First of all kudos to you for breastfeeding for so long, you're awesome and deserve a break! I weaned my daughter at 15 months and going cold turkey worked for us. Of course they will cry but your husband needs to be patient, try to console, offer formula milk or water. The first day is the toughest but after 3 days it was already all better. Only after weaning my daughter could sleep through the night for the first time. So I do believe cold turkey is the way to go.