This Thread is Dedicated to Child-Led Weaning Mamas! - Page 2

[Sustainer]

Is that support thread still alive for mamas nursing babies age 3 and up?

[UrbanPlanter]

Originally Posted by SBF

Is that support thread still alive for mamas nursing babies age 3 and up?

I thought I saw it recently...

T SBF am I crazy or did you just change your user name?

[MamaAllNatural]

T too...

You're not crazy Adrianne! I didn't notice until you pointed it out though. SBF, why no "mommy" anymore?

[Jennifer Z]

I know this might hit a few nerves, but what about a more all encompassing "weaning" sight (or "child led and gentle weaning"). I can see situations where the child is much older than "typical" nursers (preschool age) and the mom is just worn out and wants to set some boundries and wants a gentle approach. There are also situations that have happened to mama's on this site on where they are forced to wean due to medical concerns (like chemo) and need help doing it as gently as possible.

You could set forth some guidelines in the heading that the focus is on child led weaning to redirect any trolls.

Just an idea. I am pro-CLW btw. This week has really tested my commitment to it, but I am still thankful that there is a place to go where I can vent without all the "time to wean" advice.

[LavenderMae]

I would love to have one!! I didn't let my dd wean herself but weaned her when she was 3 and a few months. I feel that was a big mistake and my ds will wean himself (he'll be 3 in July and still nurses A LOT!).

[loon13]

Oooh, I'd love to see a weaning forum. I think Jennifer Z has a good point about making it a "child-led and gentle weaning" forum.

In either case, my dd's 2nd birthday is rapidly approaching and I find myself the same as I was at her 6 month and 1 year days: I can't imagine stopping since she still wants/needs it. Wow!

That said, I know weaning will happen someday, and I wouldn't mind a forum where I could get info about it. Even if it's just moms who post how they weaned/how their children self-weaned, I think we all benefit from hearing personal stories.

Loon

[MamaAllNatural]

I think the whole point of having a separate forum for Child Led Weaning is because we do not want to wean and many CLWing Mamas have expressed sadness and frustration at having to read all the weaning requests and stories. The main idea is to be with other mamas who will not be weaning their child. Child Led Weaning does not go hand in hand with any other type of weaning really. They're really two different philosophies and that's what we already have in this forum as it is. That's the reason for wanting a new, separate one for CLW.

[Jennifer Z]

OK, another twist:

this might be stretching it, but maybe a weaning subforum would keep the want to wean and weaning threads off of the extended breastfeeding area so the CLW mamas wouldn't be confronted with those threads if they don't want to. Sort of a reverse philosophy of adding a CLW. Maybe it would be assumed that the Extended Breastfeeding meant you are still breastfeeding with the understanding that it is child lead, but when you get to the weaning stages you go into the subforum for weaning.

I know this is opposite of the original proposal, but I just wonder if it is logical to seperate the CWL mamas out since most of us ARE CLW. If the purpose is to not have to sort through the weaning threads, maybe those would be better for a seperate forum.

This would make the "Child lead weaning" the norm and "weaning" more of a diversion from the norm...well, that isn't coming out quite right, but I hope you understand what I am meaning...maybe somebody else can put it better.

Maybe a good comparision is if we had the "Diapering" forum, and then "Cloth Diapering" was a subforum. It would indicate that CDing was the minority belief instead of the majority belief of the site.

Food for thought. I am really NOT trying to be arguementative, just got my brain going. lol.

[mother_sunshine]

Originally Posted by SBF

Is that support thread still alive for mamas nursing babies age 3 and up?

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...9&page=1&pp=20
-------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by MamaAllNatural

I think the whole point of having a separate forum for Child Led Weaning is because we do not want to wean and many CLWing Mamas have expressed sadness and frustration at having to read all the weaning requests and stories. The main idea is to be with other mamas who will not be weaning their child. Child Led Weaning does not go hand in hand with any other type of weaning really. They're really two different philosophies and that's what we already have in this forum as it is. That's the reason for wanting a new, separate one for CLW.

I thought there already was a weaning forum.......or maybe I'm thinking of another website? Anyway, maybe someone who is interested in weaning issues/advice should start a separate thread asking for a weaning forum. But, like MamaAllNatural said, Child-Led Weaning and any kind of mother-led weaning (be it gentle, abrupt, or forced) are two completely different concepts.

This thread's focus is on Child-led Weaning. You don't have to agree or disagree with it, so please don't see this as a "either you're in or you're out" kind of thread/poll. The EB forum will surely not be replaced by it. If this forum's name ever does change, it surely won't be "Child-Led Weaning" because then where would everyone else go. And most of us who do practice CLW will surely still post on EB (or whatever the name will hopefully become). I am just hoping to have a forum where those of us who are CLW can freely and open-heartedly post with other like-minded mamas and not get drowned-out by (and sometimes saddened by) the posts who are more mother-led focused.

[MamaAllNatural]

In light of a very saddening thread I just read in which a poster sees what we're doing as worrisome, I feel even more strongly that we need a separate Child Led Weaning forum. I want to walk away feeling stronger and supported, not feeling hurt and frustrated (or worried about the law!).

