Weaning at 22 months

Hi all,

My daughter is 22 months and loves breastfeeding. So do I, but having come through a bad winter with a chronic cough, I'm feeling rundown and really want to wean. She has one feed first thing in the morning, both of us in bed - she's usually ok about going back to sleep if it's before 6. And she has another before she goes to bed. For her sake, I think it would be better to cut out the morning feed first, as it seems to be the night feed that is the more precious bonding experience, which her dad is present at as well.

My problem is, I am absolutely not a morning person. This might sound self indulgent but I just cannot hack starting the day the minute I get woken up by her. The great thing about breastfeeding is that she'll often go back to sleep, beside me in bed. she'll protest briefly when I turn over and end the feed, but she's used to it now.

Just wondering what others of you do about this? Do you get your toddlers a glass of milk or something? My daughter has never taken a bottle but she will drink from a sippy cup. And what bout at night ? a story and lots of cuddles? It was relatively easy to cut out other feeds, but these two feel like they will be very difficult ...

And any ideas on how many weeks you would give it?

HI,

What a great job you have done with breastfeeding your little one - that's fabulous!
I just wanted to say that though you hear a lot (from friends and family, and even well meaning strangers) that breastfeeding "takes it out of you", that's not actually the case. It seems that you've had a bad run with winter ills, but breastfeeding is not causing it or exacerbating it - it's actually quite economical on your body.
Many of us love being able to snuggle up under the doona and buy a bit more time with that early morning breastfeed. Breastfeeding mothers certainly get a lot more rest that way, rather than having to leap out of bed and get breakfast or another drink. Your daughter is too old for a bottle at this age - and if she took a bottle, she would only need to be weaned off that, so a sippy cup is a better option.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association have a great booklet "Weaning" choc full of great information and suggestions and only $5.00. But, if you enjoy your feeds, there is no reason you couldn't go on for a bit longer - there's no doubt she'll wean one day.

HI Barb,

Thanks for the reply and the encouragement.
I'd actually like to wean, start the day earlier, etc. I might try going for a fixed hours job soon and I do want to be able to have us up and about reasonably quickly.

I want to keep the night feed going a while longer as I know it's very special to her, whereas the mornings seem to be quite different . The two mornings (I know, this is going to be slow!)I haven't given her BB, she's hardly noticed and not even asked for it.

Hi Zabel - I have a 20 month old who is now basically weaned, although I ocassionally let him have som if he really wants it!
I actually found the night feed the easiest to give up first (probably because I liked doing what you do - getting a bit more sleep in the morning). I just created a new routine. He got a cup like his big sister has (a plastic cup with a lid and straw from kmart) and had milk in that and I read him a story in the rocking chair at the same time. This was so I didn't dispense with the whole thing at one - he still had warm milk, cuddles and the rocking chair. Then with mornings if he wakes up extra early i'll still put him in bed with me and he go on the boob, but if I get up he is happy to have his cup of milk.

Hi,

If you want to start getting up earlier in the morning - set the alarm. Make her breakfast instead of giving her a breastfeed. To be honest, it sounds like it will be harder on you than her. There's nothing wrong with what you are doing - why not get a few extra minutes sleep if you can? Especially if you aren't in the paid workforce atm (I be you do plenty in the unpaid workforce)

hi there, my dd's just over 21 months and doing just what yours is!
We've accidentally changed our pattern a bit - I loved my morning lie - in with her feeding, but gradually she was sleeping a little later and i was happy to get up. I'd get her up & dressed and straight down to brekky. She was happy with that.
Now she's weaned herself from the night feed (I think). I kept that, cos like you it was a cosy night-time ritual. Then she started only having 1 side or biting me i think cos she didn't really want it, just the cuddles. So I explained that to her. I then only gave her booby if she asked for it (stopped suggesting it to her) but made sure she still got all the cuddles/closeness. I think she's now weaned, because she hasn't been asking for it but it's ok if she wants to have a feed again.
Congratulations! You've done so well to give dd such a great start!