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I am in shock!
This magic weaning trick worked when I weaned Julia at 25 months, but I didn’t think it would work for Sophia at 20 months.
I thought Sophia was just a little too young and I kinda thought it must have been a rare fluke when it worked for Julia.
But no. Shocking success.
What is the trick?
The power of the BAND-AID!!!
Let me explain…
To a child, the power of a Band-Aid is indisputable.
When it came time for Sophia to nurse, I covered my nipples with Band-Aids. I then went to her with a bottle and showed her my Band-Aids. I said, “Mommy has owies. There’s no more milk left. See? They’re broken. No more nursie. Owies.” And I showed her the bottle. “See. The milk is in here now.”
She looked at the Band-Aids, looked at me, looked at the bottle, took a small sip from the bottle and then leaned in for a big snuggle. She immediately stopped signing to nurse, stopped crying and just snuggled. We sat there snuggling and she had a couple sips of the bottle (which I had filled with chocolate milk to be extra enticing.)
After a while, we got up and she held my hand and we walked around the playground and watched the bigger kids play. She held my hand tightly and wouldn’t let me go. But she didn’t ask to nurse again — until bedtime.
I thought surely bedtime will be a disaster.
But I made sure she ate a big dinner and had lots of milk and was just a little past her regular bedtime. While big sister Julia stayed downstairs to watch some extra TV with her Daddy, I took Sophia to bed.
We lay down on the bed as we usually do and she signed to nurse. Again I showed her the Band-Aids and said that Mommy had owies and she couldn’t nurse. Instead I put her soother in her mouth and I lay on my back, she lay on my chest and we rocked back and forth as I sang to her. Within about three lullabies she was sound asleep.
I stayed with her and she slept ALL night — without waking to nurse!!! I couldn’t believe it. She always wakes to nurse once or twice in the night.
She slept until 6 am and we quickly got up. She signed to nurse, but again I showed her the Band-Aids and she accepted the explanation without a single fuss. I gave her a yogurt drink as a consolation prize and I took her out to ride her little push bike.
No tears. None. The hardest part of this weaning process — besides my emotional trauma — is the lumps of milk stuck in my breasts.
I never thought Band-Aids would be such miracle makers. The Band-Aid trick did work for Julia, but reading this old post of mine reminded me that Julia still cried and had a hard time falling asleep without nursing. But Sophia seems to be having an even easier transition.
I am so thankful that my precious Sophia is not suffering during this weaning process. Nursing her has been such a blessing and I am so thankful that it is coming to an end so peacefully.
Michealyn says
I have a 21 month old and I just tried the Band aid method. I say “hurt” “mommy hurt” and he just keeps checking on them. Lifting my shirt just to look and touch it. How often did you put the bandaids on the boobies? all day? or just gradually weaning him off with one less session?
Allison Krauss says
How did it work drying up your milk?Did you get in gorged? Did it hurt?
Susan says
That’s a good question… my milk dried up pretty soon. I’d been gradually reducing how often I nursed her, so it wasn’t as bad as if I had been weaning her when she was much younger.
Rebecca says
Thank you for this tip. My 23 month old is very dependent on nursing for sleep. I’ve been trying to wean gradually and gently (for both of us) but he gets so upset when I try to limit the nursing time. He won’t let me cuddle him he gets mad and cries hysterically and pushes hits kicks me away when I try to comfort him. I’m not producing as much milk and he mostly is nursing for comfort which gets painful so I know it’s time. Hoping this will work for us!! I’m having such a hard time with it! I feel so bad and it kills me that he won’t let me comfort him when he gets so upset!!
thebigD says
Show tits bitch
mariel says
Hi I did this 4 days ago and my 30months baby said “omma (korean word for mommy) is it paiful? ” then i said “yes” then he never asked breastmilk anymore, whenever he ask for breast he would change words “no more, right omma because painful?” and I would just hug him and say yes to my loving baby boy. So the night is peaceful and I can sleep well and my baby all through the night. The side effect is that it’s very painful until now. I’ve searched that cabbage leaf is effective in soothing the pain. Would try that soon.
