Weaning a nearly 3,year old

[wincarwoo]

Hi, I'm hoping for some inspiration to help wean my nearly 3 year old off breastfeeding.

My DD can wake four times a night and can only be settled with milk and for my sanity I think the time has come to stop!

Does anybody have any hints or tips on how they have managed this with an older child who shows no signs of doing it themselves.

I night-weaned my son at 2.5 - might be worth starting with this and then decreasing daytime feeds.

We read a book together about how milk is only for the daytime (Nursies When the Sun Shines), talked about how mum & 'the milk' (as we called it) needed to sleep at night but that he could have milk in the morning and before bed.

When he woke in the night, he was NOT happy at all when I said that the milk was sleeping and he could only have it in the morning... lots of screaming. However, my husband would rock him to sleep. This lasted maybe 2-3 nights then he started sleeping through for the first time ever. Ok, he still woke/wakes for a hug and to use the toilet, but it's a lot better than being woken to feed/comfort suck every 2hrs...!

I would talk to your child about it honestly (in simple language, of course) and say that your milk has made her big and strong but now it's time to stop because mum's body needs a rest (or whatever).

You may find you have to redirect her when she shows she wants to feed during the day, and offer alternative comfort and/or food/drinks. Good luck :)

Have you already day weaned or are you nursing around the clock currently?

This might be useful:
www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/weaning-a-toddler.aspx#:~:text=Drop%20minutes%20from%20nursing%20times.&text=Gently%20and%20gradually%20shave%20a,that%20weaning%20will%20happen%20overnight.

I second Nursies when the sun shines. I night weaned mine around age 2 using the book and although the first couple of nights were a bit rough, they slept through after that. I was also better rested and was happy to continue nursing during the day as a result

My friend put plasters on her nipples and told her dd they were sore after 3 years of bf...
Lots of cuddles - from dd to the sore boobs!!
Accepted it very quickly..

Thank you all - really encouraging and great suggestions.

She only feeds once during the day and it's a bit easier as I work three days a week.

@qwertypie - think I just need to go for it!
@Sunnydaysstillhere - love the plaster idea

@BigBigPumpkin thank you to that link too

I stopped the day feeds, cut the night feeds down to one then told him the boobies were broken. He was fine with it but still loves to cuddle them. I am weaning him off that now.