Q for those who have weaned...

[whitnessforhim]

I'm full of questions today. Work has been boring and I'm so ready for the weekend!!

Anyhoo...It seems like I read alot on here about how women have the hardest time weaning their DC. Is this the norm? Is it always a battle to wean? I'm just curious as to what I should look forward too.

My DD is only 5 1/2mo. When I first got preg. I knew I was going to BF but I thought I'd only go for 6mo. Now that I am almost there I am excited about continue for a full yr., maybe even longer. But hearing some of the things I have heard scares me...is it really going to be that bad/hard? Or is it something that is dependent upon each individual Child?

I'm getting scared...

I guess I should've posted this in the weaning threads...

[Babyhellfire]

DD weaned herself just before her 3rd birthday.
Honestly,The thought of the "battle" to wean scared me to..and I just didn't,
I mean,there were times when she was like 1 yr old when I wouldn't sit down all day because she wanted to nurse ALL DAY.THAT was HARD,on both of us- I don't think I had it in me to keep that up until she was completely weaned.
They do eventually wean themselves.
At 2 she definatly didn't nurse as much as she did at 6 mo.Maybe daily.
Then it got to be were she'd skip a day here or there ,and just not think about it.
The closest I came to having a hand in her weaning:
So,One day, she saw my cousins baby drinking a bottle,and tried to share her candy with him.I explained to her BABIES cannot have candy-they just have bottles or "beets'(what she called it),and that as they get bigger they can have other things INSTEAD of that, like food and treats..She nursed once a week for two weeks...and then was just done.
SUPER EASY,her terms,no battle.

[KerryS]

I didn't have any battles to wean my kids, but I practice more child-led weaning, so when weaning time came, we were both ready.

[Darcy_]

I weaned Parker at 14 mos, (Pregnancy complications) we had no problems at all. Parker was not emotionally attached to nursing, so it wasnt a big deal. Serra is, hopefully I wont have to wean her and she can do it in her own time.

[Darcy_]

I also forgot to say, it was very sad for about a month for me, I had a hard time weaning her. I think it hurt more that she didnt care!

[RedheadbyChoice]

Nope, weaning was quite easy here. I didn't have to do a thing, all of my kids have weaned themselves, no pushing or nudging on my part.

With my oldest, I was wanting to wean at 18 months, she weaned herself at 15 months. (looking back on that now, I do wish I'd have urged her to nurse longer, damn hindsight!)

With my next DD, I was going for 18 months again, as a minimum, and wanted to wean at 2; she weaned herself at 23 months.

With DS, I didn't have a minimum, he weaned himself at 27 months.

With Miss Meredith, it'll be whenever she's done; she's almost 14 months now and nursing strong.

:)

Although weaning *can* be done gently, I fully believe that kiddos nurse for a reason. One must balance their need for that with mom and how she feels as well. It's different for everyone.

[ima062002]

It is only a battle if mom wants/needs to wean before a child is ready. Some children will only resist it a little, others will be more outspoken. I chose to night-wean my son at 18 months but he wasn't ready. It was a rough 2 weeks. Had I known that I would get pregnant at the first cycle at 42, I would have maybe waited a bit more. But we wanted to get pregnant again and without nightweaning wouldn't have gotten my period back, so for me, it felt necessary. Everybody's circumstances are different, but if you are able/willing to let your *child* wean, you won't have any struggles.

[madelsmama]

No struggles here. Madeline self-weaned when she was 2 1/2, totally her decision.

I agree with IMA, it's a tough situation when a mom wants to wean a baby before s/he is ready to. Breastfeeding is so much more than just nutrition for babes, KWIM?

[whitnessforhim]

No struggles here. Madeline self-weaned when she was 2 1/2, totally her decision.

I agree with IMA, it's a tough situation when a mom wants to wean a baby before s/he is ready to. Breastfeeding is so much more than just nutrition for babes, KWIM?

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. It brings me joy everytime I BF my DD. I think self weaning sounds like the way to go.
I hope these joyous feelings I have never change and we are able to self wean.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Part of self-weaning, IMO, is not looking at the calendar. I always find it interesting (and note that I had these same thoughts, with my first 2 kids) that a momma doesn't want to nurse a 15 month old, but will nurse a 12 month old. And the difference between those 2 ages is what? Really? Is there really that much of a difference in a child that's a year old vs. 15 months old? LOL *thunks self in head*

I had those ages in mind, but I also remembered having events that we wanted to attend, without kids, for my 'end date' with my older girls. Once I nursed a toddler though, it really changed how I view things. A toddler typically doesn't nurse 24/7 like a newborn does. I truly try to encourage moms to wait to see when they get there, rather than a 'well, we'll wean when baby is a year old'---you never know what life will bring you, when your babe gets to that stage.

[sweetkisses]

I don't have anything to add b/c we have not weaned yet.

I just wanted to say great thread. It has really given me some things to think about on days *I* feel like weaning. I know dd is not ready.

[whitnessforhim]

Great advice Red. I agree that a mother should wait to see when they get there before making a decision about weaning. I really thought I'd only BF for 6mo. tops! But being my first child I had no IDEA how in need they are still at that age for the nutrition only BM can provide. I think I just thought at 6mo. she should look/seem/appear/act old enough to not really need BM, as silly as that sounds. But now that I am a mommy to a 6mo. I see how dependent she is, as she should be, on BM.
I also told myself too that I couldn't imagine BFing a 18 mo. or 2yo...but now that I am actually experiencing motherhood and BF I def. can see that happening or at least as you say just waiting till I get there to make that decision.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

I made mini goals in the beginning. 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and then at 6 months I decided I would let her wean when she was ready. She weaned all on her own at 29 months. It was bittersweet.