So I have to start out by saying that I haven't been here for quite a while. My last experience here was, shall we say, less than pleasant. But all gentle advice is much appreciated.
DD is now 3 1/2. She was weened at a little more than 2 1/2. It probably would have been longer, but she had very bad nursing habits, and after many attempts to fix them, weening was the only option. I felt pretty confident that she was ready, although she has always been somewhat of a 'boob baby'. She did really well with gradual weening, and when we eventually were done for good she seemed okay with it. Some months later she started finding an interest in it again. She would want to put a hand there for soothing, or look down my shirt to make sure they were still there, or talk about when she was younger and used to drink from them. For a while it was pretty bad, and reminded me of when she was breast feeding again. She would pull my shirt down in public, or go for them even though she knew she wouldn't get them. We had many gentle talks about why she couldn't have them anymore, and I told her mommies milk was gone, but we could cuddle instead. She has gotten much better recently, but still holds a facination. For a while I was even thinking of reintroducing it to her. I think I must mention that she has allergies, and her father and I are going through a seperation. I suspect that the many recent changes in her life are bringing on the need for reassurance. My question is if any other moms have experienced this around this age. She is also playing 'baby' a lot. She will crawl around the floor, or want a pacifire (even though she never once used one as a baby) or 'pretend' that she is nursing. She wants to make believe that she is a baby. She wants to talk a lot about her birth, and when she was little, and when she breast fed. Is it her age, or is she insecure about something more?
DD is now 3 1/2. She was weened at a little more than 2 1/2. It probably would have been longer, but she had very bad nursing habits, and after many attempts to fix them, weening was the only option. I felt pretty confident that she was ready, although she has always been somewhat of a 'boob baby'. She did really well with gradual weening, and when we eventually were done for good she seemed okay with it. Some months later she started finding an interest in it again. She would want to put a hand there for soothing, or look down my shirt to make sure they were still there, or talk about when she was younger and used to drink from them. For a while it was pretty bad, and reminded me of when she was breast feeding again. She would pull my shirt down in public, or go for them even though she knew she wouldn't get them. We had many gentle talks about why she couldn't have them anymore, and I told her mommies milk was gone, but we could cuddle instead. She has gotten much better recently, but still holds a facination. For a while I was even thinking of reintroducing it to her. I think I must mention that she has allergies, and her father and I are going through a seperation. I suspect that the many recent changes in her life are bringing on the need for reassurance. My question is if any other moms have experienced this around this age. She is also playing 'baby' a lot. She will crawl around the floor, or want a pacifire (even though she never once used one as a baby) or 'pretend' that she is nursing. She wants to make believe that she is a baby. She wants to talk a lot about her birth, and when she was little, and when she breast fed. Is it her age, or is she insecure about something more?
Throughout, she has found comfort in being close to my breasts and sometimes would try to get close at times and/or in ways that made me uncomfortable. I truly want to be sensitive to her needs about this because I sense that nursing remains important to her and she's still sad about not being able to. So I talk about it with her and just try to be gentle when reminding her not to touch my breasts especially in public. I did visit the Child Led Weaning board, and found a few threads that were really helpful. I'll try to post the link for a good one but I've never done this before - it's from May 18, 2009 if it doesn't work:
