And just like that... he weaned.
I knew it was coming. He'd been barely nursing, and only before bedtime, for about the past month.
When we went camping last week, we stayed over our friends' house quite past his bedtime. He was asleep by the time we returned to camp. So I put him down without nursing. He slept through the night.
The following couple of nights he wanted to nurse. But not last night. And not tonight.
To be sure, I asked him if he wanted to nurse. He stared at me blankly (I don't typically use that term with him). I tried again, and made the sign for milk.
He giggled. And made the sign for milk. And giggled. And continued lying in my lap, playing with his lovey blankie.
Just to be sure (because I'm a first-time mom and have no idea what weaning is really supposed to look like), I tried one more time. This time, I made the sign for milk, and said, "Do you want some milk?"
He giggled. And made the sign for milk and laughed and laughed. But just kept snuggling with me in the rocker. Gazing sleepily at me with his eyes opening and shutting slowly.
And I knew he was done nursing.
And I rocked him until long past his bedtime.
And sang to him all the songs I could ever remember singing while I'd nursed him the past 17 months.
And remembered all the crazy things I'd tried to help me continue breastfeeding this baby that I/we love so dearly.
And how I thought I'd fail at breastfeeding, but somehow, we made it.
And I tried not to cry. Unsuccessfully.
And I thought of all the times I'd cried and wished he WOULD wean. And that didn't help.
And he lay very still for a long time, which is unusual for my non-snuggly baby. And that helped.
And I told myself that at least it will be a long time before he doesn't need me to rock him anymore. I hope. And that helped too.
And so he weaned.
How old was your child(ren) when they weaned? Was it all at once or did it sneak up on you? Was it a happy day or bittersweet?
And because I think breastfeeding is an amazing and beautiful part of motherhood, that some women enjoy, and some don't want to, and some wish they could, I am hosting a Breastfeeding Awareness Event next week. Kicking off on August 1st, World Breastfeeding Day. And I will be sorry to not participate with my baby, but I will be supporting all moms who want to or continue to breastfeed! I hope you'll join me!
oh I saw the title to this post and it made me sad. We are still at 2-3 times a day and I have to tell you that it saved me a few times during the past week away from home. I think he likes the comfort/suck more than anything now. I'm about ready to be done so we'll see how long we continue to go.
oh I saw the title to this post and it made me sad. We are still at 2-3 times a day and I have to tell you that it saved me a few times during the past week away from home. I think he likes the comfort/suck more than anything now. I'm about ready to be done so we'll see how long we continue to go.
i'm teared up too. i want to wean my youngest- she turns 2 next week- but at the same time, i never want her to stop nursing, because she's my youngest and its hurting my heart to think i won't ever share this with another baby, and that's hard. really hard. she's only nursing in the morning, although if she had it her way she'd be nursing on demand around the clock...
i think its bittersweet, and a rite of passage. its also something you work for- and by work, i mean work hard- breastfeeding, when it isn't simple, is such a struggle that when you finally stop its a time of mixed emotions. with my first i sobbed for days, feeling like i'd failed her...i barely made any milk and didn't know tricks to try, etc. we only made it 6 months nursing part time. with my 2nd my milk changed when i was pregnant with #3 and i think he just kind of stopped...but i had one more kid to go ...now, faced with no more nursing ever, its harder...although its been a long, hard process with lots of hard work, but emotionally *I* am not sure i will ever be ready
you gave him an amazing gift.
and on a funny note i'm sure your husband will be glad to have them back. mine is still waiting :o)
i'm teared up too. i want to wean my youngest- she turns 2 next week- but at the same time, i never want her to stop nursing, because she's my youngest and its hurting my heart to think i won't ever share this with another baby, and that's hard. really hard. she's only nursing in the morning, although if she had it her way she'd be nursing on demand around the clock...
i think its bittersweet, and a rite of passage. its also something you work for- and by work, i mean work hard- breastfeeding, when it isn't simple, is such a struggle that when you finally stop its a time of mixed emotions. with my first i sobbed for days, feeling like i'd failed her...i barely made any milk and didn't know tricks to try, etc. we only made it 6 months nursing part time. with my 2nd my milk changed when i was pregnant with #3 and i think he just kind of stopped...but i had one more kid to go ...now, faced with no more nursing ever, its harder...although its been a long, hard process with lots of hard work, but emotionally *I* am not sure i will ever be ready
you gave him an amazing gift.
and on a funny note i'm sure your husband will be glad to have them back. mine is still waiting :o)
Yup.. teary eyed. I don't want my baby to wean!
Yup.. teary eyed. I don't want my baby to wean!
I had to wean T Rex around 19 months. It was a rough time for him because I was pretty sick being pregnant and he had also learned to jump out of his crib so we had to transition him to a bed to avoid injuries from climbing out. He did keep asking for about a week but I just sang and rocked him and he did fine. But poor guy, a new bed and no milk all in the same week. But then it was better for him - still tough for me.
