have to leave 19mo old for 2 nights--what to do?

[Luke's mama]

I have to go out of town for two nights and leave my 19.5 mo old ds with my parents. He is not weaned and I am not sure I am ready to--I have mixed feelings about it. I guess I am ok with him nursing and not exactly ready to quit, but feel a lot of social pressure to quit soon. Anyway, just asking for advice. I am trying to pump and leave some milk for him for the night time--he ususally nurses most at night--but should I try to take this as a weaning trip or pump and dump while away to keep supply up? Any thoughts?

[MamaMelis]

I took a three night four day trip away from my daughter when she was very young (almost 7 months) and again at 14 months. I left a huge stash and pumped every 4 hours the first time, and simply occasionally hand expressed the second time, and did not leave any pumped milk ~ By that time the mere thought of the pump was unappealing to me . She was totally STTN by the second trip though, so nightnursing was not something that we were doing. When I got home from both trips she went right back to nursing with a gusto as though I had never been away. I was open to her weaning around my absence on the second trip, but she clearly was not ready. The one thing that I did consciously do was cut out our before bed nurse about 2 weeks before I left. I wanted it to be easy for her grandparents to put her down and wanted the freedom of just nursing mornings and around her nap, not bedtime anymore. That went well and she had no issues while I was gone. HTH some and enjoy your trip!

[Luke's mama]

Thanks! DS doesn't nurse to sleep and mostly nurses at night and first thing in the morning, so I am mainly worried about the night time, but I am sure we will all get through intact!

[ellesmom]

I agree with PP. If you are not certain that you want to wean then I would pump while you are gone that way you have the choice when you come back. He may or may not pick it back up, but at least you will have a supply if he decides too. I had to spend almost a week away from ds when he about 5 months old. I was close enough to drop off milk to my mom every couple of days, but needed him to be with her because my FIL was dying. I was able to keep my supply up, and dd did not nurse the whole time I was gone. She was back at it when I came home! I am starting to believe she will never wean...

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

For your family that are pressuring you to wean let them know that the WHO recommends a minimum of 2 years of nursing. Your ds is still getting immunity from from your milk and it will help keep him healthy as long as he is getting it.