amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

tarablesue · 02-07-2006, 12:37 PM

I am trying so hard to be sensitive to Makenna's needs. ( she is 3 1/2 and still nursing) She is very attached to her num num. I am having a hard time nursing her. She still nurses at least 4 times a day. Usually around 6 am ( most important to her) then in the mid morning, afternoon , usually once or twice. no night nursing ,at all.

Ive tried many different things,to get her to wean.

I guess I need to know if anyone has just weaned a older child cold turkey ( but gently)and had success? I know weaning brings some behavioral issues, but i can handle those. I just feel so touched out and I need to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
thnaks for listening

debqcat · 02-07-2006, 12:53 PM

I did, but it started when I went away from Friday to Sunday. My DD and I went away to our timeshare on Friday afternoon, and my DH and DS were coming down on Sunday. We had already talked about weaning DS before I left. DS turned 3 in March and this was in April. DH and DS arrived about 2pm on Sunday. DS surprised me by not asking to nurse right away, I guess he was excited to be in a new place. Then he hit his heel pretty hard, and still didn't ask to nurse! He was with me for 5 hours before he asked to nurse!!! At that point we decided that he was done because he had hurt himself and didn't ask to nurse for quite awhile. He would still ask, quite often at first, especially when he saw his sister nursing, and would ask occasionally for the next year! We would just tell him he was done and offer food or drink to him. I didn't notice behavioral problems specifically to not nursing anymore, more for his sister being in the house now!
Good luck to you!

Sabra · 02-08-2006, 05:49 AM

I weaned my oldest cold turkey a week before she turned three, when I found out I was pregnant. I just told her she couldn't nurse anymore, she was a big girl now, & it worked. So I'm guessing she wasn't terribly attached to it.

tarablesue · 02-08-2006, 09:47 AM

I weaned Bailee on her 3rd birthday(telling her that on her bday she'd be 3 and 3 year olds don't nurse, only babies) and it worked. Makenna is so attached to nursing though. I told her this morning when she nursed that it was her only time after this am ,no more nursing until tomorrow. I am going to try that, and then maybe I won't feel so touched out and I can let her nurse a little while longer.

my3sweetgirls · 03-20-2006, 02:37 AM

could you do a weaning party or a special outing for big girls. Something fun for her to be a "big girl"?

Laranda

tarablesue · 03-22-2006, 12:12 AM

we've had 3 different dates for a weaning party and when I tell her it is comming she tells me she doesn't want it. I even hyped it all up

RC · 03-28-2006, 01:20 AM

We're still going strong at 2 1/2, but I will say "Finish, please!" and he does. I used to count to 3 very slowly and tickle his back and cheeks. I also would try to offer food and other drink first. I keep a sippy cup full of ice water next to my son at night.

Since she nurses throughout the day, could you maybe just try limiting to "we only nurse when the sun goes down before we go night-night" and get her to one or two sessions a day? I find being busy and out and about on the weekends also keeps my son at bay. Otherwise, I think boredom leads to the favorite comfort zone.

Hope it works out.

tarablesue · 03-28-2006, 09:51 AM

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I have had to put my foot down. I told her on friday that she had to tell nummies goodbye. She is NOT happy about it, but she has not nursed. I wish I could say it is a gentle weaning but I am trying really hard to make it though. It breaks my heart to see her cry, but for my sake of sanity i cannot tandem nurse any longer

I 'll update in a week or so but so far so good......

tinyterror'sma · 05-18-2006, 10:06 PM

How'd this go?

My 2 yr old seems to be increasing nursing lately and I'm hoping she weans soon. I think I draw the line at 3 yrs old.

Maura · 05-18-2006, 10:19 PM

I didn't wean Ava- she weaned me

One day after turning three she just said she quit. I was ready and so was she, apparently

I don't know how weaning would work if the child didn't want to. I assume it would be pretty difficult. Today i realized that Steph had gone 12 hours without nursing! Maybe she'll wean "early". I always wonder how much sleep moms lose while they wean their children. It must be difficult for both the child and the mom.

tarablesue · 05-19-2006, 01:15 AM

makenna is weaned - we're going on 2 mos. the first 2 days were the hardest.
heres the story

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/amity-ma...na%27s+weaning