Weaning | hippieheart's Blog

I set a goal to nurse my son for two years.  It is now a week before his 2nd birthday and I am on track.  For the past several weeks, I've gotten him down to nursing only 3 times a day...but I was in a sort of rut, not knowing how to move beyond these three designated times. 

While my in-laws were here, for the past four days, my husband also took off work.  So I decided that, with all of their support, I'd try to take the next step: of cutting out yet another nursing.  I had my husband put my son to sleep, for his nap, and removed myself from the equation all together.  This worked like a charm.  With me out of the room, our son didn't ask for "booby" and, instead, went to sleep without issue.  I was actually a bit shocked ~ but then I came to realize that it was probably ME that was the issue.  Although I want to quit nursing, there is still a part of me that is holding on.  He is my last baby...and, when the nursing is over...well, it will be the last time I will be able to do it.  And that also means my son moving towards even more independence.  Yes, I recognize that independence is important and necessary and should be the goal of every parent ~ but when they're still so small and young, it is easy to not want to let them go, even if letting go only means not breast-feeding any longer.

The added bonus of having my in-laws here meant DATE NIGHT for us.  We ended up going out to dinner one night and out to a movie the next night ~ two date nights in a row!  Which also meant that they put him to bed for us...which, in turn, meant no breast-feeding.  So we went from nursing three times a day to only nursing ONCE, for two days in a row...and only nursing twice for the other two days  they were here.  

And ya know what!?  My son has been totally fine with it.  He hasn't been upset, hasn't thrown a fit, hasn't refused to nap or go to bed at night.  In fact, he didn't even request the boob.  Again, this just illustrates to me that it is more ME that is having a difficult time in giving it up, not him.  

Today the in-lawsare gone and my husband is back to work.  So I am on my own, as far as nap time goes.  But I am focused on the big picture and I am keeping my eyes on the goal.  I will put him down for a nap without nursing him.  And tonight, when he's ready for bed, I'll have my husband put him down ~ giving myself a nice break and further reinforcing my son's ability to fall asleep without the boob. 

This is working out quite nicely.  

I've heard that when a woman gives up breast-feeding, she goes through the same hormonal changes as she does after she's had the baby.  I'm hoping I don't get all moody and weepy, but I have prepared myself for that possibility: I've stocked up on Rescue Remedy...and I know I have my husband's support.  I've warned him.  But, knock on wood, so far it has gone well and I don't feel moody or weepy.