Weaning Qs

[Free Thinker]

My boys are now 19 months old! WOW! They are now only nursing a few times a day, I"d say maybe 3 nurses in a 24 hr period, and the only time they will definately nurse is when they wake at night : DUrring the day they are usually too busy. It's become more like a game, one nuses the other pulls his hair, the pinch me, and mostly they just lay there w/ a boob in their mouth but not sucking... I'm not sure what to do with them! I had 2 cases of mastitis, one in each side, in 10 days! I am finally over that, and in hind-site I am pretty sure that the problem was that they were not nursing, just playing around. I am now nursing both on the same side at one time instead of switching each boy to his own boob. So, are they weaning? DO I just go the don't ask/don't deny? Do I let them just lay there w/ a boob in their mouthe even if they are not really nursing? How old were your twins when they weaned? HOw often did they nurse at 19 months? My girls weaned at 16 months (due to PG, no more milk) and 25 months. I didn't really ever wean them, they just kinda did it on their own and I don't remember much about it. I am feeling like the boys are just kinda done w/ this phase, they really don't seem interested unless it's at night int he middle of the night when they wake. Is this normal?

THanks for any answers!

[nummies]

I don't know much about nursing twins as I am just pregnant with them now.

However, when my son used to do the "lay with the boob in the mouth" thing, I would end the session. It was uncomfortable for me for him to do that.

[Shuli]

My boys weaned at 18 months. Probably due to the fact that I was pregnant (although I didn't know it at the time). They were also just nursing three times a day - when they woke up, when they came home from daycare at 1pm and at bedtime. I stopped offering in the middle of the day first and gave them sippy cups with milk instead. Then one night they just stopped asking and I didn't offer, then they were too busy in the morning. I had night weaned just a little before that. It was gradual and it took about three weeks, but they just stopped on their own and I didn't make an issue out of it. It worked out well 'cause two weeks later I discovered I was 8 weeks pregnant.

[Free Thinker]

Yesterday they didn't nurse all day, they did maybe nurse once in the night? I'm not really sure if they sucked to get milk, or just laid there... today they haven't even wanted to when offered. Maybe this is it?

[AnnJayTwins]

I'm sorry. It's sad to wean unexpectedly.

My twins are 16m and just this week they are dropping the bedtime nursing session. ???? I thought the bedtime was one of the LAST to go?

Anyway, today I tried nursing one at a time instead of tandem to see if a longer session resulted. It didn't work for the reasons you would guess - once the other twin wandered in and found us she wanted to nurse, too. Otherwise I would suggest this "solution" (according to books) to you.

I initiate the nursing by darkening the room, closing the door, and getting settled into the rocker. But if they don't want to stay and suck, there's nothing we can do. I wonder if twins tend to wean more quickly b/c of having a playmate right there with them. I don't know.

Hugs to you.

[herdingkittens]

So, I am curious, how do you feel about all of this? Are you relieved, sad, elated, mixed?

Mine are 18 mo and they just got off of a nursing frenzy from teething molars and things have certainly slowed down in the nursing department....

[Free Thinker]

I am not really sure how I feel about it. I wasn't pushing it or planning it, but what can you do? I'm not really sad, but sometiems I do feel like it's too soon. I do think they are ready, though. It's been a few weeks now, and no nursing durring the day. One twin nurses sometimes at night. The other does some nights. I guess they are not technically weaned since they are nursing sometimes at night, but it feels like they are b/c there are not nursing durring the day.

herdingkittens, our boys are only 2 weeks apart! Mine are 12/29/07

[jharr44]

message

Hi Free Thinker, I sent you a message about one of your post in 2003, I didn't know if you saw it yet, Thanks!

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by herdingkittens

So, I am curious, how do you feel about all of this? Are you relieved, sad, elated, mixed?

Mine are 18 mo and they just got off of a nursing frenzy from teething molars and things have certainly slowed down in the nursing department....

I don't know about the OP, but Lordy, do I wish mine would slow down.

[MamaChicken]

After 15 months of little to no sleep, I just night weaned the boys. Now they are down to one nursing session per day. I never thought it would end so soon, but I don't know if they will go much longer now that nighttime is done.

Bittersweet. I get sleep and feel better all day, but I wanted to nurse much longer.

[Intertwined]

LOL, I was really confused by this thread at first because I know her twins are older.

FWIW, my twins are 20 months old and not nursing much at all. Once, maybe twice a day (although sometimes more). Claire would probably have already weaned if Ben wasn't so insistent on nursing and of course when she sees him nursing she wants to as well. I think they'll probably wean in the next 6 months.

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by Intertwined

LOL, I was really confused by this thread at first because I know her twins are older.

FWIW, my twins are 20 months old and not nursing much at all. Once, maybe twice a day (although sometimes more). Claire would probably have already weaned if Ben wasn't so insistent on nursing and of course when she sees him nursing she wants to as well. I think they'll probably wean in the next 6 months.

can you tell them to send some secret twin messages to my boys????

[DiannaK]

falling out of my chair ..... no wonder -- this thread was resurrected from June 2009 ......

[carycaj]

mamachicken, i need night weaning advice!!! how did you do it? mine just cry all night if i dont let them nurse...and what the heck, they still want to nurse all day long too. guess mine didnt get the memo, dang!

[MamaChicken]

Well first, it was one of the roughest weekends I have ever had! I read the Jay Gordon stuff and several other methods that were gradual weaning. I tried it for several weeks, but in my sleep deprived state, found that I would "forget" what time it was and when they last nursed. After 4 solid weeks with less than 2 hours of broken sleep per night, and falling asleep in meetings at work, and falling asleep in the car while DRIVING, I decided that it was no longer in the families best interest for this to continue.

So one Thursday night, I nursed them put both boys down and told them it is night-night time. Time to sleep. I patted their backs as they cried (both cribs were in reach). If they stood up, I gently lay them back down and patted their backs again until they fell asleep. This took 3 hours the first night! Each time one of them woke up, I let him fuss for 5 minutes (I'm still in the room with them) and if he didn't stop or it turned into real crying I got up and patted/rubbed his back. The whole time I am saying to him "It is night-night time, time to sleep." They woke up every hour or so all night.

The second night, they fell asleep while I patted their backs and talked to them within 1 hour. They woke every hour.

The third night, they fell asleep within an hour. Andrew slept for 7 straight hours! William slept for about 4 hours, woke briefly and was back asleep again.

The forth night, and most nights after that, they fell asleep within 15-20 minutes - still with me patting their backs and talking softly to them. William still wakes once a night, but goes back to sleep quickly - sometimes in my bed. Andrew usually sleep 8-9 hours straight in his crib.

It was the hardest parenting I've ever done. So hard to be consistent when you are worn down and tired. But, the twins are much happier now - they have energy for the day and are in so much better moods! And I have more patience and focus now. The sleep deprivation got pretty scary - I started having rages, yelling and throwing things for the most minor "offenses". Once my DS1 went upstairs to put away his laundry, and I cursed at him and yelled because he slammed one of his drawers. Those times are gone now thank the stars!

I wish you all the best. I know in my heart it was the best decision, but so contrary to the parent I *thought* I was. This thing about raising kids is such a humbling experience.