Tips for Gradual Weaning: Replace One Comfort with Another
Tips for Gradual Weaning – Tip #4:
Replace One Comfort with Another
Your child wants to nurse. You want him to wean. What do you do?
If you want to move past the “don’t offer, don’t refuse” stage, try substituting a fun activity for nursing. Some babies want to nurse out of boredom. Give them something else to do. Read a book, give your child a sippy cup or some solid food, go outside, provide some non-nursing cuddle time, play with a favorite toy or go on an outing.
Some moms report that avoiding sitting down with baby in your lap helps. One mom said that when she spent three days entertaining her child and keeping lots of food and drink within easy reach and never sitting down, her child was weaned.
Don’t wait until your child is pleading to nurse before you offer distractions.
Try to anticipate one of his nursing sessions and engage him in an activity before he can tap your chest to nurse. Choose an unimportant breastfeeding session, not one at night or first thing in the morning. The most cherished nursing time (typically, first thing in the morning or before bed) is the last to go.
Eventually your child will lose interest in nursing (believe it or not).
