He knows what the go is now. Good luck with it, it's hard :'(

[BellyBelly]

How To Wean Your Baby or Toddler - A Respectful Approach to Weaning

[NicNac]

I can really only answer one of your questions from personal experience.
I weaned my then 21 month old DD so that I could use clomid to fall pregnant (noting I just went with the fertility specialists advice to not take clomid and breastfeed, however as MadB recommended, in hindsight, I would definitely look into it further). My DD however was only on one feed a day at that stage.
While i was pregnant DD asked maybe ten times if she could have some booby, to which i replied there was no milk but she could have some when they got milk in them. In the six weeks since DS has been born, DD asks maybe every second day if she can have booby (usually while DS is on them), and I tell her she can have some after her brother. She usually forgets and if I remind her she brushes me off. A couple of times I managed to convince her to get on my lap and she has put her mouth on my breast but not in a way to get milk. When I try to attach her properly, she won't have a bar of it and she strangely almost seems embarrassed by it. I was really hoping she would start again, but I haven't pushed it........ seems she has been okay with the weaning, but i haven't!!!

[~phyrephly~]

Oh Reet, I feel for you.

I'm on day 8 of weaning. Well aiming for weaning. Weaning for DS and I started when I went back to work full time (if you don't count when he started solids). DS would feed when I got home, after his shower then feed to sleep and all night thereafter. I was exhausted, even though we co slept. My body was in pain for being in two sleeping positions only. DP was getting ancy that he wanted some alone overnight bed time with me. So we started to cut back. I cut all overnight feeds at once. That's been hard. I've been running on very little sleep as I have to settle DS without boob, which means rocking, bouncing, singing, holding, etc. He has one feed around 5am and another after his shower at night before bed around 7.30pm. He asks for it in between, I explain that boobies are sleeping (making sure that after a feed I tell him to say night night to boobies). He's generally ok with that but if he is tired he will get upset for a while. He also has needed alot more closeness and attention as that intimate feeding bond is changing.

Yes it makes me sad too I have loved feeding him but I do feel the time is right for change. My period has been back for about 5 months now, so fertility is no issue here and we arent TTC.