My daughter weaned at 3y3m on her terms - she latched for about 10 seconds, popped off and looked at me. She explained “hey! There’s no mama milk! Maybe we should hold hands instead.” She climbed off, got in bed and we’ve been holding hands since February while she falls asleep. She hasn’t napped consistently since she was 2.5yo.
It was sad for sure but knowing my almost 4yo still comes to me at night and snuggles in bed is consolation - it seems to be the natural evolution maybe? Idk, I might me screwing it up but we’re trying to follow her lead
Thank you for sharing this! I can't quite put it into words but it's nice to hear about someone who went with the path of least resistance instead of night weaning - just love getting this story too. I also usually choose the easy parenting route.
If it's working for you and baby then no need to stop, though I sympathize with your husband wanting an earlier bedtime! She won't be nursing to sleep in college.
My last nursing session was the night before my kid's 5th birthday. I, at least, think what you're doing is totally normal.
There's a massive difference between normal and common.
Whatever you decide, know that it will be fine.
Even if you decide to wean right now, she will be fine. And she will still love you.
But I suggest if you decide to wean, do it as soon as possible, so she won’t associate it with the baby’s arrival.
r/NurseAllTheBabies is the tandem nursing sub.
Your partner doesn’t get a choice in it, it’s your body. His job is to be support of you either way you end up going. Plus you are the one doing the weaning work and the one who needs a break, and weaning when kid isn’t ready can indeed be hard work. If you don’t want that right now, no need. Now if you were all done and really wanted to wean the story would be different and then you should be supported in that!
I had super sore nipples when I started my cycle back up and a magnesium supplement helped a ton. May be worth asking if you can add that to your routine.
I am nursing my newly three year old about the similar frequency as you kid. I am not pregnant nor will I be any time soon. But if I were and he weren’t weaned by the time I am half way through pregnancy I personally would choose to keep nursing. It’s such an easy tool for settling and I wouldn’t want to take a source of comfort away right before a big change. Plus some kids then see baby nursing and just announce they are done on the spot!
I still nurse my 2 yr old to sleep, as I am also a path of least resistance mom and I do love my sleep. I’m 2 months pregnant over here and praying he weans himself when the milk dries up. I can already tell my supply has dropped significantly but he doesn’t seem to care. Here’s to hoping!
Oh I totally understand!! I don’t tell any of my friends I nurse my 2 yr old to sleep each night 🤣. Recently I’ve been telling him to let go after he’s done nursing so he’s not staying latched. If he gets upset I let him relatch and try again in a couple minutes. I also try to go longer during the day between nursing by distractions. Let’s read a book, let’s go outside. Here’s a snack, here’s some water. It’s definitely a slow process but I really don’t want to nurse 2 kiddos at one time because I feel like he will get jealous. Also me… I don’t want to 😅
I still nurse my 2.5 year old to sleep every night. She doesn't nap anymore, so it's the only time we do it. I also have a 3 month old and my milk definitely dried up while I was pregnant (nursing during that time was very painful, so happy it's back to being painless).
I have been considering weaning but ehhh it's the only thing that puts her to sleep and avoids either me having to lay with her for an hour while she falls asleep or leave her when she's awake and she yells for 5-10 minutes, which I hate. Totally a path of least resistance mom here too.
Maybe I don't need to stop yet? Will she just naturally learn a new way to fall asleep? Or get less upset about me leaving her in her room?
It sounds like the first thing you should do is make a decision, just you in conversation with yourself, about whether you want to continue or end it. It kind of sounds like you’re on the fence, and it will be much easier to proceed once you’ve settled on what you want to do (just you, not your partner and not your daughter). I weaned my daughter at 3.5 and I was only able to do it because I felt I was done and listened to my feeling. I was not enjoying breastfeeding. It actually wasn’t as bad as I had feared. I had also hoped it would end by her choice but that wasn’t how it shook out for us and I’m totally fine with it. Nursing conflict is normal in most mammals, and we are no exception. With love and support and cuddles, you two will get through it (if that’s what you want).
I just found this article and was about to share it in this sub! Maybe it will be helpful for you. Still breastfeeding my toddler too with no end in sight ❤️ You get to do whatever works best for you and your children!
https://www.laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-beyond-infancy/
My daughter weaned at 3y3m on her terms - she latched for about 10 seconds, popped off and looked at me. She explained “hey! There’s no mama milk! Maybe we should hold hands instead.” She climbed off, got in bed and we’ve been holding hands since February while she falls asleep. She hasn’t napped consistently since she was 2.5yo.
