Whether you want to wean tomorrow or you’re planning on doing it gradually, it’s a daunting task. How do you wean in a way that honors your breastfeeding relationship with your child, allows the experience to end as kindly as possible, and best meets the needs of you and your child?
I recently facilitated a meeting on weaning for our S. Austin Chapter of Attachment Parenting International and researched different types of weaning, strategies to wean, and read people’s anecdotes about their experiences weaning, including all the things they wish they’d done differently. I gathered them here for you so that if you’re trying to figure out when and how to when, you’ll have the information you need.
General Weaning Information
FAQ on Nursing Strikes” Is it a nursing strike or child-led weaning?
Kellymom.com Search “Weaning”
La Leche League International Search “Weaning.”
Natural Age of Weaning by Katherine Dettwyler
“Weaning and Mothers’ Feelings” Examines reasons mom may want to wean and offers counter-arguments and alternatives.
All the books I read to research weaning are on my Amazon listmania weaning list.
Baby-Led Weaning
Baby Led Weaning A method for introducing solids to babies, called weaning because once anything besides breastmilk is introduced, child has begun weaning. This source explains what baby-led weaning is and how it works.
Nighttime Weaning
“31 Ways to Get Your Child to Go To Sleep and Stay Asleep Easier” by Dr. William Sears
Dr Jay Gordon’s Sleep Method Offers a concrete plan for rapid nighttime weaning.
“Getting Your Baby to Sleep” Explanation of why sleep associations are important and list of possible alternatives to nursing as the primary sleep association.
Posted on January 21st, 2009 in 
[...] goals for nursing plus different types of and strategies for weaning. I created a list of weaning resources I hope will help with [...]
[...] goals for nursing plus different types of and strategies for weaning. I created a list of weaning resources I hope will help with [...]
Thank you so much for these resources. My toddler is just passed 2 1/2 years of age and I was beginning to question my earlier decision to have her self-wean. These references have helped me to feel more confident and well-informed in my decision to continue just as I have. The article by Katherine Dettwyler was humorous and refreshing and I felt extremely supported by the article “Weaning and Mothers’ feeling” by LaLeche league.
Thank you! It’s just what I needed to read… at the right time!
I’m so glad they helped. Good luck! Night weaning changed our life and renewed my determination to let him self wean. That may seem contradictory, but I realized that child-led weaning didn’t mean nursing on demand for as long as he nursed. However you go about it, congratulations on nursing for 2 1/2 years so far. That’s a big deal.
[...] weaning has been gradual and I wondered if it would ever happen. What I kept reading and hearing is that children wean themselves when they’ve fulfilled the need to nurse. They [...]
[...] weaning has been gradual and I wondered if it would ever happen. What I kept reading and hearing is that children wean themselves when they’ve fulfilled the need to nurse. They [...]