Comments on: Deciding to Wean Your Baby

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:51:57 +0000

Monkeytoemamma- I’m still nursing my daughter at 24 months. I didn’t expect to be still nursing, I just thought I would nurse her until she’s ready to wean naturally… This is keeping in mind that my siblings and I stopped nursing naturally at 9-10 months. When Little Bean didn’t stop or show signs of stopping at 18 months, I asked my mother in-law. All her children nursed for 2-4 yrs. Boy was I in shock when she told me this, I don’t know too many women from her generation who nursed that long. However, she is from another country and it was common there. (Thats another point, there is not too many women from our Mothers’ generation, that nursed or support nursing for longer than 6 months due to what research said back then. So, its tough going all around)

Anyway, my Dr. encouraged me to reduce her nursing to 2x per day then later only at night. So, she now only nurses at bedtime. It wasn’t too hard to reduce, and now I feel a lot more free and less guilty about nursing. If that makes sense.

Remember, you are not alone!

By: Monkeytoemomma

Monkeytoemomma — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:26:41 +0000

Thanks ladies! It’s been weighing heavily on my chest (no pun intended). Some days I can’t stand it and say, “that’s it! I have to wean her!” And the next day I look down at her and think, “but she’s just a baby.” I’m glad to see I’m not alone, though.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:31:13 +0000

Sharon–I don’t know why Americans have so much trouble with it! It drives me crazy that people get so offended by nursing moms and don’t blink an eye when women go around showing cleavage galore. Somehow nursing gets lumped into sexuality and people are confused about it. I think it is a symptom of our over-sexualized american culture. Somehow along the way the practicality of nursing and breasts got thrown aside.

I think that there are a lot more extended nursing moms out there than we realize–it’s just not publicized. I think a lot of moms would be surprised if they asked around–thankfully there is lots of support for mommies who nurse past a year at places like La Leche League and the mothering.com forums!

Monkeytoemamma–I certainly don’t think you should be ashamed for nursing as long as you have! Your baby is getting lots of good benefits to nursing and you are doing a good thing. Sharon brings up a good point though–if you WANT to stop then there are lots of good resources out there to wean your baby gently–but if you feel like you must stop because of what others think then I wouldn’t worry about it one bit! You keep doing what you feel like is right for you and your baby!

By: Sharon M

Sharon M — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:58:15 +0000

@Monkeytoemomma — Don’t be ashamed of nursing this long! You’re among peers, believe me. Although some of us haven’t nursed our children that long, many of us have and it seems like it’s been a great experience. Now, if you WANT to stop nursing and are having some… resistance issues from your little one, that’s a whole other story. Any suggestions, mommies?
A friend of mine was in Africa for a few months, and she nursed her son the entire time she was there, until he was about a year old. She was still nursing him at 15 months the last time I saw her, and I couldn’t believe some of the comments she would get — “You’re STILL nursing him?” like someone would say, “You feed your kid chocolate bars EVERY MORNING for breakfast?!” Why do AMERICANS have such trouble with this? Is it the “inconvenience”? The “embarrassment” of having a child pull on your shirt in public so s/he can nurse?

By: Monkeytoemomma

Monkeytoemomma — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:07:17 +0000

I have a 21 month old and she still nurses. I’m weak, I know; I just hope I wont be the mom on Oprah who is defending her decision to still nurse her 12 yr old. Please, someone help me!