With Bebe Sister - she's 18 1/2 months and drinks first thing in the morning but I suspect she is about done. She is probably not getting much but just like to suck and enjoy the closeness. I would say she is probably close to being done but this time we don't have to rush to wean.
This was a lovely post and so well stated and written. I love when you share your non-technical writing with us.
I had to wean T Rex around 19 months. It was a rough time for him because I was pretty sick being pregnant and he had also learned to jump out of his crib so we had to transition him to a bed to avoid injuries from climbing out. He did keep asking for about a week but I just sang and rocked him and he did fine. But poor guy, a new bed and no milk all in the same week. But then it was better for him - still tough for me.
With Bebe Sister - she's 18 1/2 months and drinks first thing in the morning but I suspect she is about done. She is probably not getting much but just like to suck and enjoy the closeness. I would say she is probably close to being done but this time we don't have to rush to wean.
This was a lovely post and so well stated and written. I love when you share your non-technical writing with us.
I am 8 months into breastfeeding and can't imagine the day when she weans. It seems like she will go on forever but I know it will come to an end. Thanks for a wonderful post!
I am 8 months into breastfeeding and can't imagine the day when she weans. It seems like she will go on forever but I know it will come to an end. Thanks for a wonderful post!
Your post was awesome, made me tear up! Thanks for sharing your breastfeeding journey with us all. You did an awesome job breastfeeding him for as long as you did.
Your post was awesome, made me tear up! Thanks for sharing your breastfeeding journey with us all. You did an awesome job breastfeeding him for as long as you did.
I am smiling right now and thinking, "It got better. Didn't it?" I am so happy it did...not just for you, but when it was my turn for me as well. I nursed my first one until he was 15 months. I wasn't planning in weaning him, but circumstances led otherwise. My second weaned slowly. She was about one when she weaned. It is a bittersweet milestone. It is almost like a confirmation that they are not an infant anymore. They have officially gradutated to "toddlerhood." It gets better....
I am smiling right now and thinking, "It got better. Didn't it?" I am so happy it did...not just for you, but when it was my turn for me as well. I nursed my first one until he was 15 months. I wasn't planning in weaning him, but circumstances led otherwise. My second weaned slowly. She was about one when she weaned. It is a bittersweet milestone. It is almost like a confirmation that they are not an infant anymore. They have officially gradutated to "toddlerhood." It gets better....
On average my kiddos nursed until 15 months old. I remember my first born's end clearly. It was around Easter time and we were very busy visiting with family and friends. My son was only nursing before bed at that point. He fell asleep in the car and didn't wake up to nurse. A year later I was back at nursing again since my baby girl was born. 🙂
On average my kiddos nursed until 15 months old. I remember my first born's end clearly. It was around Easter time and we were very busy visiting with family and friends. My son was only nursing before bed at that point. He fell asleep in the car and didn't wake up to nurse. A year later I was back at nursing again since my baby girl was born. 🙂
Awwh, you're making me cry! 🙁
This post made me weepy too, even though I'm nursing and reading it.
Awwh, you're making me cry! 🙁
This post made me weepy too, even though I'm nursing and reading it.
My first was 3 years and 1 month old the last time she nursed.. it was a very very VERY slow process.. so slow that i didn't even cry in the end..(though about 6 months before she weaned i knew it was coming and i had a complete breakdown while discussing it with some other breastfeeding mamas) in the end it was so slow, i didn't even know it happened until a couple weeks after the last time she nursed. that was nice. she only nursed at bedtime, and not every night for the last year and a half or so of our nursing relationship...after she turned two i stopped offering to nurse and waited for her to ask, before 2 years I always offer at our normal nursing times even if they say no a few times.. my other two children (3 yrs 3 mo, and 10.5 mo) have not weaned yet... Here is a great book about weaning http://www.amazon.com/How-Weaning-Happens-Diane-Bengson/dp/0912500549
My first was 3 years and 1 month old the last time she nursed.. it was a very very VERY slow process.. so slow that i didn't even cry in the end..(though about 6 months before she weaned i knew it was coming and i had a complete breakdown while discussing it with some other breastfeeding mamas) in the end it was so slow, i didn't even know it happened until a couple weeks after the last time she nursed. that was nice. she only nursed at bedtime, and not every night for the last year and a half or so of our nursing relationship...after she turned two i stopped offering to nurse and waited for her to ask, before 2 years I always offer at our normal nursing times even if they say no a few times.. my other two children (3 yrs 3 mo, and 10.5 mo) have not weaned yet... Here is a great book about weaning http://www.amazon.com/How-Weaning-Happens-Diane-Bengson/dp/0912500549