Question hi!i have a 17month old daughter who has been exclusively breastfed since birth.but now i think i,ve had enough and i want to quit breastfeeding.secondly my milk supply is drying up.the problem is she absolutely refuses bottle,sippycups etc.also i have tried different types of topmilk but she refuses everything,it seems she cant tolerate any other taste when it comes to milk except for breastmilk.my second problem is that she never sleeps without being nursed.i am worried if i quit her breastfeeding forcibly how will i put her to sleep then?she weans fine,takes 2-3 meals a day but she is addicted to breastmilk,she wants to nurse even after taking a full meal!rightnow i am nursing her 3-4times during the night and 3-4 times during the day.she wakes up frequently at night and always needs to be nursed back to sleep
Answer well, because she is nursing so often, and seems so attatched, you need to take it slow while weaning. SO, reduce each week one nursing a day. start with the one she will most easily give up and start telling her that its time for your breasts to take a break too but you will nurse soon. and delay it till the next one, continue with this one feed ( usualy takes about a week ) then move on to the next. then continue on. over time she will get used to it. at this age, its much about comfort and some nutrition. so make make sure you spend little short times with her so she doesnt feel you are rejecting her. reading a book playing with a toy etc. something special to distract her from the nursing. as far as her not taking milk, many babies do this. cows milk is gross compared to mothers milk. ( in flavor ) she can live without it. give her juices and such that don't resemble milk, continue with sippy cups. you can even put pumped breastmilk in a sippy or regular cup to get her to drink from the cup. so she knows how to do it. then, continue on from there. You can make sure she gets calcium by other dairy foods as well.
good luck and I hope that helped! you want to wean slow, for your breasts benefit and for her emotional benefit ;)
