Sudden weaning at 22 months, is it okay?

[huminbird]

Its spring break for my husband and he has been wanting to visit his family 6 hours away. He has been looking forward to this for a long time. Problem is that I am sick and am probably going to get worse before I get better. Our 22 month old son is still breast fed but not out of necessity, he eats about 4 times a day. Once before nap and once before bed, once in the middle of the night and once upon waking up.

I don't really produce that much milk any more, it is more of a comfort thing, except in the middle of the night, I do have quite a bit of milk then and I think he is honestly hungry.

So, my question is, would it be cruel of me to have my husband take our son to visit family for 5 days without me. Can I stay home and take care of myself and my very pregnant, ready to pop, guinea pig?

My in laws really really want to see their grandson and since they never make it to this side of the state they haven't seen him in over a year. I think they have seen him once since he was born. I would hate to tell them "sorry...no" and I would love the first break from motherhood since he was born. I just don't know if he is ready.

He can go to sleep without me and has fallen asleep at an aunties house when my hubby and I had a late evening date. He doesn't seem to ask for milk more than once or twice if I am not in the vicinity.

I would love other mamma's opinions on this. I would hate to spend a sick week in the car and at other peoples houses (bad diarrhea) but would also hate to keep them from seeing their grandson. There is also the pregnant guinea pig but I can bribe my sisters boyfriend to check in on her a couple of times and make sure everything is okay.

Thanks!

[Mirrormonkey]

You need to do what feels right for you.

Could you pump regularly while your ds is gone and just resume nursing when he returns?

Good luck!!!

[alegna]

My ds is about the same age and no way would I feel okay with that. 5 days is a LONG time.

Why do you think you don't have milk any more?

-Angela

[huminbird]

I decided that both my DS and I needed to stay home at this time. At the time I wrote the first post I was so sick and achy feeling all I wanted was some time alone, any time alone. The next day was the day we were to leave. I woke up feeling much better and with a clear mind I decided that the in-laws can come and visit us but I wasn't going to make the trip when so many things weren't working for me.

I am producing milk, just not very much any more. The only time he gets more than a couple of sips is at the 4am feeding, then I have enough milk to fill him up and then some.

It would have been a bad choice to let him go without me and I know that now. I wasn't quite thinking straight the other day. He has been sick 5 times in 3 months and me twice in that time. It is wearing me down a bit. We are tempted to take him out of daycare (he goes 9 hours a week) but that time is so precious to me, to no have to worry about him for that little while. We think its the daycare that is making him sick so often. Quite a few kids come in sick and I am lucky to be a stay at home mother and I can keep him home when he gets sick.

[cheryllynn]

Could you hire someone to come into your home for those nine hours? I did that last summer and it was great. I had someone in for 3 hours two times a week and I could either nap, or clean or cook or whatever. That way both of you could improve chances of getting back to healthy.

[huminbird]

Having someone come into our house is a little more difficult. I make handmade goat milk soap and the process involves lye and it can be dangerous to have a little one running around. I make soap during the time he is away from home.

I am trying to find a private childcare situation where he could go to some other mamas house for a set time each week. In this little community that is proving hard to find. I don't know if it is his age or what but I have contacted three different mamas and not one has gotten back to me. They were advertising on craigslist and they didn't even get back to me to say "sorry but no."

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by huminbird

Having someone come into our house is a little more difficult. I make handmade goat milk soap and the process involves lye and it can be dangerous to have a little one running around. I make soap during the time he is away from home.

Wow, that's so cool you make goat milk soap. If you were in Western Washington I'd swap you some A+ childcare (my babies are 8 & 11 so I some "baby" time) for some super sweet soap.

Good luck finding something that works for your whole family long term. I'm glad you made a decision that works for you all for now!

[huminbird]

Funny you should mention it. I am moving to Poulsbo probably next year. If you are ever there you should check out their tiny farmers market cause I plan on being a part of it.

I soooo wish I could find someone to trade soap for babysitting with. I think that would be the perfect setup. Of course I don't know what they would do with that much soap unless they had lots and lots of kids.

I am glad I stayed home with my son but OMG I miss adult conversation. My sisters in town went with my hubby and I have no social life here. I need to work on that one eh?

I would love to do a childcare trade with some local moms where we each take the other mothers kids for three or four hours a week. This would work great with three or four moms total. It would also encourage me to clean house once a week at least.