Teresa says
I’ll have to remember this technique – I’m still nursing right now & loving it!
Michelle says
Sigh. I’ve read through your stories and this brings many emotions from deep in my heart. My daughter is 29 months old and some days I am just ready to be done. . . and others, I linger on thoughts of wanting her to stay a baby. I’m not pregnant and nursing (btdt and had to wean -ouch!) and I don’t have a conference to go to. . . so no real pressing need to wean, unless you count the fact that she is almost 2 1/2 years old and there has to be an end in sight.
I think you have something there with the Band-Aids, though! You’re right, “Ouch” without a bandaid doesn’t work! And she loves Band-Aids. . .
MrsKassie says
I also just weaned my daughter (June 27) the same way after reading it on another message board. The band-aids are a brilliant idea and find that my 18 month old daughter is having an easier time with it that with other methods. She still wants to see my breasts and touch them and occasionally trys to nurse, but she will lick the band-aid smile at me and says, “ouchie, broken”. Even the night time waking is going well. If she wakes and cries out for her “cuppy” I just remind her mommy has ouchies and she lets me rock her for a minute then wants back in her bed, I feel so relieved that it has gone well. So glad to see others having success at what can feel like a daunting and emotional task for mom and baby.
DeuceMom says
That has to be so hard to initiate weaning. Luckily my son weaned himself around 12 months. He regressed a little when we moved into our new house, but by then the well was dry!
I’m sure you know this, but just in case… if your breasts are uncomfortable, run a hot shower and let the water run on the sore parts. You should let down and the pressure will ease without creating “demand”.
Amy L says
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Amy L says
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Amber Stevens says
Wow…that’s just….really logical. And it worked ! Awesome!
Nanette says
What a great tip. Wish I had known about it when I had to wean. Glad it was so much easier on Sophia.
Rachel says
That’s amazing!! I would have never thought of that. I’m glad it wasn’t any harder on Sophia than it had to be, although I know that it was hard on you.
Stefany says
I have been thinking about you and am so glad to see a happy post. I am happy that things aren’t stressful and Sophia is weaning easier than you expected.
(not sure if the first comment posted and my blog link was incorrect. Sorry if duplicate)
MommyAmy says
You are seriously lucky to have nursed for 20 months! One of my girls stopped at 6 months due to nipple confusion and I couldn’t get her back on the breast. The other self-weaned at 10 months. I was SO sad! But I never was a great milk producer… so whaddya gonna do?
Nichol says
Thats a great tip! I’m glad it has worked :O)
TheButton(Jen) says
Thanks for that tip. If nursing goes better with this second baby I am expecting, I will have to try that trick when it comes time to wean. I am glad it worked out for both of you so well. 🙂
Jen says
What a neat idea Susan! I wish I had thought of that with my girls. Gosh the weaning hurts the mom the most I think. I used an ace bandage around mine with cabbage leaves in the bandage to help relieve the pressure of the milk.
Naomi says
Brilliant!
susieshomemade says
I am so glad for you!! I know that you were really struggling with that!
Maggie says
Oh what a bittersweet time for you, Susan! My daughter self-weaned at just 3 months due to all sorts of birth/postpartum complications on both our parts. It was a very sad time. then my son self weaned at 18 months. He was just *done* and never looked back. I sometimes wish they were little again. 🙂 they are now 17 and 12. 🙂
I’m glad it went well for you, though. I know this has been a concen of yours!
Susan says
Monica, I’ve thought I should band my breasts, but I don’t know what to use… maybe I’ll google it to get some ideas.
Liz, LOL. Actually it didn’t hurt much taking off the band-aids.
Carrie says
That’s a great trick-thanks for the info!
Samantha says
Interesting.. thanks for sharing! I’m glad it worked for you guys! 🙂
Liz says
Wow!!! That’s a great idea….I have to ask…did it hurt to take the band-aids off?
Mrs. Cox says
That’s a great idea! I’ll have to give that a try when I start weaning Charlie – it’s an intimidating thought.
monica says
band your breasts helped stop the leaking (my obgyn advised me)Do not express the milk.