weaned from pump, now considering nightweaning--can we still nurse?

[Anna Phor]

My son is just a couple months past his second birthday. I pumped until just past a year, and since then he's been drinking cow's milk during the day and nursing at night. On a good day (good from the perspective of my sleep needs) he nurses 4-5 times in a 24h period; more if he is teething or sick. He nurses to sleep, then often sleeps through to about 4am, then nurses around 6, then when we get up at 7.

I'd like to continue nursing but nightwean. Any btdt stories about how this might affect supply? Will I be able to continue nursing 2-3x per day without him weaning completely?

[Ellien C]

I think at this point - 2 years, you're fine to drop the night nursing. My son will be 2 in March and I'm big right now on completely dropping the night nursing. We had limited it, but exhaustion set in for me and sickness for him and he's back to night nursing a lot.

With my older daughter we  night-weaned and she kept right on nursing whenever I would let her. In fact, I mommy-led weaned her at 4.5 years old but she would have gone longer.

My son appears to be much less into nursing, but I'm really not worried about weaning now. And anyway, if night weaning leads to all out weaning - well, he's 2 and if he's done this year than he's done this year. Do you have an idea of how long YOU want to nurse, or is it just up to the child? I mean, if you night wean, and he completely weans, than I guess he was ready. I hope this makes sense.

[neonalee]

My son is 18 months. We partially night weaned first actually and I just quit pumping last month. He still nurses at 5am, approx 6pm, at bedtime & sometime between 1130 - 2 a night. On weekends he nurses down for his nap as well. My supply is definitely lower but still adequate. Good luck!

sent from my phone using tapatalk, please forgive typos

[olliemi2005]

yes you can spot wean and nurse whenever you want.  It really helps the child to have set times or time/place or "rules"  like it has to be light out.  and stay within the parameters you set every day. (of course if your dear nursling is ill, nothing is better than breastfeeding)

I do before bed and first thing in the morning...twice a day.  We started this routine when my son was 2.5.  it works nicely for us.

We still love to nurse, he is the 3rd (and final) of my 3 exclusively BF babies.

Good Luck, you will find what works for you and your son:)

[Quinalla]

Yeah, my DD and I were down to just nursing right before bed only for a few months, my body adjusted my supply down, but I always had milk until we fully weaned. And yes, having clear limits/rules helps your child understand when they can expect to be able to nurse and when they can't. Good luck!