Weaning a 26 month old?

[cuteasabutton78]

 

I am "kinda" wanting and needing to wean my toddler son. I have been a SAHM for the last 3 yrs and he has nursed since day one. I just got a temp job it's only for 8 weeks but I can make up my own hrs (30 a week) but the training starts in 2 weeks and that is 4- 8hour days.

My son has been to a sitter a couple of times but it's only been for a couple of hours here and there, never a full day. Naturally I'm scared of how it's going to work.

He does eat table foods and drink from cups but when he gets tired, he wants to nurse. He has NEVER gone to sleep w/out nursing!!! There are days where he'll only nurse 2-3 times and then at bedtime. So I'm trying to convince myself it shouldn't be too hard (although I know it will be,lol)

I am now trying to get him to eat or snack on something several times during the day so he won't ask to nurse, He has a cup of juice or milk in the fridge ready when ever he wants them. When he does ask and cry for nursing I try and tell him "no it's not night night time" or try getting him to eat some sort of table food.

I'm really having a hard time and so is he on not nursing through out the day. But I figured these 4 days of training comeing up could be a good time to wean since we will be seperated for them.

I need suggestions and helpful info on how to make this work. Also how can I tell him it's okay to nurse at bedtime but not at naptime? I think that will be the hardest part for him at the sitters- and at home with me !!!

HELP PLEASE!! Training starts Feb. 23

[loribbi]

While for your purposes, weaning is needed.  Yet it's obvious your son isn't totally ready.  It is okay to tell him no during the day and only nurse at night.  And offering the cup at nursing time is fine.  May be also get him a special blanket or stuffed animal he can take to bed when he naps.  Basically giving himself something to focus on rather than the missed nursing.  Hopefully your son will surprise you and do okay at the sitters given the extented time and may wean himself.  Good Luck!

[tabi_cat1023]

If you want to wean all the way it may be tough..but stay consistant.

I recommend seeing how it goes nursing when you are home and he asks and giving food and drinks when you are away, no need to pump, no neeed to leave Bm, just go with the flow.

My son is 33.5 months...he nurses only right before bed now and sometimes not even that, but I am preggers too, but til 27 months he nursed 5-7 times a day and that was with STTN and me working 8 hour days..I never pumped at work, and we just nursed on demand. 

Delaying and putting off is a good idea...like saying lets eat lunch first then you can nurse.

You may find that its NO issue when you are not around he won't ask to nurse, mine never did, heck my son hated bottles and when he was younger often refused those and waited.

Bm is not a life or death thing now...

[Arisce]

uhhh, I don't see how weaning is "needed" unless you REALLY want to. I had 2 8 hour days away from my daughter, and 1 12 hour day. She's 16 month old and I'm a SAHM. She ate food, hardly napped and had a blast with minor crying. She's also still nursing 8-12 times in 24 hours. So, IMHO, unless you know that you're 100% wanting to wean, don't. He'll may do it himself if you just go do the training and go to work. Or he may keep nursing at night when you get home. It's a good way to reconnect for our kids when mom has to be away.

 

Anyway, there's my 2cents.

[jus1jess]

Working doesn't mean you have to wean. That alone will be stressful enough on him. I'd keep going so he has something to help him through you starting to work again. It'll give you some sure cuddle time when you get home.