Day weaning (but not night?)

[anjsmama]

Is day weaning (instead of, or without nightweaning) possible?

I have felt a little exasperated about my nursing relationship with DD in the past few months, my complete inability to get away - EVER. I have thought that I would nightwean her when she turned a year to tone things down a bit and have my body to myself for half of the day.

However, she is now 11 days shy of 1 year old, and she seems to be almost completely uninterested in nursing during the day. I offer her to nurse at least every 2 to 3 hours but she rarely if ever takes me up on it. She nurses usually before her nap everyday around noon, and occasionally getting impatient for dinner around 430 or 5. That's it. But then she nurses to sleep at 7am, wakes to nurse at 1am,  and typically half-wakes to nurse again around 4am. I try to nurse her when she first wakes up in the am at 6 also, but she's not interested. 

I am getting plenty of sleep (aside from my 3 yo DS' wakings!) and not overly concerned about her waking at night. We have very loud, domestic-violence type neighbors and often it's their screaming and banging that wakes her. I'd want comforted too!

I am considering returning to work. DH & I are pretty sure we're not going to have more children, at the very least, not for some time. I'd like to have a career and a life outside of baby on my breast all day (not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't seem capable of handling it). If I return to work, can she go through the day with just water and food (she eats what we eat now) and nurse at night instead?  

I am looking for a way to keep up nursing until she's at least 2 without losing my mind or resenting her. Anyone BTDT?

[nstewart]

DS isn't two yet (he's 18 mos) but I work full time during the day and he only nurses at night.  This has worked well for us.  I read that (assuming DC is over one and eating healthy solids well) as long as your DC is nursing at least 2-3 times per day, then nutritionally they're getting what they need.

I nurse DS before bed at 7:30 ish, and he usually wakes up around 11 or 11:30, then again around 2 and then usually nurses on and off from 5 or so on (we co-sleep, obviously) until I get up for work around 7.  Sometimes he asks to nurse when I get home from work (and I oblige) and sometimes not.  I will also nurse him before his nap and any other time during the day that he asks to nurse on weekends.

We are going strong with our BFing relationship and I have no intentions on cutting back or weaning any time soon!  We both love our nursing sessions.

Good luck! 

[foreverinbluejeans]

The simple answer is that it's possible. You can work and nurse in the evening and at night.

Will you be able to nurse until she is two without loosing your mind or resenting her? That is another question. It may be worse if you work. Would it be better for your child to have a full time mom and wean (so you don't resent her)? Could you work part time or go back to college?

Working full time with 2 young kids is very difficult. You have a whole new set of problems. If you aren't going to have more children you aren't going to have a baby hanging off your boob much longer no matter what you do. The longest you want to breastfeed is a year more. Out of your 100 year lifespan 1 more year isn't much to resent your child about.

[nstewart]

You are making a lot of assumptions here with no basis!!

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans 

The simple answer is that it's possible. You can work and nurse in the evening and at night.

Will you be able to nurse until she is two without loosing your mind or resenting her? That is another question. Why would OP resent her child if she dayweans if what she wants is a break?

It may be worse if you work. Why?  Wouldn't this get her the break she wants so she can be a better mom when she is home, and more patient and continue nursing for longer?

Would it be better for your child to have a full time mom and wean (so you don't resent her)? Could you work part time or go back to college?

Working full time with 2 young kids is very difficult. You have a whole new set of problems. Such as????  Challenges, certainly.  But problems?  You go to far to assume this!

If you aren't going to have more children you aren't going to have a baby hanging off your boob much longer no matter what you do. The longest you want to breastfeed is a year more. How do you know???  What about CLW???

Out of your 100 year lifespan 1 more year isn't much to resent your child about.

Seriously, give me a break! 

[kohlby]

My middle child self-weaned herself to only nursing once a day at 16 months - and 4 times at night.  She would only nurse lying down so I had to work very hard to get her to nurse until 12 months.  At that point, I could relax more, but she still would only nurse lying down.  She dropped her nap right around her 2nd b-day, so she dayweaned herself.  She still had 4 sessions  -one to bed, two wake-ups, and first thing in the morning in bed.  I expected her to wean early, because she had cut-down herself so much.  She'll be 6 years old in less than two months and still nurses once at night! 

Do whatever you need to do that will work for YOU.  Many working mums love having that extra connection at night.  Many nurslings nurse more during the night if mum works because they need it.  I'm a SAHM, but my child dayweaned due to her previous distraction issues.  Whatever you choose, just cut-down gently and slowly if you're doing parent-led weaning.