TTMA mostly weaning

[LED]

So, I want to work on weaning except for before nap/bedtime. Any tips? I've been doing the whole don't offer don't refuse thing for about 2 months now and she still nurses 10+ times a day. She's a snacker for sure, but also does long sessions in there for comfort. And right now she's got all four molars coming in, so she's nursing even more and my nipples can't handle it much longer. I wanted to wait, but I think I need to start things now because it's going to be a long road.

I'm sort of torn in wanting to force it knowing she's not ready, so I want to encourage as much as I can to get her to want to move on. But I'm okay if this takes forever.

I've started offering her water or WCM when she as to nurse to see if she's just thirsty, and sometimes that's all it is and she moves on. I've also started telling her, on occasion depending on the situation, that she has to wait until we get home. So far she seems frustrated but ultimately okay with both of these. What else can I do?

[vvvvvfee]

i would try to work towards getting her down to 3x a day-- wakeup/naptime/bedtime. those are likely her 3 favorite times and also possibly useful to you if nursing is part of her going-to-sleep routine. then you can drop wakeup eventually.

if she wants to nurse and it's outside of those times... try:
-distracting her with another activity
-offering her water/WCM or food
-cuddling w/o nursing
-passing her off to your SO (if possible)

i also wouldn't let her nurse unless you're at home. at this age she can wait, as you said.

if she is still adamant about nursing at a non-preferred time, i would let her nurse, but set a time limit. tell her she can nurse until you sing twinkle twinkle little star 2x- or whatever, pick some clear limit. IME a short nursing session was generally easier to accept than being refused outright. and hopefully the short length of the non-preferred sessions will gradually cause her to lose interest.

of course, i'd loosen up the whole routine under extenuating circumstances (when she's sick, etc.).

oh, and if teething really seems to be bothering her, give her some advil!