How do I wean breastfeeding before age 1

Kim - posted on 11/02/2010

I probably shouldn't jump into the fray here, but I loved nursing my daughter until age 4! I had originally planned to nurse until age 3, but she wasn't ready to be done. They are such individuals that you can't just have a hard and fast rule for everyone. I am really happy that the recommendation to nurse until age 2 is started to be acknowledged. We in the US are the "weird" ones who only want to nurse for a few months and give up because we are afraid that our kids will turn out abnormal. Do we look at kittens who were cared for properly by their parents as "abnormal" or the ones that were abandoned and had to be bottle-fed? (Please don't take offense at the "abandoned" term -- it is appropriate in the case of kittens whose mother refused to feed them.) Human babies deserve human milk. It makes me really sad that our society gets in our heads so much and makes us feel weird about feeding our babies what they need and deserve. Breasts may be seen as sexual objects by the media, but they are much more than that! They are the means by which we nourish, comfort, console, bond with, and help our babies deal with the world. It is a scary world out there, and children who are breastfed beyond the first 6 or 12 months are so much better prepared to go out and face it, knowing that they can come back to their place of comfort and safety, the place that ends tantrums, helps keep babies hydrated during sickness, confers antibodies to fight off diseases and infections, etc.

And your milk does not get less healthy or less wonderful for your baby because your baby gets older! Your baby does start eating other foods and can survive without your milk, but that doesn not make it less necessary. We can look at all the kids that never eat vegetables; does that make them less healthy? By no means! We can survive eating pizza and chicken nuggets every day, but is our health going to suffer for it? Of course! (Ok, enough. I am stepping off my soap box for now.)

Angela - posted on 11/01/2010

do whats right for you. the only advise i can give is dont put andything but breast milk or formula in a bottle. sippy cups or open cup only. Other wise you will have to break the bottle too in a few months. You will know when its right because you will feel that they are eating and drinking enough without your breast. I did one time a day bedtime till 13 months just because i didnt want to give it up. What ever you decide i promise your child will not hold it against you.

ASHLEY - posted on 11/01/2010

I started nursing him 2x a day instead of cold turkey & occasionally a 3rd time if my breasts got uncomfortably full. Once in the morning and again before bed. I gave him a sippy with cow's milk during the day when he would normally want to nurse. After 1 week I started skipping the morning feeding. After the 2nd week I cut out the bedtime feeding. I started 3 weeks before his 1st bday but it only took 2 weeks before he was completely off. I had no discomfort at all since it was gradual even though it it was fast. It didnt seem too hard on him of course if he absolutely freaked out at any point I would have let him nurse. I stopped because I was 4 months pregnant with #2. I admit it was bittersweet :/

Natasha - posted on 11/01/2010

Wow! Reading through all of these comments can make your head spin! Wean when you think you and the baby are ready. My oldest weaned himself at 6 months. My middle weaned herself just before she turned 1 (and I was gonna start weaning her then anyway). I'm now nursing my 3rd who is just 5 months, but she is already more interested in eating solids, until it's time for bed or she just wakes up. :)

Cassandra - posted on 11/01/2010

I think if YOU are ready to wean then you should. Don't do it because your doctor advised you to. Do it when you're ready and you think your baby is ready. I nursed my son for a year and I thought it was blast. I miss it, but we bond in other ways too, it's not the only way to be close to your baby. My son was ready to wean at age 1. He just lost intrest. That being said, I think it is great you made it as far as you have. Most of the mothers I know, wean at 6 months or less, if they breastfeed at all. Just take it slow, maybe cut out one feeding for a few weeks, then another, and so on. Good Luck!

Briana - posted on 11/01/2010

I would wean slowly. Maybe cut out a few nursing's a day and then after a couple days cut out another one or two.

And screw what anyone else thinks or "recommends". Your her mother and YOU know what is best for her...not anyone on here, not LLL or WHO. She is YOUR child, not theirs. Everyone has an opinion of "what is best". Lots of people can "prove" or "back up" their different opinions. So just do what YOU think is best for your child and don't worry what anyone else thinks :)

Trisha - posted on 11/01/2010

yeah she already takes a sippy cup. She is doing really well since i started weaning I went from feedign her at 5am to not having to feed her before her morning nap, I fed her at 230 before her second nap. Just because I wanted her to take a good nap. She prob could have lasted longer. Thank you so much for the sincere answer and respectful encouragement! I am very excited about the website Thanks Kathy. You seem to have understood exactly what I am goign through and the reasons as well. good luck. : )

Kathy - posted on 11/01/2010

Hi Trisha,

Basically, it is not recommended to wean when your child is sick, teething, or undergoing other sources of stress (e.g. moving or a parent being gone, which is why I didn’t wean my son at a year). It will be easiest on you (physically) and your baby if you cut back slowly, drop one feed at a time, roughly one per week, which it sounds like you are planning on doing. When my son turned one, we dropped all the daytime feeds, he now only nurses at bedtime and when he gets up for the day. A technique that worked well for us was the don’t offer/don’t refuse.

