What are your ideas or ideals about the parameters of child-led weaning? Beyond simply supporting the idea that kids should decide for themselves when they wean, I tend to think, after reading many of the posts here, that there are differing opinions on what CLW means to each of us. I'm not asking, by the way, for absolute rules that we all must follow, but rather what works for you and your nursling(s).
My son is 3 1/2 and nurses upon waking in the morning and before bed. I night weaned him at 18 months and I have consistently set boundaries around "extraneous" nursing behavior such as twiddling, pinching, popping on and off, gymnastic feats with my nipple in his mouth, etc. If he doesn't feel well or wants to take a nap on the weekend (he is in full time preschool), I will nurse him if he asks. Otherwise, I feel free to decline but offer an alternative (sometimes it seems that he's bored and just need more interaction with me, like reading a book or playing a game). I will not nurse in public, except on an airplane or another environment that is comfortable for nursing (I have severe tendonitis in my elbow and shoulder and wrist from nursing).
I have never felt that setting boundaries or limits on our nursing relationship has interfered with the essential bond and support that flows between him and I. As a mother, my first priority is his needs, but I also need to be be comfortable with what is going on with and to my body. So I feel that some direction or "teaching" in the course of our nursing relationship is essential for me, and him.
So what works for you and your nursling(s)?
Karla
My son is 3 1/2 and nurses upon waking in the morning and before bed. I night weaned him at 18 months and I have consistently set boundaries around "extraneous" nursing behavior such as twiddling, pinching, popping on and off, gymnastic feats with my nipple in his mouth, etc. If he doesn't feel well or wants to take a nap on the weekend (he is in full time preschool), I will nurse him if he asks. Otherwise, I feel free to decline but offer an alternative (sometimes it seems that he's bored and just need more interaction with me, like reading a book or playing a game). I will not nurse in public, except on an airplane or another environment that is comfortable for nursing (I have severe tendonitis in my elbow and shoulder and wrist from nursing).
I have never felt that setting boundaries or limits on our nursing relationship has interfered with the essential bond and support that flows between him and I. As a mother, my first priority is his needs, but I also need to be be comfortable with what is going on with and to my body. So I feel that some direction or "teaching" in the course of our nursing relationship is essential for me, and him.
So what works for you and your nursling(s)?
Karla
