How to Wean Toddler
Very sad to make this post. My boy was born in Spring 2024. He's almost two. He potty trained over a month ago. He has a full mouth of teeth. New words every day. Everything that says "I'm a kid." Everything that, to me, makes me feel like he's too old to be nursing.
It was difficult to establish breastfeeding with him. I never supplemented and pride myself in that, but had to pump due to an oversupply; it was seriously the only way to find relief when my baby only nursed on one breast for 4min then didn't feed for 2-3hrs. He gained weight like nobody's business. It was painful, exhausting, and I cried so much. I just wanted to get to 12 months to feel like I really did it.
It took 8 months before it felt easy. Then for the first time ever I actually looked forward to the snuggles that came with nursing. I've always been his safe space and I can tell that he feels safest at the breast. He seeks me out and seeks for comfort and reset.
I had a baby a couple of months ago and first-born became clingier as expected. I've been tandem-nursing them. It's been so special. We cosleep and get to spend a lot of time together. They're always with me.
Lately I've been irritated by having to nurse two babies around the clock, and for the past few weeks, my toddler has been waking me up 5+ times in the night to nurse, whereas my now 3mo has only ever woken me twice a night. I've tried to move my toddler into his own room but he isn't ready and I support cosleeping until 3yrs at least. I don't want him out of my bed. I just want to stop being woken up so many times in the night to nurse.
I can't give him a hug without him trying to get into my shirt. I feel an aversion to nursing my baby because my toddler cries and begs for it the whole time. I feel bad denying him but it's been months of denying him and he is still obsessive.
I definitely don't want to be nursing a 3yo, I'm just not comfortable with it. Do you have any suggestions on the first steps to weaning? When I deny him and offer cuddles instead, he gets very upset. He isn't ready to wean but I need to start the process 🥹