Ask:
My little one is 14 months and won't stop nursing for anything. She cries and cries and I eventually give in. I just can't do the wait it out thing. I have even tried to give her bottles and pacifiers and even chocolate milk, and it doesn't work. We are going to Mexico as a family in three weeks and I really want to be able to drink a few cocktails. Please help with any suggestions.
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how often are you nursing her still?
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I don't have direct experiance because I had to stop breast feeding my daughter very early on. But I know it helped to get the RIGHT nipple for a bottle - there are many types out there that are designed to be like a mothers breast. If you hold her really close - like when she breastfeeds - and wedge a bottle in there (between your breast and her mouth), it helps to create the same "closeness".
I think it's great you've fed this long. My DH little brother fed until he was 2 yo. If it's starting to wear thin on you, however, it's time to move on because the benefits do not outweigh the stress and tension it's causing between you and your child.
The hard thing is a 14 month old knows the difference between the bottle and breast. It is patience, start right away and don't expect anything to change overnight. Additionally, try to WEEN her off - slowly decrease the amount of times she will feed, children this age don't need the nutrition of "formula" or "breast milk" anymore so it's safe so allow only a few times a day for milk, and maybe 1-2 for feeding. Good luck.
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Here is my favorite baby resource, Dr.Sears. It's a short article on how to ween. Here you go
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My son at 12 months when the doctor gave the ok for whole milk, I decided to wean him. He was exclusively breastfed but was only nusing 3 times a day at this age so I would substutute one nursing for a bottle for the first week then two the seconds and the third well you get it. But my husband would give it to him. I started with the night time feeding. But, he didn't nurse to sleep. I don't know if that's the case with you. I currently am nursing my 8 month old and she likes to nurse to fall asleep so bad I know. So it may be a little more difficult for her if I don't change that first, when it's her turn.
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oh I forgot to say I would heat the milk for the first few weeks. Then I substituted cups for bottles.
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My dd nursed until she was 14-1/2 months. I just slowly cut back until I was only nursing her once a day, first thing in the morning. We cut out the before-bed feeding by doing our previously set-up bedtime routine, just without nursing. She was so busy, she didn't even notice. Also, I switched her right from nursing to a sippy cup, so no bottles were needed. When we cut out the last feeding, I just got her up in the am and fed her breakfast right away, instead of nursing, and we were so busy with all the morning stuff, that she didn't even notice. It was very nontraumatic for us. So, slowly wean back to one feeding, but cutting out 1 every few days (so you don't get engorged), and then do other things around the nursing time. Make sure they also get plenty of other snuggles during the day too. Good luck!!
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I nursed my DD till she was 20 months old. She weaned herself. I wanted to continue.
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I'm in the same boat! I want to wean my 14 month old but don't know how. When my ds turned 1, we switched to cow's milk and he didn't care. My current baby (dd) wants nothing to do with cow's milk. I'm at a loss...I have tried to cut out one feeding but she refuses to eat anything unless it is my milk. Anyone else have this problem??? Please help!
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I went on vacation without her! But seriously is there a reason you want/need to stop? I nursed my first until she was 2 yrs. old, granted it was only 1x in the morning and 1x before bedtime, but neither of us were ready to quit it and just those 2x weren't so bad. Plus it kept my boobs a little longer, I remember the week we went on vacation without her and I was drying up, I felt like I deflated! Good luck to you.