Weaning from breast

[Squirmsmum]

I intend on bf for a year so but of a way off yet, but how to you wean from the boob?

My LO nurses to sleep, and for comfort, will she start self settling by a year?

 

[lisaf]

You can try to start separating the breast from sleep by introducing an activity between the two whenever possible

 

[Squirmsmum]

How would I do that?

I want to avoid LO crying. And at the mo if I put her down without nursing she goes wild.

 

[lisaf]

I didn't have a difficult time separating the two so I'm not sure if I'm the best person for that.
What I did was look for the first opportunity that he was still a little alert when he was done nursing, Then I just layed in bed with him and read a book to him, then put him down. I didn't force the point, if he was too tired, he went to bed, but I just looked for chances to do that. Over the course of 2 weeks I think he started to stay up after nursing for his book, and now he never falls asleep on the breast unless he's completely exhausted.
I think he was about 4 months when we started that?

 

[freckleonear]

At 4 months you don't need to do anything yet. I always fed my children to sleep when they were younger, but by about 9 months they didn't need to be fed to sleep every time. There's no need to worry about the feed-to-sleep association for a long time yet, for now it's a lovely way to settle her.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

At 4 months you don't need to do anything yet. I always fed my children to sleep when they were younger, but by about 9 months they didn't need to be fed to sleep every time. There's no need to worry about the feed-to-sleep association for a long time yet, for now it's a lovely way to settle her.

I agree with this entirely. There is no need to do anything just now. Alex doesn't always need to be nursed to sleep now. He'll be rocked and on the rare occasion self-settles. Everything in its own time

 

[RaspberryK]

I always put lo down for his naps/sleep awake or drowsy and put his projector or music on,if he cries I pick him up and cuddle/rock and put him back. If he cries again I nurse him. Obviously if he falls asleep nursing I let him, if he's poorly I rock him or nurse him.

X

 

[Itsychik]

My LO used to always want to be nursed to sleep, but in the past several weeks he's gotten away from this. It's still a REALLY great/easy way to get him to sleep if he's fighting it (i.e. naptimes!) but he'll also fall asleep on his own.

 

[Squirmsmum]

Thanks ladies. I quite enjoy the snuggles now anyway. Just wondered how LOs react when you start to wean them from breast I guess.

 

[freckleonear]

Just wondered how LOs react when you start to wean them from breast I guess.

Completely depends on the baby. My son only fed about twice a day by 1 year and only because I offered, he probably wouldn't have minded if I had just stopped feeding him and he stopped himself a few months later. My daughter, on the other hand, was the complete opposite and would have been devastated if I'd tried to wean her at that age.