If I go away overnight will my 22-month old wean?

[femalephish]

My husband and I are planning our first night away (just going out for drinks and staying in a hotel for our anniversary.) I really want to go but one of my friends took a similar trip and her son weaned. I asked my mother (whose watching dd) she said, 'yeah, that's what happens when you leave them at this age.' !!!?

We still nurse alot- I was planning on pumping milk to leave her because I think 24 hours is too long for her to go without it. I don't want her to wean but I need a night off! Anyone?

-Courtney

nak

[lactatinggirl]

I'm pretty sure you'd be good. I haven't spent a night away from DD yet (24 months), but we do plan on it for our anniversary. I think that, honestly, your DD might nurse even more when you get back to "make up" for it. That's what DD does when I'm away for the day at school. 

[t2009]

I left my DS for 3 nights (not for something fun like time away with DP!...) when he was 22 months & he definitely did not wean, so I wouldn't worry about it much. When I got back it was like I hadn't left... He just picked up where we left off. And at 24 months he's still nursing.

Does your LO drink another "milk"? The few times I've had to pump in toddlerhood, I've found it really difficult to pump enough for even a cup & strangely he really didn't even like it out of a cup. That's just my experience, though.

I am sure with just one night (and not even a full 24 hours, it sounds like) you will be totally OK!

Enjoy it!

[GardenStream]

I gave birth to DS2 when DS1 was 22 months old. It was a c/s so I was in the hospital 3 nights. He made it through 3 days without nursing and picked up the minute I was home. I wouldn't worry about it. If your DS is only nursing once a day and even that is hit and miss, then he might wean (but he is already on his way to weaning anyway). If your DS is like my boys, then they'll nurse at their first chance when you return.

[columbusmomma]

I doubt your LO would wean! Sounds like a great time for you and your Dh! I left my DS when he was about that age for a couple nights. We resumed our nursing relationship immediately upon my arrival home!  I'm going to leave my DD who is over 3 1/2 for 4 nights in a couple of weeks from now. Will be interesting to see if she weans...at this point it doesn't really matter to me. Good luck and enjoy the hotel

[gardenmommy]

When my first was 2 1/2, DH and I took a 3 day trip out-of-country.  DS was still nursing A LOT, and I thought (sadly) that it might be the end of our nursing.  We waited until he was at least 2, because I didn't want to take any chances on him weaning any earlier than that.  As it turned out, he did not wean.  We picked up right where we'd left off, and he nursed for almost another year.  It's very possible that your child will not wean, even if you don't leave any milk for him.  I say, go on your trip and enjoy yourself!

[MrsH]

I'm doing a 2 night trip and have wondered the same thing.  Did all you who left nursing older ones (in the 24 month range) end up pumping?  And if so, does it matter if you didn't get much?  My LO will be a week shy of 2, nurses 1-4 times per day, and always gets milk through it :)  However, my last pumping experience was almost a year ago and I stopped doing it because i just wasn't really getting anything.  All I have is a Medela hand pump.  Would love to hear how you all worked it!

[kathymuggle]

I doubt she would wean in 24 hours.  

Have fun!

kathy

[konayossie]

I left my then 18 month old for not quite 48 hrs over the strong protests of my lll leader, who told me all sorts of weaning horror stories and begged me not to go. I pumped 3x a day just to keep up my supply, but I also needed to to relieve my breasts--they will get full.

At 23 mos, ds stayed with his grandparents for 3 nights without me. I was about 12 w pregnant and pumped just in case I had any supply to maintain for him. I got like 1 oz from the 4-5 times I pumped.

Both times ds resumed nursing immediately with no problems, and he's still going strong.

[AirMiami]

My daughter has had overnights with Grandpa starting at 18 months and she is still as obsessed with my breasts as ever.

[gardenmommy]

I did not pump.  I did not feel overly full, but I think it was probably because DS was not a newborn, kwim?  I'm sure it would have been much different if he hadn't been 2 1/2 years.  

[LynnS6]

I left dd at 14 months for 5 days (my dad was having heart surgery). She didn't wean. I left her at 22 months for 2 nights. She didn't wean. I left her for 2-3 days a year for the next 2 years. She didn't wean. I weaned her at age 4. If she's still an avid nurser, I think you're good. If she's not, there's a chance. Ds weaned at 16 months after I night weaned him. He just didn't care (he also had sensory issues that I think made nursing hard for him.)

Oh, if you nurse frequently and you go overnight bring a pump. You're going to be dreadfully uncomfortable if you don't.

[lifeguard]

It's obviously individual but 24 hours is not very long at all. I left ds at 20 mos for 2 weeks & started back up immediately without a problem. I wouldn't stress about it.

[Beppie]

I don't think any of mine would have weaned at that age if I'd gone away for a night.  I agree with the other posters that going for a night is not a long time. 

[t2009]

Originally Posted by MrsH 

I'm doing a 2 night trip and have wondered the same thing.  Did all you who left nursing older ones (in the 24 month range) end up pumping?  And if so, does it matter if you didn't get much?  My LO will be a week shy of 2, nurses 1-4 times per day, and always gets milk through it :)  However, my last pumping experience was almost a year ago and I stopped doing it because i just wasn't really getting anything.  All I have is a Medela hand pump.  Would love to hear how you all worked it!

I pumped &, like a PP, got very little -- It was very uncomfortable & unpleasant. But I did get uncomfortable the first night I was away, so having the pump was helpful. You could bring the pump, or even just a manual pump (or if you can express milk by hand, you don't need anything ... you could practice a bit before your trip & then just plan to express milk manually if you get uncomfortable -- I think I'd just do this next time).

[Gretchen_PDX]

Thank you for all the info in this thread! I have a business trip in a few months (2 maybe 3 nights), and I've been wondering if I need to try to do a little weaning before leaving. My son will be about 22 months when I go. Sounds like I don't need to worry- just bring pump as planned!

[MarianneH]

I have a related question for those of you who left your toddler overnight while he or she was still nursing... was your child sleeping through the night at that point?  My son (24 mo.) still wakes up every 2-3 hours to nurse, so I have not ever left him overnight, though I would love to get away for a night or two with DH.  My son is comfortable Grandma & Granpda but I'm afraid he would wake often and be unable to get back to sleep, giving them a very hard time.  He always falls asleep nursing.  Have any of you left your toddler overnight in a similar situation, and how did he or she do?  I'm just wondering if a getaway is a realistic possibility!

[Dandelionkid]

Originally Posted by MarianneH 

I have a related question for those of you who left your toddler overnight while he or she was still nursing... was your child sleeping through the night at that point?  My son (24 mo.) still wakes up every 2-3 hours to nurse, so I have not ever left him overnight, though I would love to get away for a night or two with DH.  My son is comfortable Grandma & Granpda but I'm afraid he would wake often and be unable to get back to sleep, giving them a very hard time.  He always falls asleep nursing.  Have any of you left your toddler overnight in a similar situation, and how did he or she do?  I'm just wondering if a getaway is a realistic possibility!

I just did this with my 26 month old and she slept through the night for her grandmas (when she stirred they patted her back and she never woke) and for us she wakes up at least 3 times/night.  She is still nursing too but did much better than I ever expected at night!

[gardenmommy]

No.  My DS was not sleeping through the night when we left him.  However, he slept through the night after the first night, when he woke just once.  He did great for our friends, and we joked that he should stay with our friends for good, since he slept so well at their house.