I had planned to wean my son after a year and as his first birthday approaches in 3 weeks I am at a loss as to how to do it. He feeds 4 times a day now. Do I start dropping more feedings now or wait until he's a year and drinking cow's milk?

Are you firm in your plan to wean him at 12 months? Is the only reason you want to do so is because it has been what you've planned to do? If your son is showing no signs of being ready to wean, and you are unsure about it, have you considered waiting? There are many benefits to extended breastfeeding.

http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpweaning/0,,3x5j,00.html

Interesting. Thanks for that link.
Well, I had planned on going for at least a year. But I'm torn now as to whether to stop at a year or keep going. My son is more restless when he nurses. I heard that is a sign he could be gearing up to wean.

Yes, they definitely get more easily distracted while nursing after about 9 or 10 months, it seems, when they are beginning to get mobile and want to explore the world more.
I nursed my first for almost 2 1/2 years and weaned my second right after her second birthday. I've heard stories from friends about their babies or toddlers weaning themselves, but I had to initiate the process with both of mine. Both times I felt like I just knew when it was time to stop. I think the "right" time is different for everyone.

You could replace one feeding a day with cow's milk. Then cut him to two feedings a day (maybe last thing at night and first thing in the morning) and let your milk production adjust to that, as he gets used to the cow milk. And then cut him to one, and then none. I found my kids had an easier time with weaning than I did...

I have a 10 month old little boy and we are beginning to wean now. I have cut back to breast milk feedings twice a day. First thing in the morning and right before bed. At lunch and supper he gets formula and at 12 months we'll change that to cow's milk. So far this is working for us. I had planned on completely weaning before now because I was having to pump at work and that was getting old, but now that I just feed him twice a day I think we will continue to 1 year.

I think what I will do is once he's a year old and is able to go on cow's milk I'll start slowly dropping his feedings. But I'm not sure when I'll drop them completely. It may be well into next year. And that's fine too. I don't have a strict weaning date in my head. Because I work from home I feel like I'm flexible and not in a huge rush. However, I'd like to have my body back for a little bit before I jump into having child #2. I guess, like some of you said, I'll just "know." But yeah it will be harder on mom I think!

Well, I thought that I was going to continue nursing until 1 year, but Alec decided last week that he didn't want to anymore. I mean, I guess that's what he was trying to tell me when he screamed and cried at the breast! My milk did not let down one night for about 1 minute and he got so frustrated. The next moring he would not even try to suck. So I just decided that 10 months was good enough because I did not want to fight with him about it. He is doing fine on the formula. I will be glad to go to whole milk though, because formula is expensive! That was one of the best things about BF!

How long does it take for your milk to dry up after you have weaned your baby? It has been a week since he has nursed and before that it was only twice a day so I didn't think my body was producing much milk. Will it be days, weeks, or months?

April, how is that going for you?
Because I am in the same situation. Jack is down to twice a day. And I think it's time to wean him completely. Did you stop both feedings at once? Or did you go down to 1 and then stop? And how long did it take you to dry up? Did you get engorged at all when you stopped?

It is going great for me! I thought I would have a hard time but it really was easy. I was down to 2 feedings a days and we just dropped them both at the same time. I was engorged for about 4 or 5 days and I just hand expressed enough to make myself more comfortable. I still am producing a little milk but not enough to worry about wearing a breast pad or anything. Alec has not even seemed to care at all. He has not pulled at my shirt or anything, not even once. I think he really was ready. I had been giving him bottles of formula for his other two feedings though, so he was used to it.