Weaning Exclusively Breastfed toddler

I weaned my old at 20 months. I started in phases at first. I found the idea daunting, around 18 months I cut off breast during the day. Then I found was pregnant with my second and went cold turkey. It’s hard, you have to be disciplined, once you stop you can’t start again. It took me 10 days total. It was tough because she cried and she didn’t understand why she couldn’t get boobs at bed time. Luckily, at that point she was eating regular food and breast was mostly for comfort. By that point she was only breastfeeding at night. I have a 14 month and I plan to wean him earlier, I’m thinking 17 months this time. I’m going to have my husband do bed time.
The engorged breast can be very uncomfortable. I hand expressed in the shower to get some relief. It didn’t want to pump because I didn’t want to send a signal to my body to produce more milk. Put pieces of cabbage on my breast, it helps with inflammation. I drank several cups of mint tea. Mint decreases production of breast milk.

I would not introduce a bottle for the night at this age, only during a day when cups would work too.

I don’t like harsh methods like weaning in three days. Gradual and gentle is the way to go.
Read books like nursies when the sun shines, establish another way of falling asleep early by layering it with bf

Also, there is always a way back. You don’t have to push if it does not sit yet right.
We are also still in the process and the progress is great. I listen to my instincts, offer water first, try not to wake her too much during the night, bf when too upset/hungry, read the nurse books. She has reduce number of latches a lot!