It appears my son may actually self wean before I get pregnant. I've waited and waited and waited to start trying for another one because he had such a strong need for mommy's milk. I was fully convicted that if his need for this was so strong, it would not be healthy for him or for a new baby to be introduced to our family dynamic until he weaned. So, I thought I could hold out for him to wean but after 18 months, 2 years and then 2.5 years of unsuccessful weaning attempts on my end, I caved and aimed for child led weaning. But after we passed the 3.5 year mark with no end in sight (that was in September) I started feeling I was going to be 40 before I had another child...lol (I'm 31).
So, I'll admit I started pointing out to him when we read a story or watched a program on tv where the child was going to bed and mother was sitting by child's bedside reading a book. I would say, oh look, 'so and so' is not having mommy's milk to sleep. Then I would talk to him about endings/beginnings in general and how scary endings may feel and its ok to feel scared. Whenever an ending occured in our lives and then something new started, I would make a point to discuss the process with him. It was fun when we were at the park but look how much fun we are having at the pool now. See, just because our time at the park has ended doesn't mean we stop enjoying our lives, it just means we enjoy our lives in a different way, etc etc etc. I would then go on to tie this in to not having mommy's milk anymore and when he is ready to say bye bye to mommy's milk, we can start having a lot of mommy hugs, mommy cuddles and mommy kisses.
So, I think things are starting to really get absorbed by him because he has started asking for mommy cuddles to soothe him instead of mommy milk when he wakes up at night from a nightmare. He's down to one nursing session now (his morning one and it can go for 20 - 30 minutes) and this morning he mentioned to me that he was thirsty and wanted water. So, I'm going to start keeping a cup of water by his bedside to see if that is the reason why he is nursing at the session and so long. I am so sentimental and thanks to another mom on this board, I began a weaning journal when I saw that he was dropping some other sessions. I've been taking some pics of him nursing (havent' taken much pics since he's been an older nursling...strange actually and haven't taken any in the past year!). I'm videotaping him talking about mommy's milk, etc so I can treasure this time...lol What a mushball I am. And hubby and I are finally trying to have another baby nearly 4 years later...whew what a process weaning has been. To think I was set to nurse for 1 year and wean then.
So, after that long and drawn out story...lol (thanks if you read all that) what have you done for keepsakes to remember the time of your child's life when s/he was a nursing child? I'd love some more ideas and even something that I can frame or hang on the wall to look upon from time to time and just reflect on.
So, I'll admit I started pointing out to him when we read a story or watched a program on tv where the child was going to bed and mother was sitting by child's bedside reading a book. I would say, oh look, 'so and so' is not having mommy's milk to sleep. Then I would talk to him about endings/beginnings in general and how scary endings may feel and its ok to feel scared. Whenever an ending occured in our lives and then something new started, I would make a point to discuss the process with him. It was fun when we were at the park but look how much fun we are having at the pool now. See, just because our time at the park has ended doesn't mean we stop enjoying our lives, it just means we enjoy our lives in a different way, etc etc etc. I would then go on to tie this in to not having mommy's milk anymore and when he is ready to say bye bye to mommy's milk, we can start having a lot of mommy hugs, mommy cuddles and mommy kisses.
So, I think things are starting to really get absorbed by him because he has started asking for mommy cuddles to soothe him instead of mommy milk when he wakes up at night from a nightmare. He's down to one nursing session now (his morning one and it can go for 20 - 30 minutes) and this morning he mentioned to me that he was thirsty and wanted water. So, I'm going to start keeping a cup of water by his bedside to see if that is the reason why he is nursing at the session and so long. I am so sentimental and thanks to another mom on this board, I began a weaning journal when I saw that he was dropping some other sessions. I've been taking some pics of him nursing (havent' taken much pics since he's been an older nursling...strange actually and haven't taken any in the past year!). I'm videotaping him talking about mommy's milk, etc so I can treasure this time...lol What a mushball I am. And hubby and I are finally trying to have another baby nearly 4 years later...whew what a process weaning has been. To think I was set to nurse for 1 year and wean then.
So, after that long and drawn out story...lol (thanks if you read all that) what have you done for keepsakes to remember the time of your child's life when s/he was a nursing child? I'd love some more ideas and even something that I can frame or hang on the wall to look upon from time to time and just reflect on.
It's beautiful how gently you are helping your little one along this path. I planned on nursing for a year, too, with my first child. She ended up (mostly) weaning shortly before she turned four. Isn't it amazing how mothering our children can lead us to change so dramatically?