From one of your later posts, it looks like your daughter is nursing 4 or 5 times a day. Given that she is almost 11 months old, if you drop one a week or one every other week she’ll be about one by the time you end, which is the recommended minimum. You probably want to start with the daytime feeds or the one-before-6:30 am (at this point it’s probably a habit more than a need. Not necessarily, but probably).

The kellymom website has lots of good information on breastfeeding, including a brief (albeit reluctant-in-tone) bit about parent-led weaning.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/how_w...

Re: being obsessed, as they turn from babies to toddlers, they do develop a greater sense of determination and “want.” So I suspect that it would be easier at one than at one and a half or two. My son is now 20 months old, and at times I wish I had weaned him earlier. He is much more interested in his “mama moop” now than when he was as a baby (for a long time I really thought he would wean himself before a year). I dread having to cut him off (which, if he hasn’t weaned himself by two years, I plan to do, I want my body back). However, there have been times when I’m glad that we continued (e.g. a bad stomach virus, a couple really rough days, etc). And as someone else mentioned, 1) I find it kind of cute when he asks for “moop” and then jumps up and down in glee when I say “yes” and 2) it is a good opportunity to teach manners. My son quickly learned that pulling on or lifting my shirt got him nowhere, he instead has signed for “milk” since about 11 months (he only started asking for “moop” by name a few weeks ago).

Whatever you decide to do, good luck and congrats on making it to one year.

FYI – if at all possible, you’ll want to wean strait to a cup, sippy or regular. If you wean to a bottle, you’ll just need to go through the whole process all over again.

Sarah - posted on 11/01/2010

I wasn't attacking you laura - when I joined the breastfeeding group it was a link sent by a friend that did not say about the 2+ years thing, it just said it was for breastfeeding support, on that basis I joined thinking people might be supportive and helpful if I had questions. I can't say I blame Trisha for the way she is feeling as given that she was asking for weaning advice - which is often a hard and emotive decision to make it is not supportive to tell her the reasons she shouldnt do it as many people did! Even though I assume people did it with good intentions it was never going to assist with the actual question of how to wean.

However my main point before was we should be applauding each other for our efforts not belittling those who choose to wean after a year etc. My other point was child-led weaning can occur much earlier than 2 so as I said you can't plan to feed to 2 years - you can hope but you may not get there.

Good luck to everyone and all your efforts in bf so far. I know I have faced many criticisms and been told to stop pretty much from when she turned 6 months as that what people thought was "right". I am proud to have made it this far.

Sarah - posted on 11/01/2010

If you can, you should breastfeed for longer. Teeth can be a deterrent so I understand if it has become too painful to continue. It's not so much about nutrition any more but more about security and comfort. Hang in there, it's worth it!!!

Trisha - posted on 11/01/2010

hmmm, ok, thanks for the info : )

Celeste - posted on 11/01/2010

I know what you meant.

The only thing I can see is go into the message in your inbox, click on "email settings" Then once you're on the site, go to "email settings" and go to "Post Responses" and choose "off". I am not sure how to turn off to a specific post.

Trisha - posted on 11/01/2010

im really sick of this post, how do i opt out of here so these dumb replys stop comming to my inbox?

Trisha - posted on 11/01/2010

i meant at age 4, not after 1...

Celeste - posted on 11/01/2010

And Trish, while I do absolutely respect your decision to wean when you want to, you might want to avoid phrases such as "weird" when it comes to nursing. Many of use do practice child led weaning and have nursed children of that age (myself included).

