I recently weaned my 2 year old (I'd breastfeed continually for 4.5 years, through pregnancy and tandem fed and was.just.over.it)
I cut the night feeds first (there were three). I told ds no boobie until morning and so when he woke I recited stories I had memorized and sang songs. If he was really restless I got up and showed him the moon and stars and repeated 'night time, sleep time'. My ds wasn't aggressive but he is a groper and would have his hand in my top for comfort. After a week he was sleeping better and by three weeks he was sleeping through.
Then I cut the day feeds by distracting him. Go slow on complete weaning if you can because its full on for your boobs. I cut back to three feeds a day then cut a feed a week (or less) and then fed only every second day. I still got lumps and sore spots though and was recommended cd cabbage leaves.
Thank you Frangipani, I'm not familiar with Jay Gordon's method but I will google
Arcadia, wow 4.5 years in total, well done Yes I had wanted to gradually wean, and do it at a later stage, but my unique circumstances make it so much easier to do it completely now.
I am living overseas and have just moved into a house shared with another single mum friend, her two year old and our housekeeper. If I try to wean him at home, which I have already attempted, the screaming and throwing things is just really disruptive to everyone else. So much that at the last place I lived (where one night I also tried to refuse feeds), I was evicted from my room because of the noise (yes, true story. I also had to leave my volunteer teaching position due to loss of free room). I have never left my son to cry, but refusing feeds just made him uncontrollable and inconsolable, and very very noisy. So I have just two weeks in Australia in an area where we won't be disturbing anybody. Plus my mum came to stay for a few days (but she left yesterday), so the first night of weaning my son slept with her all night so that he wouldn't be tempted. It went well, he didn't hurt her at all. My sister is also living nearby, so I am hoping he can have a sleepover at her house for a night or two this week to make it easier - he seems to sleep much better for other people. I'm hoping that we can return to Cambodia weaned and with no (or less) night time violence and noise.
where are you working in Cambodia? Friends lived in PP for a few years teaching and so we visited a number of times.
Have you tried offering an alternative over night? A drink bottle of water and a banana or some dry bikkies might help during the switchover as he gets used to going without food overnight. When my dd night weaned, it made the day feeds ok again. Good luck. One more tip is to fill him up with touch and hugs and physical activity during the day.
Congratulations on breastfeeding your little one for over 2 years, it really is a great achievement and should be celebrated.
Thank you HotI, some good ideas there I have been living in Phnom Penh for about five months, and have just moved to Siem Reap. I moved just a few days before my Australia holiday, but so far it seems like a very good place to be - we have the tranquility of a beautiful home set amongst tropical fruit trees (instead being in a polluted and busy city), the town is well catered for westerners due to all of the tourism, and we have Angkor Wat on our doorstep. I'm looking forward to spending at least the next year there
Sorry Reet! I had deleted my inbox, but didn't realise I had to delete the contents of my outbox too. That is now done, so it should work
So jealous, that sounds awesome. There is a silk farm not far out of SR where you can see all the steps from the food for the silk worms to the weaving and selling. worth taking a look one day.
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