Anonymous wrote:It's pretty common in some societies to put disgusting substances on the nipple to try to wean babies. Personally, with a toddler I feel that it's kind of a cop-out and also that it probably won't discourage avid nursers. Most toddlers are capable of understanding, "You can nurse later, ____s (whatever you call your breasts) are sleeping right now." And cut out nursing sessions that way. If you get a lot of protest, another time-honored solution is making your breasts unavailable (covering them up very well when you're around your toddler, and trying not to be around him for longer and longer weaning periods-- in our family an older female relative would come and create lots of fun times for the toddler away from mama for the weaning period).
You may get tears, and it's hard, but I kind of feel that the parents who have to put mustard on their breasts because they can't bear telling a toddler "no, not right now" (why put him to the breast if you don't want him to nurse???) are sending mixed disciplinary signals...no, the mustard itself is not the end of the world, but it's worth examining whether you're ready to wean right now if you do feel so guilty just saying "no."
(FWIW it became much easier for me and my DD around 18 months.)
LOL okay, let’s see if you are saying that when your toddler is 3 and has zero intentions of weaning. Okay