Weaning -

Weaning

My daughter is 6 mos. old and I would like to stop nursing, she has teeth and is biting! I had to go to work for 2 weeks when she was 3 1/2 mos. old and she would take the bottle then, but now she just bites on it and pushes it away. I am so mad that I didn't keep practicing with the bottle after I was done working. Any suggestions?

See also: weaning, nursing, biting

Written by Brooke

Posted on 10/23/2007

See all posts by Brooke

Answers:

Oh man, weaning was one of the heardest things I had to do. It was a combination of things. First I introduced foods- yummy ones that would fill him up and then water or watered down juice out of a little lidless cup. Second, I stopped nursing during the daytime. Only at night. (Sanity trick for both oursakes.) Then came the teething biscuits and more filling foods. I wore a sports bra so that no matter what he couldn't nuzzle in and I was reminded not to give in. We played outside with lots of distractions. He'd throw a fit but it would end. The longer that fit lasted the more he understood and began to let it go. Then II was out of the house for four days, he was left with my husband and his brother. When I came home he acted like he wanted to but didn't throw a fit when I wouldn't give in. What's interesting was how I was dealing with it. I mean I was the one that wanted him close to me and was terrified that when he cried I wouldn't be able to soothe him. But when he fell down and started crying that first day I gave in, I lifted my shirt to nurse him and do you know what he did, he opened his mouth and starting chomping his teeth together and looked up at me and smiled. That struck me back to reality and I wouldn't let him near me. He began to act happy that I was home and I got all kinds of cuddling, especially at night. He just wanted to be close to me.We went straight to sippy cups and tried using some of the sign language for thirsty. Utlimately it was hardest for me.

posted by Carley on 10/23/2007

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