Extended BF mommies- a question

I EBF both my boys, and was always of the mindset that I would let them self-wean when they chose to. My older son was 15 months when he weaned (I was 2 months pregnant at the time, which I think probably played a part in it). His weaning process was very "textbook" though- over the course of a few months, he gradually cut out certain feedings and then gradually shortened the remaining ones, until one day, he just stopped asking. My younger son is now 19 months and still BFing. The funny thing about him though, is that he seems to be getting more and more interested in it. When he was a little over a year, he was down to 2 nursings a day, morning and bedtime. Now, he asks for it sometimes 4 or 5 times a day. I don't mind it at all now, but I find it curious. My only concern is for the future- my husband and I plan to start trying for another baby in the next few months, I don't mind nursing while pregnant at all, but I know I do not want to tandem nurse. I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but I just wonder how he will be in the future, if he seems to be increasing his interest in nursing now. Anyone else experience this?

Extended BF mommies- a question

My son is 18 months and he seems to have self weaned for a few weeks now.

He increased his nursing at 16 months and I started to get nervous that he would never wean but it turns out he was nursing through some teething....maybe your son's nursing is related to a milestone or increased autonomy? As you know, its not just about milk but about feeling close to you.

I encouraged the self weaning (if that's possible) by telling him nursies were goodnight for the evening nurse and taking a walk around the block together during that time instead. It worked great, no tears.....except maybe from me now that I realize that this beautiful phase is over.

Extended BF mommies- a question

please,DS will be 2 this friday and i don't think he plans on self weaning anytime soon.
my dd was about 18 months when i stopped b.c i had gotten pregnant.
in my mind, i said i would try to start wearning by around 20 months. then i pushed it to 2 years. although it will be hard for me to stop, i really dont want to be bf'ing a 3 or 4 year old. i feel as though the longer i let this continue, the older he will get lol

i don't know how i am going to do it. he breastfeeds in the am ipon waking and in the pm when i get home from work. its def a comfort thing. i am finding hard to detach b.c i really want a third baby but i dont think it will be in the cards for us financially or mentally for my dh. so, i am savoring this time.

so, i dont know how much longer this will continue. if it were up to my son, he prob wouldn't stop anytime soon.

Extended BF mommies- a question

DS is 21 months and I was hoping to let him self-wean, but I honestly don't know if that will ever happen! He only nurses at night (to sleep, which I know is so bad!) and occasionally in the middle of the night or early morning. I hate to admit that I'm kind of getting tired of it because it just puts a damper on my evenings because I'm in the room with him for so long and being woken up at this stage isn't fun either. I sometimes tell him boobies are sleeping or all done and sometimes he screams no and sometimes he just goes back to sleep. I keep telling myself I'll reevaluate at 2 and go from there!

Extended BF mommies- a question

DD is almost 15 months and I'm trying to encourage her to wean recently but it's been tough. She got down to morning and night very naturally but now we're stuck. I definitely wouldn't mind except that I'd like to try for number two and AF is nowhere in sight.

We're in a similar boat as you in that she suddenly started asking more. I was shocked when I didn't offer her midday session that she never asked. It was great. But now a month or so later she asks during the day pretty frequently. I try to distract her because I really don't want to go backwards. However, she's currently sick for the first time and since she's not a great drinker otherwise, I've been letting her nurse whenever she wants. So here we are back at 3-4 times a day! Hopefully when she gets better we'll get back on track.

I was checking out the LLL boards and saw a similar post about toddlers around this age looking to nurse more. I think many of the responses attributed it to separation anxiety if I remember correctly. Maybe bc they are getting more independent they are craving that reconnection at times.

Extended BF mommies- a question

DD1 was the exact same as your DS1 - weaned on her own at 15 months when I was 2 months pregnant and had been cutting down her feedings until she just stopped asking.

I am all for BFing, but IMO if you are done, then you should try to help him wean. Try distracting him when he tries to nurse by playing a game with him or give him something else to drink like milk or juice.

DD2 is 2 months old and DD1 has tried to nurse a few times when she sees her sister nursing and I just laugh and tell her that it is only for babies and that she is so silly and she laughs along and doesn't want it anymore. So I would tell DS2 that he is a big boy and big boys drink from cups like daddy and DS1. GL!

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question

DD is 25 months and still BFs at night before bed. I recently weaned her from her morning feeding, which went better than planned. I just started bring her sippy cup of milk in with me to get her in the morning...she still asked to BF, but when I suggested she have her cup instead she was ok with it.

A few months back she cut out her pre-nap BF herself. Back when she turned 1, we fell into the morning, nap, and bed BF routine. I honestly do not think she would ever self wean...but she seems to be ok w/ me suggesting we cut out a session...she goes with it...except I have no clue how ill stop the bedtime BF. I'm 6 weeks pregnant now, so I'm hoping this will help the bedtime situation.

I don't think there is anything wrong with helping him along I the weaning process...Just go slowly and use lots of of positive distractions.

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question

Extended BF mommies- a question

Thanks for the replies. I'm definitely not feeling done and not looking to wean him yet. Just thinking ahead and wondering what others' experiences have been. I do think it's possible he could be working through some teething. Time will tell. Thanks again!

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question

Interesting discussion! Glad to know I am in the same boat as so many of you. My DS1 self weaned at about 15 months, but DS2 is going strong at 22 months. I was hoping he would self-wean, but he seems to be more interested than ever! I would like to wean by 2YO but I don't know whether it will happen without pushing the issue, which I am not inclined to do.

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question

From what I've read , it's very common for a toddler to nurse more frequently as he/she is becoming more independent and exploring more on their own. It's a safe place for them to come back to and reassurance that all is good & safe in this world that they're just starting to explore.

I nursed my son until a week before his 3rd birthday and I weaned him suddenly due to a medical issue. If not, he showed no signs of weaning at all. But whenever he was mastering something new developmentally I noticed he nursed more frequently, if he got hurt or was upset he would come to me to nurse and so on.

Extended BF mommies- a question

I don't have any advice but just want to say that I have had the same exact experience as you. DS self weaned very easily at 16 1/2 months (I was almost 4 months pg with DD). Like your DS1, he had gradually cut down feedings by that point and it was a seamless, easy transition.
My 18 month old DD, on the other hand, has no interest in stopping. She currently nurses 3 times a day (wake up, nap, and bedtime) but has been wanting to nurse more and more lately. I attribute it to teething and what the PP mentioned above (safety and reassurance/separation anxiety).

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question

My first kept on nursing into my second pregnancy. When she was 26 months (and I was 3 months pregnant) I had enough and cut her off. She was not happy, but I was determined to be sure that she did not blame the baby so I didn't want to wait. I have no idea when she would have stopped, but there were no signs of slowing down. At some point, its ok for you to do whats best for you.

Extended BF mommies- a question

Those with two children, what do you do/did you do when you were in the hospital after giving birth to dc2? What happened with dc1 at night when you weren't there to nurse to sleep?

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question

Re: Extended BF mommies- a question