A mom writes in asking for advice about her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. She says her daughter will not stop nursing, and she has tried everything. She is ready to be done and is now turning to the community for advice on how to get her daughter to wean.
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A member of the community asks:
“My 2-1/2-year-old will not stop nursing: Advice?
I am a first-time mom! She is now 2 1/2 and is still nursing! I want to stop, but if I don’t let her, she won’t take naps or go to bed on time. It is really frustrating because she is constantly asking for “CHI CHI,” feeling me up like a 12-year-old boy touching his first boob!!
Always reaching in my shirt and trying to twist my nipples!!! I tried birth control to dry me up and it about did, but then I start having problems breaking out and having cramps. Advice from moms that have successfully weened their child off nursing? Maybe some ideas that can help me help her to stop. It is getting weird to me, and I’m feeling trapped when she is latched.“
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Who Wants to Stop Nursing Her 2-and-a-half-Year-Old
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary
The community offered this mom in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
“I’ve seen a lot of women say they put lemon juice or other nonharmful but bad-tasting things on their nipples & it makes the child not want to do it anymore.”
“Maybe try switching to pumping. So she can latch to a nipple and taste the milk to get her to sleep.”
“Obvious who is in control. Just cut her off dry yourself up. She won’t starve to death.”
“You are the adult. Tell her no. Eventually, she’ll leave you alone.”
“I started cutting out one feeding at a time (my daughter was about the same age and wouldn’t eat solids because she just wanted to nurse). Don’t do the ones at sleep times at first. Start off with the one you think will be the easiest. After 3-5 days, when she is used to that, cut another. Save the ones for sleeping times for the last. I saved her middle of the night one for the very last because that’s the one she wanted most. But when it was the only one, it only took a few days for my milk to dry up. She woke up one night and I nursed her and she gave me the stink eye. Never woke up asking for it again. It was much easier with my second. He weaned himself (I wasn’t ready).”
“Just stop, she will eventually learn. Lay her down for naps and bedtime. If she gets up, put her back. If she throws a tantrum walk away and ignore her.”
“Nursing isn’t just a food source, it’s also comfort. I nursed my daughter til 3, when she self-weaned. It’s HARD but please don’t just cut her off cold turkey. Slowly take away sessions or even just lessen the session times. Set a timer on your phone for 5 minutes and tell her “all done” after that time. You also can’t quit cold turkey or you could develop clogged ducts/mastitis.”
“I’ve seen moms put bandaids on their nipples. Definitely start telling her “no” firmly when she just reaches in your shirt though. Not mean, just teaching boundaries and that it’s not okay to touch without permission. Maybe teach that there are certain times for certain things and she can’t just have what she wants anytime she wants it. Teach her “this is mommy’s body.””
“First, it’s great that you’ve been able to keep breastfeeding her but, I get how it could be one taxing with a 2.5-year-old. My daughter is 2.5 and stopped at 20 months basically but had gotten down to only nights. Do it slowly. Only at night. Pump otherwise. Then keep substituting as much as you can. Her schedule will change for a bit doing it but it’ll be worth it for you.”
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