How To Gently Wean Your Breastfed Child

It’s fantastic and wonderful when you get through the rough of what breastfeeding is at the start. But when you get further down the line, you may begin to feel it’s time for your child to wean.

Some people are really lucky and have children that wean themselves. But for me, this wasn’t the case and I had to look for ways I could help our situation.

I’m currently pregnant and to latch my two-year-old onto me, feels like I’m surgically removing my nipples with no anaesthetic. I did (and do) plan to tandem feed. Maybe I will when the new baby is here.

But for now, I just cannot take the pain that feeding brings.

Distraction

Every morning when we wake up, I offer water from by the side of your bed. When your little one wakes, offer this first then if he puts up a fight, allow a feed.

This is all about moderation. So, unfortunately, I don’t have a gentle quick fix.

Remind yourself to fill up his water throughout the day, encourage them to drink it (without being too forceful) and usually they’ll happily just accept it in the day.

Write a diary of how your feeds are going, then also include ideas on what activities to do that day. For example, you could have a day out, soft play or stay in and paint.

Bedtime

Bedtime is and will be your hardest hurdle. I’m not going to sugar coat this!

I gave in for the first few nights! I am a hormonal mess and seeing her cry made me break inside. So don’t be ashamed if you feel it’s not working, this is a long but rewarding road.

I personally don’t agree or advocate crying it out, so what I did instead was I would try reading a book to let her know that bedtime was coming. Making sure any and all distractions, technology and lights were off because if they weren’t my daughter would fob me off in seconds or go downstairs to her daddy.

Reading doesn’t work, I lied! Sorry but I’m trying to be truthful here.

So my next hat trick is backrubs. I sing, I hum, I listen to what she wants to do and I watch her body language.

I incorporated her favourite thing at bedtime, which was Teletubbies and I urge you to remember to turn them off, saving any jumps when your child is asleep from a singing La-La.

My daughter had a virus when I decided to wean so it was much harder than it should have been. But we did it!

My final magic trick was allowing her to relax and sleep on my chest. Again I’d hum a favourite song or even try rocking and this has always helped with sleeping because she knows I’m still right there.

Boo-Boo’s

The final bump you’ll hit is when your child injures himself or has become a bit poorly.

If it’s happened at home, it’s sometimes nothing a chocolate biscuit can’t fix but unfortunately, if it’s major then nothing beats booby milk – Sorry!

Dust them up after a fall, smother them in kisses and encourage them to continue being awesome little people.

Whichever solution works for you, remember you’re still a fab Mummy and you’ve done amazingly.

If you’re still trying to find a solution then you can always join our support group and see what others have done to help them!

Join the fun at our Facebook group – Bump, Baby and You.
Follow us for updates on Instagram – BumpBabyYou.
Tweet us – Bump, Baby and You.
You can follow my personal account – @BethanyCollings.