[Sustainer]

I wouldn't want to see a general weaning forum at Mothering and I wouldn't want to see a gereral diapering forum at Mothering either. The whole point of Mothering is that it focuses on natural parenting and alternatives to the mainstream. There are plenty of mainstream boards where people can post about plastic diapers and parent-led weaning.

I shortened my name from SBFmommy to SBF for the sake of simplicity and in honor of my 2000th post.

[mother_sunshine]

Originally Posted by SBF

The whole point of Mothering is that it focuses on natural parenting and alternatives to the mainstream. There are plenty of mainstream boards where people can post about plastic diapers and parent-led weaning.

Excellent point SBF. I completely agree.

[Viola]

I voted yes. I don't practice child led weaning, so I wouldn't mind those devoted to it having their own forum. I guess that might be a further subdivision we wouldn't need, but I've been reading a lot on this forum tonight, and it seems like there are moms who are opposed to anything but child led weaning, so perhaps some separation would be good. They might feel more comfortable having their own place to talk about this topic.

FWIW, my daughter weaned at 3.5 years although she has asked to nurse a number of times since then. The last time was about 2 or 3 months after my second dd was born. I had actually been joking with her, asking her if she wanted to nurse when I was engorged. She kept saying no way. Then a month later she actually asked to nurse and I let her, but she said she couldn't get anything. At that point she was 4.5

I did child respectful weaning, but my feelings definitely played a part. I think some of the things I did (don't offer, don't refuse; offer a lot to let her know it is available, offer something else when she was bored and just wanted my attention, refuse if I just wasn't in a good place mentally or physically to nurse right then) contributed to how long she chose to nurse. I'd like for moms who practice child led weaning and moms who don't to have a free place to speak openly.

[Jennifer Z]

ok, I went and read the long thread with a poll on child led weaning with new eyes and realize why the CLW mamas get so frustrated. I guess it is a matter of perspective. Although I am entering the "can't really talk about it to those around me" phase, I have not been engulfed in it yet. I have had plenty of dissapproving nods (ever since he was 1) but no outright "you shouldn't be doing this" type thing that I am sure to experience if ds wants to nurse well into or past his preschool years (which I really think he will). I started out commited to breastfeeding "for at least 6 weeks". lol. 6 months seemed "too old" when I started, never mind 28 months.

In response to somebody talking about there being other places to talk about weaning: that is true, however, I think it would be nice to also have a gentle weaning forum here also since so many of the other weaning sites would be likely to include many ungentle methods to young infants. Many of the women on this site that would do parent-led weaning, would be doing it with a toddler which would require much different strategies than infants. I think a support system for them would be good too. (I aspire to never use it, but it would be a good addition also.) This would also keep the weaning questions off the board.

eta: thank you for this discussion, I have trully learned something today. I just assumed that everyone here did CLW and was surpised to learn different. Although there is more support for CLW than other places, I see why you desire a seperate sanctuary.

[UrbanPlanter]

Originally Posted by MamaAllNatural

In light of a very saddening thread I just read in which a poster sees what we're doing as worrisome, I feel even more strongly that we need a separate Child Led Weaning forum. I want to walk away feeling stronger and supported, not feeling hurt and frustrated (or worried about the law!).

could you post a link? I haven't seen it...

[Heavenly]

I don't want it to be an all types of weaning forum because the point of having a separate forum is becase we AREN'T weaning. I personally would like a place where NOT weaning was the norm.

[mother_sunshine]

Originally Posted by SBF

I think it's a good idea, because a lot of people want to come into the extended (soon to be sustained! where's the 'crossing my fingers' smilie?) breastfeeding forum because they're planning CLW, but their child isn't 1 yet. Also, not everyone in the extended (sustained!! hee hee) forum IS planning CLW -- some of them are just planning parent-led weaning at a greater age than 12 mos. So there should be a separate CLW forum.

Excellent point SBF. Then maybe it should be a separate forum (as part of "Breastfeeding") rather than a subforum of "EB" because there are probably many mothers who are CLW but their child is not yet old enough for this forum so they would never see it.

[monkey's mom]

Yes! I agree--2 diff issues.

Now, do we need more chanting, or what?!

[arratt]

Question about child led weaning??

Im new to MDC and was just wondering what you all consider child led weaning and how "strict" you are with the definition? My dd is 2.5 years old and still nursing all day and night, I have no plans to wean her completely but I have been considering night weaning (just finished reading the no cry sleep solution book) dd recently because she still will wake up 6+ times a night and can only nurse herself back to sleep. So if you night wean but still nurse on demand all dayis that NOT considered child lead weaning or by child led weaning do you mean COMPLETELY weaned? Thanks for the info.
Shannon

[Jennifer Z]

To be clear, I changed my mind about the weaning forum. I think there should be TWO additional forums....1) gentle weaning or parent led weaning and 2) child led weaning

After reading the posts, I can completely agree that CLW should be a seperate forum. I was just saying that a "gentle/parent-lead weaning" forum would be a good addition also.