Brittany - posted on 11/01/2010

Everyone stands up for what they think is right. Different people can have different opinions regardless of studies, research, and facts. There is lots of misinformation about breastfeeding and misguided views towards it, such as it being "weird" or "sick". The majority here will ask why before giving weaning advice because they want to see if they can help with the problem first. That's the way support works. The problem and reason that Trisha gave for wanting to wean was that she thought it was weird to breastfeed past a year and that's the comment most people here were replying to. To help her see that it's not weird at all and in fact, completely normal and natural and to help you move past those views and be comfortable with breastfeeding your baby again. Some may offer their support with upset emotion towards the subject, some might offer their own stories, some may just share simple facts, and some may do all of the above. Just take it all in and do what you feel is best for your baby in your heart. Nobody can make you do anything you don't want to do but they can give you different viewpoints, experiences, and facts that you may not have known to make an informed decision.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/01/2010

That quote was something Ilene reilly said, not something Trisha said.
It was the first comment here.

Trisha - posted on 11/01/2010

Actually Erin, I have not been rude at all and if yo would use your ""QUOTES"" correctly, you will find out I DID NOT SAY ANY OF THAT...gosh, ur rude

Aubrey_aubs - posted on 11/01/2010

I think when to wean your baby is totally up to you. I got my 13 month old weaned within about two weeks by slowing reducing her feedings and without substituting a bottle or sippy cup. I nursed her in the morning, before each nap, after each nap and at bedtime (and even during the night sometimes). When I first started to wean her, I nursed her at the same times I had before, but only allowed her to nurse about two minutes - I watched the clock and made sure not to go over two minutes (she was eating solids by this time so I wasn't worried about her getting enough to eat). After reducing the amount of time she was at the breast for about a week, the next week I took out an entire session each day. The first day, I didn't nurse her after naps, the second, I quit nursing her before naps, the third day, I quit nursing her in the middle of the night, Then the fourth day, I cut out her morning nurse and by the last day, I didn't feed her before bedtime. After that last feeding, she didn't even try to coax me to nurse ever again - she was weaned completely. I was amazed because my little girl LOVED to nurse. I also didn't have to put up with engorgement or pain in my breasts because my milk supply just gradually slowed down and eventually stopped. I know all women and babies are different, so I can't say for sure that what I did will work for everyone, but it's definitely worth a shot if nothing else it working. Good luck! (p.s. I do keep a sippy cup of WATER in her crib and allow her to drink milk or water during the day, but she doesn't have the sippy cup as a "replacement" to nursing). Hope this helps.

Tiffany - posted on 11/01/2010

Just to insert an experience into the speculation...

My oldest weaned himself just past his third birthday. My second child weaned herself at three, also. My third is still nursing at 2.5.

Contrary to "becoming obsessed," they gradually grew out of the need, as they found other ways to entertain and soothe themselves. They nursed less and less often, and finally not at all. With both my weanlings, there came a day when they suddenly - and proudly - declared that they were a big boy/girl, and they were weaned; this was something we had discussed, so they knew what they were saying and what it meant.

Just like they will not go to college in diapers, this is a baby need that they will naturally, and in their own good time, outgrow.

Erin - posted on 11/01/2010

"He told me my son was old enough to drink cows milk (even though only 11 months old) and told me to just stop breast feeding and in a week the discomfort would be all over."

I'm quoting you, Trisha. According to this statement, it DOES appear as though you intend to give your kiddo cow's milk before a year of age. So, please don't attack me and say I'm making stuff up.

Normally, I am not very snarky, but like I said, I'd been following the thread, and you have been very RUDE to other moms who tried NICELY to point out that bfing past a year of age is normal and beneficial. I figured if I sunk to your level, maybe it would sink in...but instead, I see its just caused you to be whiny and continuously rude. Adios.

Stephanie - posted on 10/31/2010

I agree with sarah, 11 months is a great achievement. She shouldn't feel pushed to keep BF when she doesn't want to. You say it's better for the child, well it wouldn't be good for the child if she kept BF when she didn't want to and it made her stressed. Babies pick up on stress and it's not good for them. Also how do you know she would be cutting off her child's main form of comfort? My baby is BF but uses a dummy (I think you guys call them binky's, pacifiers, whatever I am in australia) and has a blankie and uses other things for comfort, not just the breast. So it is unfair of you to assume she will be traumatising her child!!!

Tiffany - posted on 10/31/2010

Trisha - I know it can be frustrating to ask for advice and feel attacked....I feel the same way sometimes, but please don't feel like you need to stop asking questions. There are other Moms here who want to give support and can see beyond their own feelings about how things should be done, and just try to give the advice that is asked for.

