I am ready to wean Quinlan. Quinlan on the other hand, is not.
When Aidan was a year I started giving him warm milk in a bottle and gradually slowed the nursing. He would take a bottle before bed and naps. The only time he really nursed was when he was hurt or in the middle of the night. When Quinlan was a year I tried to give him a bottle with warm milk. He did not take kindly to either the bottle or the milk. He is just starting to drink milk now at almost 20 months.
Most of the time when Quinlan wants to nurse during the day I can distract him with some other liquid. Sometimes the mommy guilt kicks in. How can I not give him something that is good for him? How can I do this without the tantrums? How can I do this without the guilt? How will I survive the guilt of going away for the weekend in two weeks? All good questions, no good answers.
Anyone?
Think of it as one of the many positive things you’re teaching him: how to eat and drink from sources other than you. Sometimes it’s difficult, but it’s something we all need to learn sometime. And that approach works for many things over the years. With our daughters (now 10 and 12), it’s their learning to be comfortable going to bed on their own, and when away from home at camp or a friend’s place.
.-= Derek K. Miller´s last blog ..Zoom zoom =-.
Mommy guilt will kill you if you let it. I hate it. And the fun thing is that it’s there for all sorts of reasons. I don’t breastfeed anymore but I’ve still got buckets of mommy guilt for other things.
I don’t have any awesome tips on weaning because my kids were kind and weaned themselves ages ago.
I guess the only thing I can say is that Quinlan is young and he won’t remember this. It will only be you, and Anthony (and maybe a few blog readers) who remember this weaning thing. And while he may want to nurse, he doesn’t actually have to. You did a fantastic job of nursing him for so long. You should be proud of that and feel good about that. It’s okay for you to stop. He’ll be okay. He may be angry with you for a bit, but he’ll really be okay. Keep that in mind and try to kick that mommy guilt to the curb.
.-= Marilyn (A Lot of Loves)´s last blog ..Vancouver / Delta: It’s Where I Live =-.
I have no advice, as all my kids weaned themselves before they were one, but sending you a hug. 🙂
.-= Angella´s last blog ..No Comment =-.
Maybe he will be weaned by the time you come home from your weekend. You have done fantastically well to have nursed as long as you have and Quinlan is not allergic to milk so if, M survived he will too.
My boy was showing signs of weaning when my husband and I went to Maui. Alone. No children. When we got back and picked him up from his grandparents house he totally forgot all about nursing. I tried but he lots the ability to suckle and that was that.
.-= Mama in the City´s last blog ..Pizza on the Father’s Day Grill =-.
When Kai was 20 months my husband and I went away to Mexico for a week and left him with my mother in law… he did great though he’d been nursing every night before bed until then. A different environment was good for both of us. Now, I succumbed to his request once I got back and ended up nursing him until he was about 28 months, but it was only once every few days to a week and in the end, once every week or two before we were finally done. Guilt is a wasted emotion… I agree with Marilyn: you’ve done great!
.-= Michelle Evans´s last blog ..Time Stands Still – The Story Continues =-.
I went through the exact same thing with my second child, so I know how you are feeling. My daughter was so attached to breastfeeding, and it took me going away and basically stopping cold turkey 1/2 week before leaving for it to work with her. My previous distracting/weaning attempts were not working, and I felt guilty for the same reasons you stated. Basically when the time is right you need to completely decide to love yourself and not beat yourself up, because you deserve kindness too! Easier said than done. I like to call Mommy guilt Mommy growth because we are growing in the process just trying to find the best path for us and our children. All the best!
.-= Wendy Irene´s last blog ..Jumpstartcom Review -amp Giveaway- =-.