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To Wean or Not To Wean

Kat - posted on 02/10/2012 ( 2 moms have responded )

169

2

My son turned 16 months two days ago. I honestly would not have thought i would still, when i look back on the whole thing before he was born. He has 7 teeth and why is it that some people, ESPECIALLY my mother in law insist that weaning needs to happen when they get teeth because they probably bite you. I am wondering what have other moms experiences been with letting your baby/toddler wean themselves or you weaning them? I REALLY want to let him wean himself. I am just TERRIFIED of letting him take the lead only to get to a point that I feel uncomfortable and then having to wean him anyway. I think ALOT of my worries comes from people like my mother in law giving me a hard time. I am HORRIBLE at hiding things too. If i hear stories of the Circle Of Moms I believe it will give me some insight and feelings that i am not alone. Thanks to ALL you Moms for being at this site and keeping ALL of us mommies together when we just don't know what to do.

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Crystal - posted on 02/11/2012

9

4

My son is 14 months and I plan on having him weaned at 2 yrs. I tell him he only has 10 months left. I also try to only breast feed at bedtime and in the morning. I am doing it for the health benefits. I am nervous about weaning as well. I plan on talking to a lactation consultant. I am sure their are ways to do it. Also I think I could get him to believe that when he turns 2 the milk stops because he is a big boy.

Lori - posted on 02/10/2012

1,097

9

I nursed my older daughter until she was 23 months old. I weaned her because I became pregnant, and it just hurt to nurse. I had planned on breastfeeding for 1 year. When her first birthday approached I just couldn't imagine weaning yet. I decided to keep nursing until one or both of us were done. I realized very quickly that most people are quite uncomfortable with breastfeeding a toddler. My mom had been quite happy and proud of my breastfeeding my baby the first year started asking "when are you going to wean?" and telling me "she's getting too old to still be nursing". By the time my daughters 2nd birthday was getting near I was thinking I was ready to be done, and when I found out I was pregnant and that was the reason for my discomfort with breastfeeding that gave me an extra shove. I weaned her within about a month of finding out I was pregnant. Luckily she did pretty good with weaning. She was already at the point of not nursing to sleep anymore so I switched over to sippy cup before reading a book and singing a few songs, and she adjusted pretty quickly. Now with my 2nd daughter (14 months old) my goal is 2 years. I have learned so much about the health benefits of "extended" nursing that I really want to breastfeed for at least 2 years... maybe more this time.



I also never lied about breastfeeding. If someone asked if I was still nursing I'd say yes. But I generally wouldn't bring it up myself, and after 18 months I didn't breastfeed outside of my own home (or hotel room when traveling)



I think you'll be fine to continue to a point where YOU or HE decides you're done. Don't quit just because of your MIL. If you need to, you can educate her about the health benefits of continued breastfeeding. One of the more important ones to me is the reduced risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes runs in my family and if I can give my LO a better chance of not developing it as an adult then I want to do what I can for her now.



Even if you decide to wean him yourself later that's perfectly OK too.

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