Tiffany - posted on 10/31/2010

First of all, congratulations on breastfeeding as long as you have! I wish I had lasted that long. =) When I weaned my daughter, I had been supplementing with formula already so I think that may have made it easier. What I did by my OB's suggestion, was to replace one breastfeeding a day with formula, then replace 2, then 3 and so on. I think gradually reducing would make the best possible transition for your LO. I just started giving my daughter organic cows milk, and she didn't like it at first. We started giving her an 8oz bottle half formula and half milk. She is now down to 2oz formula and 6oz milk in every bottle and in a few more days hopefully we'll make it to just the milk. If your daughter doesn't seem to like the cows milk, perhaps do half breastmilk in the bottle and half cows milk to get her used to it. Hope you have found some support here, and I hope this helps. Good luck!

Trisha - posted on 10/31/2010

Im am very discouraged. I have been telling my friends to use circle of moms but honestly I am afraid to ask any more questions because of ppl liek Erin. Maybe Ill try a different thread and try my luck there... Thanks for the few of you who actually gave relevant, helpful information. toodles...

Mandy - posted on 10/31/2010

its frusterating when you try to find answers on how to wean and all you get is facts on why you shouldnt...
im in the same situation as you, my milk supply is decreasing as well, i know this cuz im only pumping max. 2 ounces every four-five hours or so.. i want to wean her before i cruely dry up on her... so i have just been slowly cutting out a feeding day by day, pumping and storing breastmilk in the freezer.
dont do it cold turkey... i heard you can get a breast infection.

Meaghan - posted on 10/31/2010

atleast you breastfed for a year, not many moms even do that. A good suggestion for weaning those night time feedings is replacing the nursing with a backrub. Thats how I did it with one of my toddlers. Lots of cuddles.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/31/2010

Sarah, the reason I said that was because in the first line of this communities description it says we follow the who guidelines which are to exclusively bf 6 months and to continue two years or beyond.

That was why I said that, I didn't mean any harm by it it's just what this community stands by as a title.

Joanna - posted on 10/31/2010

My son turned one today. I had planned on weaning him around this time. However, he actually weaned himself about a week ago. We were only nursing in the morning and bedtime a couple weeks ago. One morning he just wasn't interested in nursing. So, I went with it. A week ago, we were reading to him in his room, and he pointed to his crib and whined. So, I just went with the flow and put him in his crib. Needless to say, I am glad I didn't have to wean him. I feel much better knowing he was ready to stop on his own.

Lisa - posted on 10/31/2010

If this is the only time you breastfeed then use it as mom time until you feel comfortable to stop. And when you decide to stop just feed less as the time pass. Don't stop all at once the breast fills up and hurts really bad. You can check a herb store for the herb that dries up breast milk. Remember don't just wear tighter bra.....proper fit is important. Good luck.

Celeste - posted on 10/31/2010

Putting on my mod hat for a minute!

Please remember to respect others' choices even though we may not understand or agree with them. OP has already made up her mind about her choice to wean.

Thanks!
Celeste

Trisha - posted on 10/31/2010

wow, why dont you read the whole thread instead of attacking with misunderstanding. I NEVER said i was giving her cows milk before 1 nor anything about a pediatrician. I hope your kid listens better than you...and secondly. I am alowed to have an opinion and i think kids out grow things, just as i wouldnt give a 5 year old a binky. or a 10 year old a blanky. I am just saying I dont think its neccessary or right for me to do so. Which frankly, I think I have the right to say. I have bfed her despite all parents around me saying she is too old and you Erin are not any better then those condesending parents. check your sources and dont attack on misunderstandings and half truths!

Sarah - posted on 10/31/2010

I'm saddened by this thread. Trisha was asking for advice on how to wean after bfing for 11 months which is such a great achievement especially in this society of ffeeding being so common. I thought this group was for bf support - I never answered a questionnaire saying I planned to bf 2 years - please don't speak for us all Laura by suggesting "most of us" plan to bf 2 years. Its hardly realistic to plan for that - my daughter is weaning herself and refuses to nurse during the day so therefore has 2bf a day. She is only 11.5 months old and i have never refused to nurse her - she began to refuse to nurse when i offered. Am I selfish for offering alternative milk? Should I be insisting breast or nothing? I would just like mothers to be supportive and not bring each other down.

