Nicky has recently turned two and shows no sign of dropping the boob. Although the day feeds are a lot less, he still needs it to go to sleep and when emotionally distressed. I keep trying to stop, but I’m weak.
Here is a list of my procrastination methods:
1) Get another sippy cup. We have a variety. I have two kinds of no spill Tommy Tippee. I have a Avent no spill with a straw. I have two with a straw that spill. I have two push top lids. We have a cute car one.
Sippy cups haven’t totally been a total waste as I now have him drinking tea out of one of the non spill Tommy Tippee (pictured above). So if that helps for a morning or evening feed, great.
2) Read another book on weaning. It’s much easier to read a book than put the information into practice. Then you feel like you are doing something. Remember that post I wrote before on gentle weaning based on two other books? Great tips, right? I wrote them all down. Did I do anything about them? Nope.
I’ve just finished another one (pictured) which is actually really good and has a really good quote about how demanding weaning is.
3) Ask everyone for advice. I asked my mom friends. I asked my sister. I asked my mother. I listened as I was told about feeding Nicky yoghurt at night, I must rub his back to get him to sleep. I must sleep train. I must, I must… aaaah! I listened and I did nothing. (Oh by the way Nicky laughs when I rub his back)
4) Create a spreadsheet to track feeds and what is prompting them. I think my DH’s love for spreadsheets is getting to me. Also the yelling spreadsheet tracker worked really well, didn’t it?
Well that idea lasted one day.
The first day went really well. No day feeds apart from nap time. One feed to get to sleep.
And then.
And then the wheels came off.
Many night feeds because he didn’t sleep. The next day he was so grumpy because of lack of sleep he needed more feeds to calm him down. We have actually had a week of bad sleep. I think he’s teething or he was too cold or something. Who knows. I just rolled over and kept the crying down with the boob solution.
5) Assemble a variety of boob substitutes next to the bed. This was bound to make me feel better, right, and feel like I had some kind of plan, right? I went and bought a bottle warmer. I have a sippy cup. I had a dummy. I had a pouch of food.
Nicky enjoyed playing with the dummy – taking the cap on and off was lots of fun for him. He had the pouch for breakfast. I never had the energy to get the warm bottle. I was weak.
Well folks, I have nothing more to say. I am sure you guys have loads of advice, but then again, I probably won’t listen to it. I just need support.
Aww! if you aren’t ready and he isn’t ready, why force it? Eventually one of you will be ready and it might be easier. 🙂
Because I’m 40 and I want to have another child.
I love this post Heather, I have so many friends who are still breastfeeding their 20+ months. They “blame” the child and not themselves, so good on you for being honest! Same as Erin and dummy – it’s 100% my fault she still loves it.
Thanks Amy for your support xx
Support! Five and a half years later, and it’s only recently came to an end!
I would not do it differently!
Thanks for the support Karen. I just don’t think i can do five years though…
Long time not see you… Missing Nick. Where has the time gone? He just want to be close with you 😉
I have no advice really as all 3 of mine just weaned themselves. But like with most things kids related, the only thing that works for us is deciding to do something and then stick it through. If we falter even once it’s over. (I could give so many examples here – like weaning dummies, nappies etc, but I am sure you know what I mean).
Good luck 😉
You are right, I have to decide to do it and stick with it. Easier said than done, though.
We nursed till 27 months. My advice is not to set a deadline, but just keep moving towards weaning at a pace that works for you. If you do want (and only if you want to, because it’s okay not to) work towards weaning, pick only one type / time of nursing to eliminate at a time and don’t worry about any of the others till that one is fully stopped.
Good tip. I started working on eliminating the day feed and I’m mostly successful with that. It’s really just the sleeping thing I need to work on now.
I just had to stop for myself. One day I could not share myself anymore and I needed sleep so desperately that I had to stop. My child would feed all night and one day I could do it no more. I cried and felt sad for a long time after I stopped.
You will get there eventually. When you decide to stop, you will. I think you just think it is a good idea for now, but you do not really believe it.
Everything passes, with kiddies, and this will too.
This comment is the most helpful for me because you have acknowledged how hard it is and that I can get through it. Thank you.
Good luck Heather. Excited to see that you want to try for baby #2!
Ha! Don’t get too excited yet. I just need to get over this hurdle of weaning first. But I will…
I am right with you on this one! I like this article on KellyMom: http://kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/weaning-night/. They have a section on night weaning toddlers. The best thing I have found so far is to have my hubby take over some bedtime duties. When my husband puts him to bed, my son doesn’t need to nurse. It’s like my son can smell me and my milk.
Thanks for the useful link!
Ai I have no good advice – mine all weaned themselves at around a year. But I do suspect if you want another kidlet and we know weaning will help you will have to make the decision and stick 100% to it – it is going to be hard and tough, but worth it in the end
Thanks Cat, like you say, I have to make that decision and stick with it.