[ceilydhmama]

Who's done these? Dd is all about a party. She planned all her birthdays through to 6 yrs old right after her second. (4 is a pirate party, 5 is a pool party and for 6 she plans a hot air balloon ride!)

Anyway she has recently informed me she thinks she might like to wean when she is 4 and was wondering what sort of party we would have.

I have mixed feelings about the weaning party idea. If she does wean soon (which seems a bit unlikely as she still nurses 2-3 tims a day) it seems to me that our nursing relationship has been a very sweet, intimate one and a party celebrating it feels odd to me

But dd wants a party...

Any thoughts? This might be premature or it may not be. She tends to do things fairly suddenly ie toilet trained in one day, moved to her own room and bed in one night...

 

[TiredX2]

There is no reason you can't do "both"--- a weaning party for your DD and something more meaningful/intimate for you.

We didn't have a weaning party for DD. Before she weaned she said she was going to want one, then she decided against when she actually did wean. I don't know what DS will want when he weans, but I'll be tempted to have one for *me* (DS is our last).

 

[ceilydhmama]

thanks

btw where does the stat in your sig line come from. It is a disturbing one makes me dislike walmart more than ever.

 

[yogamama]

We had a weaning celebration for my son when he weaned. It was 6 weeks before his 4th birthday and it was very sweet. It was really simple and improptu - we frosted cookies, lit sparklers in the backyard and took pictures and made a big fuss about how much we love him. It was just ds, me and daddy - we had a new baby and she slept thru it, so we were able to give ALL of our attention to him. It was sweet.

Kathleen

 

[firstwomantomars]

I had a weaning party for my son when he was 3 1/2. I thought I invented the idea :LOL

In fact we called it a "nursing party" (well it sounded better than that in French

) although we didn't really nurse much, and it was just him, my husband and I. It was around Easter time so I got him a huge chocolate bunny all for himself!

I wanted the end of nursing to be a happy time, a new step in life (for both of us!) and not a sad memory.

Have fun!

 

[TiredX2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceilydhmama thanks btw where does the stat in your sig line come from. It is a disturbing one makes me dislike walmart more than ever.

Thanks for asking.

I posted an explanation in this thread:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...2&page=1&pp=20

And here it is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiredX2 I have seen it quoted elsewhere, but my most recent source for the info is: Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Worker's Rights at Wal-Mart Liza Featherstone http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...2915464-8522362 The "full" quote is Quote: "Taxpayers are subsidizing Wal-Mart, and responsible government officials are getting worried. In February 2004, the office of the Democratic congressman George ****** released a report showing that each Wal-Mart store employing 200 people costs taxpayers $420,750 per year in public assistance." An online source is this article on MotleyFool: Is Wal-Mart Costing Us Billions? Quote: Head cites a February 2004 report by the Democratic staff of the House Education and Workforce Committee. The report "assesses the costs to US taxpayers of employees who are so badly paid that they qualify for government assistance even under the less than generous rules of the federal welfare system. For a two-hundred-employee Wal-Mart store, the government is spending $108,000 a year for children's health care; $125,000 a year in tax credits and deductions for low-income families; and $42,000 a year in housing assistance. The report estimates that a two-hundred-employee Wal-Mart store costs federal taxpayers $420,000 a year, or about $2,103 per Wal-Mart employee. That translates into a total annual welfare bill of $2.5 billion for Wal-Mart's 1.2 million U.S. employees." He added that state governments are burdened by Wal-Marts, too, with California spending more than $20 million on health care for Wal-Mart employees. http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05031101.htm

HTH

 

[Cilantro]

My dd1 was 3 years and 10 mths and showed no signs of weaning when she had an accident with her front teeth. She couldnt nurse cuz 3 were loose and needed to restabilize. it was awful for 2 weeks but after 5 weeks she realized that she still couldnt nurse as it hurt. So she went from nursing 4 times a day to nothing.

We had many discussions about it. She wasnt nursing but it was important to her to be able to touch my breast when going to sleep. So 2 weeks before her 4th birthday (2 weeks ago) i asked her if she wanted a party. We called it her "Im graduating from breastfeeding and Im a big girl now" (she added the last part.

She dressed up like Snow White, with a tiara and everything, ate her favorite food and she gave a little speech and so did I - somewhat of an explanation to her in case she didnt get the significance. We sang a song and took pictures. My husband, other daughter and my parents were there. It was great.

Well, the last few nights she has been sneak nursing!!! You can only understand this if you breastfeed and co-sleep with more than one nursing child.

Because it all sort of melts together and you dont wake up enough to see who is nursing when!

I will wake up and there she is nursing. Ive stopped her because I know that she knows that she is finished with nursing..and if I let her keep doing it its saying to her that her previous decision meant nothing. Or that ....I dont know?

What do you think? I dont want to stop her because it seems she is not ready to be done. But if I let her keep going after all the fan fare about "graduating" what will that say to her? I dont know..im torn...

 

[Cilantro]

I forgot to say we also gave her and her sister new sippy cups (just for the car. they drink out of regular cups usually). She has also told all her friends and anyone who will listen about how she graduated....

Im open for suggestions.