Erin - posted on 10/31/2010

If you're concerned about your child becoming 'obsessed' with breasts, then you should consider nursing her until she self weans. Cutting her main source of comfort before she's ready is much more likely to cause an 'obsession' than filling the need until it's completed. Children who nurse full term aren't obsessed with breasts (any more than every child is with the entire body at some age), because breasts are just another body part like hands and arms - comforting. It's adults - specifically just American adults - who are raised with a repressed view that breasts are somehow closer to genitals than the rest of the body. You can pass that view on to your child, or not!

That being said, you've made it clear you're uncomfortable with the natural role of your breasts. So, take weaning slowly - as it's been suggested, one nursing at a time. It's sad to think of an 11 month old baby being cut off from her primary source of comfort because of a learned, unnatural, arbitrary timeline, but at least you made it this far!

Liz - posted on 10/31/2010

hi i have a 2 year old (she is number3) and i still feed her,the only thing i could suggest is try not to feed her before a sleep.i feed my little one in the morning when she wakes and at night but a few hours before bed.try not to stress to much and enjoy.good luck!

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/31/2010

Brittany, thanks for the look ahead! My son is only 1 1/2 and already he stares at my pubic hair. :0 it makes me feel weird but I understand he just hasn't noticed it before and is curious. So it's weird to think about him getting more verbal about my privates, but for me I don't find it weird he says boob when he wants to breastfeed! Idk I guess I have rewired my brain to think of my breasts as just a feeding tool for my kids! But unfortunately it's still awkward when he stares other places! But I don't want him to fear my body or anyone elses but I want him to know the truth, so eventually we will get there, but he's still young for that. Their innocence is so adorable,I wish it could last :)

Katharine - posted on 10/31/2010

trisha, I also wanted to wean at one< now my daughter is almost 14 months and I am still breastfeeding, but solely at night, usually between 12-6am. I am making the choice to contuinue to bf at night, The best way to wean, as I found, was to take one feeding away a week at a time, that way you get less engorged and its not tramatic for your baby. Try that. Also, I give my daughter organic cows milk and soy milk, alternating. Good luck! :)

Erin - posted on 10/31/2010

Yikes, I've been reading this thread, and Trisha, I have to say, your doc is dead wrong. Cow's milk before age 1?! Seriously? Not a good idea. Pediatricians, like all docs, are trained in diagnosing disease and treating them with pharmaceuticals. They are not well-versed in nutrition, health, or child development. Pick up a copy of "What You Pediatrician Doesn't Know Can Hurt Your Child."

There is nothing "weird" about bfing your child past 1 year of age, or them being able to ask for it. The only "weird" thing about this whole situation is your attitude about bfing, which frankly, is sad and borderline selfish.

Brittany - posted on 10/30/2010

I didn't tell you to breastfeed until age 4. I merely was telling you that if you're afraid of your baby becoming obsessed with your breasts, it's going to happen regardless of breastfeeding. As a mommy, you will have to come up with your own answers just as I have done in the past and will do for my little one when she gets to that point. Breastfeeding past a year is your decision and I'm happy to see that you made it to one year. I'm just sharing some information that some might not be aware of. =)

Trisha - posted on 10/30/2010

thatsts the plan, but she gets almond milk once a day

Celeste - posted on 10/30/2010

Trisha, you don't have to nurse til 4. I really don't understand why you're afraid of her being verbal about it. I don't understand the negative connotation of the ability of speech and nursing. I nursed all of my children beyond 1 and yes, they did ask for it. IMO, nursing after 1 is a ton easier because you can set limits and teach them nursing manners. Plus, you're not their sole source of nutrition.

Having said all that, if you still want to wean, I'd highly encourage nursing til 1 to forgo the cost of formula and you can go straight to cow's milk. Then I'd slowly drop a feeding so that you don't set yourself up for mastitis and plugged ducts.

Trisha - posted on 10/30/2010

i dont plan on bfeeding till age 4...

Brittany - posted on 10/30/2010

I hate to tell you this but around age 3 is when children start really learning about body parts and what they are for. Regardless of whether you breastfeed or not, Your daughter will be obsessed with your boobs and will try to pull up/down your shirt to see them. She will also start to become interested in her genital area and everyone else's including yours. She will want to watch you go to the bathroom and try to look at you while you are changing or in the shower. She will wonder why those areas are private and why you keep them covered. She will make up her own ideas by the way you act and how uncomfortable you are with them. It's a part of normal human development even for children that have been formula-fed since day 1. It can be awkward at times, especially if they start talking about how mommy has hair on her genitals and she doesn't in the middle of the GROCERY STORE lol but it's just innocent and they are just learning. It's best to teach them that breasts are for feeding babies and maybe one day she will become a mommy and use her breasts to feed her babies. Children often get the impression that breasts are shameful and sexual even before they understand what sex is because of the way their moms feel and act toward their own breasts.



