Hi ladies!
After your opinions/experiences on weaning...
I have been lucky to have had a very positive & fairly easy breastfeeding experience with my first bub. He just turned one a few weeks ago.
About 6 weeks ago I stopped his overnight feed. He was sick & spewed it up a few nights in a row, plus I'd been thinking of stopping as I think it was more comfort than necessity. It wasn't too hard & he's since started sleeping through for the first time (yaaayyyy) not all the time but hey, I'll take it.
After his 12 month checkup & chat to my family health nurse I then weaned his during the day feed. Kept him busy with food & activities & avoided where I used to feed. He is eating more now as he was a little on the light side for his height (he is tall).
So now just feeding before bed & on waking. I'm unsure if I should keep going with these two feeds for a while or to keep weaning. I have no specific reason to stop (don't need to go away overnight etc.) I don't think he needs it as such as he is eating well, drinking cows milk & water. He doesn't feed to sleep. I think I may be holding on a bit as I love the bonding & it's the last of him really being my baby but is this selfish? Is it going to be harder to wean these feeds if I leave it until he's a bit older (maybe a few more months)? At what age did you stop?
On a side note he also has a dummy for sleeps only & this has got me thinking ahead. When did you take the dummy away? Any tips? He can sleep without it (in car & also spits it once asleep sometimes) but it definitely soothes him & is a cue for going to sleep.
Your advice is mich appreciated!
4 Replies
It doesn't sound like there is any reason to stop the two feeds. If you enjoy it and want to continue do so.
As to the dummy it sounds like it's being used appropriately and your child sounds like they will grow out of using it anyway.
The only time I'd worry is if your child was waking for the dummy a lot or was using it during the day.
Don't feel pressured to wean if you're both happy with the level of breastfeeding. It's beneficial for both of you as it can be protective against illness and infection for him, and for both of you a wonderful bonding moment at the end of the long day. When/if you feel it's necessary to cut down or out, then you do so.
Dummies: it sounds like he's using the dummy appropriately. My daughter was a bit over 3 years old when we weaned off the dummies (I wouldn't wait that long again TBH) and we waited until we had all broken ones then told her they were all gone.
Don't give in to outside pressures to stop. It is a beautiful bonding experience, why stop? If you both enjoy it then keep going, if life changes then you adapt accordingly.
You sound like your doing a great job. Keep y
The 2 feeds per day as long as You are managing them, nice time together. Baby will let you know when enough is enough. I fed my three till about 15-16 months. Dummy's are great soothers until baby cannot settle with out one during the night. We had one that did this. More time getting up during the night to put it back in his mouth. The next who didn't have for this reason.