How to wean off of breast milk? PLEASE Help?!?!!!!

[tattlebaby]

I'll be returning to work in a few weeks and was hoping to have to stop pumping at work. LO is now almost 16 months old and still being breast fed, along her daily solids. She's still pretty dependent on her breast milk but slowly picking up her intake of solids more and more each day. My question is..do I help to wean baby by giving her less breast milk everyday and offering more solids, or, do I let her wean herself? Problem is..this could take FOREVER. And that would mean I'd still have to pump at work again. I still plan on breast feeding her mornings and nights, when she wakes and before going to bed. And whenever I'll be home with her full-time, like on the weekends. I want to do this until she is 2 yrs of age. But I just can't possibly continue pumping at work..not another yr ..How do I go about this weaning process??? I should also mention I breast feed her before and after her naps..I was thinking I could stop those first?..what do you guys suggest?? How much Breast milk should she be drinking around this age on a daily basis? I still haven't introduced Cows milk and don't plan to..but what could I substitute with instead?

 

[Cangaroo]

I stopped pumping at work when DD1 was just over 19 months, having pumped at work for well over a year. I found we both adjusted very easily. I told nursery she could have cows milk instead of breast milk if she wanted it and she fed as usual when she was with me. I was a little engorged for a couple of days, but nothing terrible and my supply regulated very quickly. I never understood how she could feed several times a day on my days off and only morning and evenings when I worked without me being uncomfortable! I think they take much smaller volumes by this age.

Good luck!

 

[tattlebaby]

Wow..thank you. Exactly the response i was looking for. Deep down I would love to continue pumping at work too, but I know it just can't be done anymore. The circumstances I under went these past 15 months to do so were horrible, but I stood my ground and made it happen for her. Like you said, at this age they take in less amounts anyway, so its WONDERFUL to know that it is possible to (unfortunately) limit her breastfeeding sessions during the wk and pick up on wknds and holidays, without either one of us taking it too bad at this stage. I was thinking I could continue to pump late nights to provide atleast 3 ounces for next days daycare, but whats 3 ounces right?..lol. How did you transition to cows milk? Like did you transition right away into a sippy cup or continued in the bottle? How did your LO take to that? Did you have to continue to offer your LO the cows milk warm like you did with the breast milk, or did she learn to take it cold? Wondering what everyone else does?????…..

 

[Cangaroo]

We just offered her cows milk. In a cup. She had no more bottles after I stopped pumping. I stopped really abruptly in the end as I had a day long exam the following week and I realised I'd have no time to pump and didn't want to be working about it! I was fine by the time of the exam. She wasn't bothered. The only reason I tried it was because we'd been skiing and if worked hard pumping as soon as we arrived etc so she'd have milk for the creche to give her, and they never offered it! She wasn't fussed, so I figured it was time to try at her home nursery, too.