I'm not trying to offend anybody. It's just info for people that haven't gone through that stage before and might like to know =)

Sarah - posted on 10/30/2010

I would suggest dropping 1 feed at a time like you said and also something I have done this week is changed the night routine. It used to be dinner/play/bath/nurse/bed and this week i changed it to dinner/play/nurse/bath/story/bed and she was fine straight away. I think it helped she has a set bedtime. Scarlett did not cry for the breast at all and I was happy as I still want her to nurse 2xday for now. The reason I did it is we are going to a wedding next week and I will need to leave at 5pm so I wanted to ensure she didn't need to nurse to go to sleep. I will just nurse her before we leave. After a year it will give DH and I the freedom to go out for dinner etc if we want.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/30/2010

Sounds like you shouldn't have too hard weaning her, just offer something else in place of it and avoid your breastfeeding chair. Try cows milk, goats milk, almond milk to see what she likes and just focus on filling her up on solids so she isn't wanting to breastfeed as much, and maybe have dad put her to bed so you don't have to deal with her crying for the breast. That's pretty hard to go through, so maybe dad would be able to do bed time while she adjusts. Otherwise, if it's easy weaning you want, just wait longer, the longer you wait the easier it will be because the closer you get to her natural weaning age the less she will fight it.
And don't worry if you decide it too much for her to take, she is quite young and it's a very hard thing to be denied breastfeeding in a young mind! They don't understand much so there's no harm if you change your mind and wait a few months until she takes it easier.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/30/2010

Weird, maybe, but it is normal. And it's what most kidskin the population are doing! When a child is ready to wean they do it themselves, no mom input needed. That's how humans have weaned for generations. They grow out of it when they are old enough! That's the beauty of a child growing up, it happens all in due time and we don't need to 'do' anything to make them wean.

Trisha - posted on 10/30/2010

she doesnt need it, I bf in the morning if she gets up before 630am so she will go back to sleep. Then i feed her before her two naps and then before bed. i am going to start wean one feeding at a time. I think she will do fine. She signs for milk too but it will be harder if the kid is obbsessed and 3 or 4 years old. Thats wierd. I am all for bfeeding but that wierd. PERIOD

Sarah - posted on 10/30/2010

If you could supply a bit more info that would help. How many times a day are you feeding now? My daughter (11.5 months) has started self-weaning and is only having 2 bf a day - her choice and I was recommended to offer a little cows milk in a sippy at lunchtime as well as an extra serve of dairy. Had she been younger than 11 months however I was told I would have needed to give formula to replace the lunch bf she will no longer have. I personally am happy to bf as long as she wants but she is already losing interest in the one before bed as well so I think we won't make it much past a year but I am so proud we made it this far!

Allison - posted on 10/30/2010

Unfortunately not so much. My 2 year old wants to nurse all day and all night -- much more than the 4 month old does. I really have to distract myself to let her stay latched on for more than a few minutes. I really expected to love it. I envisioned the happy tandem, kids holding hands, etc. I am a stay at home mom, we co-sleep, etc. So it seems like it should fit perfectly but it just doesn't for me. I realize it is important to her thus I continue. As for other moms, I read that something like 85 percent of pregnant breastfeeders wean due to the discomfort. I seriously considered it for the same reason. And you do get strange looks when you nurse them together or one right after another. My husband grew up in Le Leche League and went to all the conferences. Even he was a little struck by it. Definitely give it a shot! Many, many people enjoy it. I wish you all the best and hope it works well for you! Good luck with your pregnancy and birth.

Brittany - posted on 10/30/2010

Before I was a mom, I thought breastfeeding should be stopped when the child was old enough to ask for it because I thought that was awkward and weird. When I became a mom, I realized that that was just silly and that my child's health will always be much more important than my comfort level. I'm not saying that you don't care about your child's health but you are worried about how uncomfortable it may be. That's not really a good reason to wean her. Your baby has been asking for your milk since she was born by crying. My daughter asks me for milk with sign language because she can't say the word yet. I find that it's actually really cute and far from awkward and it's really a natural transition that you wont even notice if you don't stress out about it.