 

[blessedwithboys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cilantro I will wake up and there she is nursing. Ive stopped her because I know that she knows that she is finished with nursing..and if I let her keep doing it its saying to her that her previous decision meant nothing. Or that ....I dont know? What do you think? I dont want to stop her because it seems she is not ready to be done. But if I let her keep going after all the fan fare about "graduating" what will that say to her? I dont know..im torn...

no offense, and i'm only saying this b/c you asked...it sounds to me like you sort of "told her" she was weaned, not like she decided for herself. i mean, if she was really ready to stop, would she be "sneak nursing" now? it must have been really hard for her not to have the ability to nurse during her tooth trauma, so its prolly all the more important to nurse a bit now. i dont think a 4 yo should be expected to make such huge life decisions, and not be allowed to change her mind a bit later. if you can stand it, i think maybe she could go on a bit longer. but of course, i dont know you or your family at all so it is really a choice for you and dd to make together. best wishes.

 

[Ruthla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cilantro So 2 weeks before her 4th birthday (2 weeks ago) i asked her if she wanted a party. We called it her "Im graduating from breastfeeding and Im a big girl now" (she added the last part.) What do you think? I dont want to stop her because it seems she is not ready to be done. But if I let her keep going after all the fan fare about "graduating" what will that say to her? I dont know..im torn...

Just because she wanted a party doesn't mean she was truly ready to wean. Why can't she be a big girl now and still nurse? It seems to me that she's not ready to be weaned yet- otherwise, she wouldn't be nursing!!

You had your parents there plus your immediate family for the "weaning" party. It's not like you announced to half the neighborhood and now you're changing the plan. If it will make you more comfortable, don't tell your parents about the un-weaning! I'm pretty sure that Daddy and little sis are already aware of it!!

BTW, Happy 4th birthday to her!!

 

[Cilantro]

Yeah, I know it sounds like I told her she had to wean. But I dont feel like I did. When she had the tooth trauma and couldnt nurse at all, I talked to her about how maybe its okay for her to stop nursing now since she wasnt able to anyway. I thought it would make her feel better about what she was going through. It seemed like it did. I didnt indicate that she couldnt be a big girl unless she stopped tho. I know other people have said that to her. People who obviously dont understand. Like my parents...

Well, Im not planning on telling my mom about the "sneak" nursing or any other nursing as she seems to think that we were at the point where it may start to do some damage (uhuh, okay, whatever).

I guess the main thing that worries me is that she will think that she didnt make the right decision or even feel bad about having said that she was done and not really be. I know we shouldnt expect too much from a 4 year old but I hold her responsible for other decisions that she makes, so it would seem like this is part of her growing up.... I cant really articulate what Im trying to say....

Regardles the reasons it does appear that by not letting her nurse when she wants to I am at the end of my CLW with her. I guess I have to figure out if Im really okay with taking control of it now.

I would like to discuss the sneak nursing with her, but somehow I feel that if I do now then she will take it as a go and end up nursing all night long since she has "permission".

Thanks for the advice, I guess i really just need to face it head on... I do feel sad about ending it before she is ready...

 

[callmemama]

My vote is to let her nurse! I'm a lot older than she is and I still change my mind sometimes!

 

[smcphail2005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruthla Just because she wanted a party doesn't mean she was truly ready to wean. Why can't she be a big girl now and still nurse? It seems to me that she's not ready to be weaned yet- otherwise, she wouldn't be nursing!! You had your parents there plus your immediate family for the "weaning" party. It's not like you announced to half the neighborhood and now you're changing the plan. If it will make you more comfortable, don't tell your parents about the un-weaning! I'm pretty sure that Daddy and little sis are already aware of it!! BTW, Happy 4th birthday to her!!

As a strong supporter of extended breastfeeding; I think your little girl should be allowed to nurse however long she wishes! I've actually seen photos of mothers breastfeeding their children until they're 5 years old! ( which I have nothing against) as long as you enjoy breastfeeding your 4 year old daughter why not allow her to continue this beautiful bonding relationship with you?. When she's ready to be weaned I'm sure she'll let you know!!.

 

[Ary99]

We had a weaning party for DS when he was almost three. It was a cherished time celebrating our nursing relationship and the other ways we express our closeness. DS told everybody he met about his weaning party. Several weeks after it, he asked to nurse again. I let him try, but he had already forgotten exactly how to do it and my milk was gone. He had a very sweet smile on his face and ran oof to play. He loves to here stories about when he was a tiny baby and needed "meme" all the time.

 

[UrbanPlanter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcphail2005 As a strong supporter of extended breastfeeding; I think your little girl should be allowed to nurse however long she wishes! I've actually seen photos of mothers breastfeeding their children until they're 5 years old! ( which I have nothing against) as long as you enjoy breastfeeding your 4 year old daughter why not allow her to continue this beautiful bonding relationship with you?. When she's ready to be weaned I'm sure she'll let you know!!.

Who are you and why are you posting at MDC? A brief intro in "Pleased to Meet You" would be very nice, considering that all of your posts here are about supporting extended breastfeeding. Are you a father? How have you come to be so interested in extended breastfeeding?

 

[its_our_family]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcphail2005 As a strong supporter of extended breastfeeding; I think your little girl should be allowed to nurse however long she wishes! I've actually seen photos of mothers breastfeeding their children until they're 5 years old! ( which I have nothing against) as long as you enjoy breastfeeding your 4 year old daughter why not allow her to continue this beautiful bonding relationship with you?. When she's ready to be weaned I'm sure she'll let you know!!.

Where do you find pics of that kind of thing? Saying you know of ppl that have nursed their babes that long is different than saying, "I've seen pictures"