weaning a toddler

Weaning your toddler from the breast should ideally be a slow and gradual transition. Your little one is getting more than the nutrition of your milk, he is also getting comfort and love. If you've decided it's time, here are some tips for weaning a toddler.

Give snacks, drinks or attention instead of nursing ~ if your child is nursing few times a day and asks to nurse, tell them they can nurse later and play with them or give them a snack or drink. Some toddlers nurse out of boredom or because it's a sure fire way to get Mom's attention in a busy house. Make sure your tot gets plenty of hugs, kisses, and other non nursing interaction. Offering them something else instead of a nursing session may distract them and they might forget about breastfeeding. You may find that carrying your child in a sling is a good substitute for nursing when he's upset.

Avoid the nursing spot ~ If your toddler is accustomed to jumping in your lap for a feeding when you sit in a certain chair, avoid that chair. One Mom said she had to become a sort of "moving target" when she was weaning her toddler. She kept a cup of water in one hand and a snack in another. She avoided sitting down, and when her toddler did ask to nurse, she offered him a drink or snack and it worked very well, he was weaned in just a few days.

Get help from someone else ~ Getting someone else your child is close to to step in and distract them from nursing is helpful. Your toddler will likely need lots of extra hugs and kisses while he makes this transition. Your husband, Grandma or even a babysitter your toddler likes can help during the process.

The "don't offer, don't refuse" method is a very popular weaning method. It simply means you don't offer to breastfeed the child and you don't refuse them when they want to. This is a slower way of weaning, but if you don't have a strong desire to wean, this will certainly work. All children wean eventually!