Q for those who have weaned (xposted)

[whitnessforhim]

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? Or can it turn out to just happen naturally. I don't know what to expect...

[Babyhellfire]

copied from general:
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.
-----

[Firemom]

I had 2 kids who weaned at totally different times. At 10.5 months it was a battle to keep him nursing, so he weaned. My dd was allowed to wean when she wanted and she was 5+ years old. Neither was a battle. Nursing my kids was a real joy in my life.

[amyamy1973]

You're the mommy. You'll set limits as you see fit and do you what feels right for you. My goal with my first child was to bf for three months and we went almost three years (BTW nursing a toddler is WAY easier than nursing a baby:)) She sort of self weaned but I had been very gradually setting limits for at least a year before that. At first it was no nursing in public, then I set time limits. I'd say, "we're done nursing after this song, honey" and then it was just before bed and then she just lost interest. It was wonderful to have her think it was her idea to quit and I really found nursing a toddler to be a special joy. I'm so glad I did it and I hope my new baby nurses for at least a couple years. Keep it up and don't worry about when it will end. This is such a special time and your baby will change so fast! Don't spend another second worrying about a day that will come all too soon. I say, enjoy it while you got it.

[Bama_5]

I think weaning is hard if you just wake up one day and want to be through cold-turkey or if you decide to wean without any forethought and think it will happen over the next 7 days.

As with other things we teach our dc (potty training, dressing oneself, feeding oneself, etc) some dc handle the transition quickly, others need to move slowly. How difficult the transition often depends on how flexible mom is in regards to what she "thought" would happen versus the reality of what is right for all involved.

HTH,

Bama

ETA: Firemom - it's great to see you are still around. I knew you were still here because occasionally I see you reply. Just saying you have wonderful experience from which to draw and your advocacy is always well stated - thanks for contributing in the past and now :)

[Jacksmommy]

My child is 3 and slowly weaning himself. Some days he goes the entire day without nursing. This is no battle. If I had tried to wean him before he was ready, I think that would have been hard - for both of us.

[Jmom1010]

My son self weaned at 20.5 months with no issues or problems. BUT he also goes to daycare and was used to not having mommy all day so we never got into the habit or nursing all day.