Yes, it is indeed time. Bella turned two years and two months yesterday but is still breastfeeding. She seldom drinks milk from her bottle and she uses spout instead of a nipple. It was hard for me to wean her before because it was heartbreaking to see her craving for my milk. I guess she was too young to wean. But today, I decided to wean her because:
1. I think she’s getting thinner because the nutrients she gets from my milk is no longer sufficient.
2. I am thinner too. lol
3. She’s two! She is heavier and taller!
4. She’s going to play school next month and I really need to wean her.
5. Hubby thinks we should really stop breastfeeding Bella because she is a big girl now.
And so we did that today. I said hi to the breast pump and Bella said hello to her silicon nipple. It was her first time to use it. Since she doesn’t have a choice, she has to do it. She even said the formula milk and her feeding bottle is her new favorite. But she really had a difficult time sleeping. She got used to falling asleep while breastfeeding. She slept so late today. It is already 4:30 A.M. here right now.
As for me, I need to pump the milk every time I feel that it’s gonna drip or if there is a pain on my breast or on my back. This is a huge change for me. Imagine breastfeeding for two years and two months! I can now wear my other clothes and will no longer worry about buying clothes without opening/buttons on the front.lol
What did I do to make her stop from breastfeeding? I just sliced some lemons and squeezed a bit of juice on both nipples. When she tasted it, she was totally disgusted and said, “Yucky yucky deedee”. She calls my breasts as “deedee”. Sometimes, she would open my blouse and try to deedee but still, it tastes yucky. So, even if I ask her to try deedee she won’t! She knows it’s very yucky. hahaha..Hubby and I were even giggling at her because she looks funny every time she opens my blouse and would attempt to put her mouth on it. Before her lips reach my nipples, she’ll remember how it taste and would cover my nipples with my blouse again.lol
I love breastfeeding because Bella and I got tons of benefit from it but we all know that it doesn’t stay that way forever. And for us, today is the time to stop. How about you mommies? How did you wean your baby from breastfeeding?
I enjoyed breast feeding my babies. Great bonding experience
I loved breast feeding my youngest. My other would not nurse, for different reasons. It was so hard to give it up for both of us. I wish I had thought of the lemon trick. That is a great one.
We were down to just the night feeding at 19 months and so we switched out me for a sippy cup of mango smoothie. The first night there was some protest, but since we had my husband give it to her that made it much easier.
I loved breastfeeding. Luckily for me both my boys weaned themselves. My oldest, now 5, decided one day that he was not interested any more (he was 8 mths old). With my youngest I got mastitis which caused me not to be able to breastfeed on his favorite boob (boys) so once I healed he did not want to breastfeed anymore (he was around 11 mts old).
Best of luck 🙂
wow this is a hard subject. I want to breast feed but only until a year old or maybe a little bit after. My sister breast fed until her baby was 3 years old because the baby just didn't want to wean. I think the longer you wait the harder it is, but I also think that most babies like you said don't like white milk, so it is hard not to want to breast feed her. You want to make sure she is getting nutrients.
Well, that's one way to do it! LOL! I am in the middle of my second pregnancy and my milk has officially dried up.. but she still wants to nurse. So we're working on boundaries (cutting out "less important" nursings) and in the meantime I've started giving her some organic whole milk, warmed up, in one of her sippy cups.
I loved that I was able to be a position when my kids could self wean, I have burned in to my memory their last time breast feeding.
I think its awesome that you were able to nurse until age 2!
Congrats to you! 2 years! That is so wonderful! And I laughed out loud when I read your lemon story–so funny.
I was able to breastfeed for a year before my son weaned himself. At that point he was just nursing in the morning and at night, and I have to admit that I was sad when he stopped. Special times.
Visiting from Turn It Up Tuesdays–thanks for co-hosting!!