Re: Mom ready to wean but 2 1/2 year old is not :/
Sorry you're having a tough time! Have you tried setting limits at all? And sticking to those limits? Does she nurse at night? I'm not sure that the nursing and the food pickiness are correlated, but they might be.
When I weaned Lilah, at 2 years old, I picked a block of time and decided we wouldn't nurse then. Like 10 am - 12 pm. Then anytime she wanted to nurse during that time I offered food or distracted her with an activity. Or we went outside to play. Then after a few days or a week, I can't remember - I extended that time. I managed to get it down to nursing first thing in the morning, then at nap time or when I got home from work. My husband started doing her bedtime routine at 20 months, so that was the first nursing session that we dropped. Then I phased out the first thing in the morning and eventually that final once per day nursing.
If you are ready and she is not - there will be tears. But if you are really ready and feel that you do not want to continue nursing - then the tears are ok.
She is also at an age where you can talk to her about how we don't nurse unless we are at home. And maybe you can convince her to find a different word for nursing. Perhaps you can limit the nursing and find some balance that works for both of you.
Tracie
Mommy to
Lilah 10/08 nursed 25 months
Beatrix 01/11 nursed 30 months