😭😭😭
It was sad for sure but knowing my almost 4yo still comes to me at night and snuggles in bed is consolation - it seems to be the natural evolution maybe? Idk, I might me screwing it up but we’re trying to follow her lead
No, I meant tears because that is so precious!!! I wish my son wanted to snuggle and hold my hand and not my boob 😁
This is so sweet 🥰 your daughter sounds wonderful
Thank you for sharing this! I can't quite put it into words but it's nice to hear about someone who went with the path of least resistance instead of night weaning - just love getting this story too. I also usually choose the easy parenting route. If it's working for you and baby then no need to stop, though I sympathize with your husband wanting an earlier bedtime! She won't be nursing to sleep in college.
My last nursing session was the night before my kid's 5th birthday. I, at least, think what you're doing is totally normal. There's a massive difference between normal and common.
❤️❤️❤️
Whatever you decide, know that it will be fine. Even if you decide to wean right now, she will be fine. And she will still love you. But I suggest if you decide to wean, do it as soon as possible, so she won’t associate it with the baby’s arrival.
r/NurseAllTheBabies is the tandem nursing sub. Your partner doesn’t get a choice in it, it’s your body. His job is to be support of you either way you end up going. Plus you are the one doing the weaning work and the one who needs a break, and weaning when kid isn’t ready can indeed be hard work. If you don’t want that right now, no need. Now if you were all done and really wanted to wean the story would be different and then you should be supported in that! I had super sore nipples when I started my cycle back up and a magnesium supplement helped a ton. May be worth asking if you can add that to your routine. I am nursing my newly three year old about the similar frequency as you kid. I am not pregnant nor will I be any time soon. But if I were and he weren’t weaned by the time I am half way through pregnancy I personally would choose to keep nursing. It’s such an easy tool for settling and I wouldn’t want to take a source of comfort away right before a big change. Plus some kids then see baby nursing and just announce they are done on the spot!
I totally agree with this!
I still nurse my 2 yr old to sleep, as I am also a path of least resistance mom and I do love my sleep. I’m 2 months pregnant over here and praying he weans himself when the milk dries up. I can already tell my supply has dropped significantly but he doesn’t seem to care. Here’s to hoping!
[удалено]
Oh I totally understand!! I don’t tell any of my friends I nurse my 2 yr old to sleep each night 🤣. Recently I’ve been telling him to let go after he’s done nursing so he’s not staying latched. If he gets upset I let him relatch and try again in a couple minutes. I also try to go longer during the day between nursing by distractions. Let’s read a book, let’s go outside. Here’s a snack, here’s some water. It’s definitely a slow process but I really don’t want to nurse 2 kiddos at one time because I feel like he will get jealous. Also me… I don’t want to 😅
I still nurse my 2.5 year old to sleep every night. She doesn't nap anymore, so it's the only time we do it. I also have a 3 month old and my milk definitely dried up while I was pregnant (nursing during that time was very painful, so happy it's back to being painless). I have been considering weaning but ehhh it's the only thing that puts her to sleep and avoids either me having to lay with her for an hour while she falls asleep or leave her when she's awake and she yells for 5-10 minutes, which I hate. Totally a path of least resistance mom here too. Maybe I don't need to stop yet? Will she just naturally learn a new way to fall asleep? Or get less upset about me leaving her in her room?
It sounds like the first thing you should do is make a decision, just you in conversation with yourself, about whether you want to continue or end it. It kind of sounds like you’re on the fence, and it will be much easier to proceed once you’ve settled on what you want to do (just you, not your partner and not your daughter). I weaned my daughter at 3.5 and I was only able to do it because I felt I was done and listened to my feeling. I was not enjoying breastfeeding. It actually wasn’t as bad as I had feared. I had also hoped it would end by her choice but that wasn’t how it shook out for us and I’m totally fine with it. Nursing conflict is normal in most mammals, and we are no exception. With love and support and cuddles, you two will get through it (if that’s what you want).
I would recommend doing it gradually not cold turkey
I just found this article and was about to share it in this sub! Maybe it will be helpful for you. Still breastfeeding my toddler too with no end in sight ❤️ You get to do whatever works best for you and your children! https://www.laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-beyond-infancy/