Still nursing and wondering if I need to wean or not

[GinaD]

I'm still nursing my daughter at 22 1/2 months (and still going strong). I really just assumed we would be done at one year, but she's nearly two, and honestly, we are both happy with the morning and bedtime feedings.
Does anyone have suggestions for weaning? I'm in no hurry, but I'm afraid she would go til 5 at this rate, and I'd like my boobs back eventually!

[alisongregory]

That's awesome. My boobs ran out at 6-9 months... Go for it whatever you think is right! You've done a great job so far :/) I have heard birthdays are a good time to wean in exchange for gift. And a friend coloured hher boobs purple and put band aids on her nipples to wean her 2.5 y/o!! Worked when all else failed! Haha

[TamarE]

Apr 12, 2014 19:44:33 GMT -5 GinaD said:

I'm still nursing my daughter at 22 1/2 months (and still going strong). I really just assumed we would be done at one year, but she's nearly two, and honestly, we are both happy with the morning and bedtime feedings.
Does anyone have suggestions for weaning? I'm in no hurry, but I'm afraid she would go til 5 at this rate, and I'd like my boobs back eventually!

I am one of those "nurse for a long time" mamas. The one time I did actively wean was when I was between miscarriage 2 and 3 and thought maybe the nursing was part of the problem. I weaned (my daughter was almost three) and still had two losses after that. Honestly I still have regrets about that. (happy ending: I did eventually have my third child)

Anyway, you are doing awesome! If you are both happy I'd say keep going. However, Kelly Mom has a great section about weaning: kellymom.com/category/ages/weaning/

[darcie]

Good for you Gina, you have a lucky little girl! I was like you, thought I would nurse until 1 or so, and never really considered toddler nursing. But when I was pregnant and then nursing a newborn, I went to La Leche League meetings and saw lots of nursing toddlers! I remember when my oldest was 18 months and still nursing *many* times a day I could never imagine how it would ever end, he seemed so dependent on it. But eventually we were only nursing first thing in the morning, before and after naptime, at bedtime and 1-2 times a night. When he turned 2 I tried to nightwean him, but it just wasn't worth it (he would stay awake when he woke up, instead of going right back to sleep with nursing). When he stopped napping that meant 2 fewer nursing times a day. And when I became pg with #2, I tried nightweaning again and it was much easier. Then he started waking up in the morning and jumping out of bed without asking to nurse. My youngest followed a similar pattern (but nightweaned himself much earlier, thankfully!).

Anyway, if nursing is working for both of you right now and you don't have a good reason to force the issue, why not just stick with it? It won't be long before she doesn't need it and gives it up on her own, which will be easiest for both of you. If it's no longer working for you a few months or a year from now, you can reconsider, and it will be that much easier to talk to her about it and perhaps substitute something else for nursing, like extra cuddles, reading books etc. My oldest used to like to find a string on the inside of my shirt and play with it while he nursed, and when he was close to weaning (at 3.5) I was able to discuss with him that he found this comforting and proposed that I could lie down with him at bedtime and he could play with the string on my shirt without nursing. This worked fine because he was ready to move on. Similarly my youngest, who also weaned at 3.5, was fine to have me lay down with him to fall asleep rather than nurse.

I'm not sure why some kids nurse until 5 or older and some wean much earlier, but I think it is universally true that once you are past the baby stage, the older they get the easier it is to wean with gentle encouragement and substitution.

In case it's helpful, here's an article from LLL:
www.llli.org/faq/weantoddler.html

[GinaD]

Thanks ladies! I'll definitely read those web pages when I feel closer to making a change--if I make a change! To be honest, I don't mind it, in fact I love our time, and I know I'll be sad when she's done! I always hoped that we would have a close bond, and we are closer than I ever thought. I am hoping that when we are done nursing we don't become less bonded, but I can't see that happening.
I think my husband is wondering, "when are you guys going to stop nursing?" ; it seems he is a little sad that they aren't quite as close and he thought they would be, and that when I'm done nursing that will happen. He hasn't ever said it, but I think maybe he's a little jealous of the nursing bond (poor guy). I'm sure he's not the only guy ever, I don't really blame him.
Also, has anyone here experienced hormone swings with weaning? I've read about it, but just wondered how common that is?

[TamarE]

Apr 12, 2014 23:51:14 GMT -5 GinaD said:

Thanks ladies! I'll definitely read those web pages when I feel closer to making a change--if I make a change! To be honest, I don't mind it, in fact I love our time, and I know I'll be sad when she's done! I always hoped that we would have a close bond, and we are closer than I ever thought. I am hoping that when we are done nursing we don't become less bonded, but I can't see that happening.
I think my husband is wondering, "when are you guys going to stop nursing?" ; it seems he is a little sad that they aren't quite as close and he thought they would be, and that when I'm done nursing that will happen. He hasn't ever said it, but I think maybe he's a little jealous of the nursing bond (poor guy). I'm sure he's not the only guy ever, I don't really blame him.
Also, has anyone here experienced hormone swings with weaning? I've read about it, but just wondered how common that is?

Aww about your husband. It is very normal (and good, IMHO) for young children (nursing or not) to be very attached to their mothers. Do they do fun stuff together just the two of them? Maybe they could try to do special activities together. She may still prefer you even after you wean.

I don't know about hormone swings while weaning. I think if you wean gradually there should hopefully not be a big hormone fluctuation.

[avivam]

Awesome congrats on doing such a good job mama! I am nursing my 2yr old and my 5 month old! I am also a nurse long time let the kid decide kinda mama!
Weaning technically begins once you introduce solids! If your ready to head towards stopping nursing all together you should decide on a nursing to drop and start cutting it back in increments! Then don't offer once down to little time! Is your child still nursing a lot! My 2 year old is mostly at bedtime occasional mornings! Hope this helps!

[randi]

I am nursing my 26 month old and we are in the mommy led weaning process. I realized when I was trying to hurry through the feedings (although I love nursing...obviously bc DS is 26 months!) that I was ready. So for the past couple weeks, I have been distracting him with other things to do or see. Like at nap time, I would start nursing and then say...lets go see which buddies (stuffed animals) are on your pillow or do you want me to tuck you into 2 blankets today? He would stop nursing and go to his bed. Or let dad put him in his bed at bed time instead of you. My kids always want to nurse before any nap or night time. Just do the weaning gradually so you don't get engorged and gently so you don't upset your little one. Good luck!

[itsmegin]

My daughter is 2.5 and I'm nursing her right now, and I'm 38w pregnant, so I'm not the best to ask about weaning...but congrats on nursing so long! I know what you mean about wanting your boobs back. Mine won't be mine for at least another two years

I will say my DD nursed constantly but at about your DD's age I finally got her down to just at night and sometimes (like right now) for naps. You may try cutting out the morning and then gradually reducing the evening one. It's a big change, but she probably won't be nursing until 5 whether you stop now or not.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk