How can I encourage my preschooler to wean?

[lunarlady]

We have been tandem nursing for five weeks, and it really isn't working out for me. I just keep wishing my older child would wean so I could just nurse my newborn. My DD1 will turn 4 this November, but still loves her nursies.

I've suggested she give up the nursies in exchange for a weaning party, with cake, balloons, and preasents, but that isn't working too well. Tonight she popped off and said "can I have my weaning party now? I stopped nursing!". She doesn't seem to get that I mean stop for good. No more. Ever.

Any thoughts on how I can get my DD to wean? If we could even make it so it wasn't every day I think I could handle it. I hate that I've made it this far and want to cut her off from something she loves, but I'm so tired and something has got to give.

[mamaw/two]

With my kids, lots of talking about how someday they would stop nursing along with slowly cutting out nursing sessions, combined with some good old bribery (weaning present) worked well. They were 3 3/4 yrs and 3yrs 1month. I was also tandem nursing and really not wanting to anymore, it took several monthes of talking about it regularly before it really happened. They also continued to ask for milkie for several days after they got their presents, but I just held firm and told them that we had stopped nursing and they quit asking very quickly.

[columbusmomma]

[Clarabelle]

need to (sob) wean.....

I have also been having a challenge getting my 3 year old to wean completely. I don't know if I'm 100% ready but it needs to happen for health reasons. I've tried doing time limits on nursing but that doesn't always work consistently. We still co-sleep and lately my child has been night nursing like crazy. Not only do I not sleep great but I'm dehydrated by morning. I keep telling my child that at least we won't night nurse - she agrees until it IS night and then she cries for it like crazy. Of course we give in at the end because we are so tired and need sleep. What can we do? She's never had a pacifier but I'm almost thinking about it! My DH has also thought of having me take herbs that dry up my supply (like sage) but not sure if that would work. Any advice would be MOST helpful!! thanks!!!