For a while, Angie was going through the whole day, pretty much, without nursing. She would occasionally ask for milk when she was feeling overly tired or upset about something, but mostly, she would accept a snack or water/juice or her regular meals. In the last week or so, she has begun asking to nurse two or three times a day. This is in addition to her regular nighttime and morning nursings and all the inbetween ones. I don't know what the reason is, but I accommodate her.
So I guess I'm wondering how to go about the weaning process. Many books/websites advocate child-led weaning, but who knows when that will be with Angie. It's not that she can't go without nursing; I think she doesn't want to yet. Strangely enough, many people ask me if I'm going to stop nursing once she has teeth. I think to myself, "why should teeth stop me (although she has bitten me twice already)? What about people whose babies get teeth at 6 months or earlier? should they stop as soon as their babies get teeth?" Anyway, I'm sure there's a happy way for me to help her to want to wean, I just don't know what it is.
1 comment:
It's possible she's going through a growth spurt or stressed about something, and that's why she's suddenly nursing more. On to more practical matters, though. When she bites you, pull her in really close. Really close. So close she can't breathe. It'll only take a second; you won't suffocate her. She'll let go and probably protest, and you'll say "No biting" very firmly. Let her know how you feel about it. It only takes a time or two for her to get it through her head that she can't bite the breast that feeds her!
Now, all my kids have weaned themselves. Usually by thirteen months. It is a gradual tapering off like you described with Angie, only instead of starting in again, they give it up. It's possible that I didn't allow my kids to pick up the pace after they had slacked off that much. Not sure. Anyway, if you don't mind, just let it happen. If you do mind, then just force the issue.
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