2.8 year old not accepting dropped feeds

[dazedandinfused]

I have a 2.8 year old, and in the last month I decided that rather than letting him self wean I'd give him a bit of encouragement. The idea was to drop all but the early morning feed in bed (it gives me more of a lie in than I'd have otherwise) if he wakes in the night he gets a feed too (it's quicker than refusing it).

We're weeks in now and I would have thought he'd have gotten used to it now, but he's just had a melt down after being refused a feed after his afternoon nap. He's being amazingly persistent.

Anyone else been through this? Any advice?

[MigGril]

maybe he just doesn't understand why he can't have it. How about doing don't offer don't refuse as a genital way of weaning. or give him a simple reason why he can't have milk at that time.

[dazedandinfused]

Thanks Miggril, I've haven't been offering for a long time. He was happily spending half his evenings at a boob before the new regime. I've just been telling him it's because he's a big boy now .

The most surprising thing is how well he's taken it at bed times. I thought that would be the hardest time but he doesn't seem that bothered, and for me it's been really nice talking to him as he goes off to sleep, rather than him having a boob in his face.

Happy to say he got over it eventually today and was cheerful enough. I would have easily given in today and a few times if I hadn't thought that having started the new regime it was kinder to stick to it, that going back on it would be too confusing.

[MigGril]

maybe tell him he's a big boy isn't working as he may not understand that. try more the boobies don't work anymore approach maybe simpler for him to understand. Our just say there is no more milk, seems to work for a lot of mums.