Toddler Weaning: How to Know You Are Ready

Imagine this:

You and your child are sitting in your favorite nursing spot for the last time. You have taken special pictures, read the weaning books, and have dropped all but this last nursing feed. Are you ready to see what's on the other side of nursing?

If this thought has your heart aching, you're not alone...

but it also doesn't mean you aren't ready to start the weaning process!

Toddler weaning is the final stage of extended nursing, but it is important to distinguish the process of weaning from that final nursing session.

Weaning takes time, and if you are striving to maintain that close connection with your toddler, doing it in a strategic way that is gentle on both of your emotions, as your body, you are more likely to have the outcome you desire.

In this blog post, I discussed the Emotional Cycle of the Extended Breastfeeding Mom, which highlights the emotional roller coaster that you can feel any given day about continuing to nurse, based on how burnt out and touched out you are. Summary: Starting to wean on your worst day will probably backfire.

So, how do you know when you are ready to wean?

There are several factors to take into account:

1. How often are you currently nursing?

2. Are you still night nursing?

3. Are there upcoming events that are motivators to wean, such as:

• Trying to conceive (you CAN still nurse while TTC, but it may be a motivator for you to stop)
• You are currently pregnant and don't want to tandem nurse
• You have an extended trip away from your child and don't want to pull out the pump
• You have a medical procedure or medication that will conflict with breastfeeding

4. You are ready to be done!

5. Your child is showing signs of self weaning.

6. Your child is not showing signs of self weaning and you want to help guide the process.

These are all common reasons moms decide to start the weaning process. If your child is taking longer than you expected to self-wean, it can be hard to make the decision to take the lead. But just know that there are ways to do it that will keep that close bond in tact.

Want to know for sure you are ready to begin the weaning process?

TAKE MY FREE QUIZ, which will tell you which stage of extended breastfeeding you are currently in. 

Breastfeeding is a journey, and depending on if you are currently in turbulence, it may not actually be a good time to land the plane. 

Based on your answers, the quiz will provide you with not only with whether you are ready to wean, but also detailed tips on what to do next.

Take The Extended Breastfeeding Quiz Now!