As a stay at home mom I found it was easy to continue nursing my child for a longer period of time than say, the average mom. It's not to say its better or worse. Doctors recommend nursing a child for as long as possible and especially during those early stages of life when the highest concentration of nutrients and antibodies are in the milk. It seems like the recommendation changes every few years, but I think the latest suggestion is six months.
It's easy to make the decision when you're pretty much sick and tired of pumping in your office bathroom or if your milk supply is depleted. Let's face it, you can't get physically and emotionally attached to a breast pump!
So when do you decide that it's time to stop nursing if you don't have a full time job? I didn't want to be one of those mom's whose 2 year old child is asking to be nursed. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I just knew it was not for me. I mean, heck, with no external factors stopping us it could have gone on forever.
As my youngest son's first birthday was fast approaching, I knew it was time to start thinking about weaning. 6 weeks later he was officially weaned! How did I do it? Here are seven tips that I used to help me close down the milk factory!
1. Take a stand! You can't always count on the child being ready. If you notice that your child still has the same number of feedings as he did when he was six and nine months old, chances are he's not thinking of stopping any time soon. If you notice this, then you have to make a plan.
2. Never stop cold turkey! Imagine what trauma this would cause to your child. Your breasts have essentially become his best friends. Taking them away abruptly would do more harm than good. Not to mention the level of trust would be affected.
3. Always wean gradually. When I decided I wanted to wean my youngest son I made a 6 week plan whereby every week I would replace a feeding with a cup of milk. By the time a month went by we were down to two feedings a day and it was when he woke up in the morning and after his second nap.
4. Replace his "lost friends" with something else. I made sure to get my son a new, soft blanket that he could use to comfort himself and mourn the loss of his freeflowing milk supply.
5. Don't forget to praise! Babies know more than we think. If we praise them when they drink from their new sippy cups they are more than likely going to do it again.
6. If your child refuses to drink from one sippy cup, don't assume it's a lost battle. There are dozens of different sippy cups on the market right now. Some have soft tips, some have hard tips, some have handles and some do not. Make sure to buy a few different cups and experiment and see which one your child prefers.
7. Stay consistent. If you are down to 2 feedings a day and your child insists on a third feeding, don't give in! You have to stick to your guns if you are trying to wean him. Otherwise it'll just be the beginning of a very long battle.
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