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Obscura

Deciding when to call it quits (self.breastfeeding)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by probablynaked to c/breastfeeding

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Baby is almost 19 months, and we’ve been down to just a morning feed at this point. Have thankfully night weaned (working on weaning from the pacifier as well).

Is it usually baby who weans themselves, or is it a conscious action I need to take? I wouldn’t mind making it to the two year mark per recent medical guidelines, but not sure what the ending process should look like.

I will admit it is a bit bittersweet - it was so hard at the start. Anybody have any advice on this front?

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[–] Obscura 2 points 1 year ago

It is so bittersweet isn’t it? Some days I’m so done with it, feeling touched out and ready to stop, another day I enjoy nursing again and the intimacy it brings. I’ve heard from some mums that their baby pretty much weaned themselves, and heard from others that they had to stick to a strict mantra to themselves to cut the feeds. Each kid is so different.

At the end of the day, what matters most is your baby having a happy mum around. You’ve done so well to breastfeed this long and given your little one an amazing start. If you are ready to stop then that is the best thing for you and your baby. If you aren’t ready to stop then by all means enjoy continuing your breastfeeding journey until either you or your little one are ready to stop. There’s no rush or timeline, whatever personally works for you is the right answer. :)

I’m currently weaning at 26 months and it was very much a conscious choice from me as my little boy has been so resistant to it and it’s been a slow process dropping the feeds. Makes me feel so guilty! We are down to one or two a day now. However, he is such a comfort nurser and days where he is poorly he is seeking out feeds to soothe him. He is autistic too and it was a long journey to guide him away from using the boobs as a way to calm down and regulate himself when he is having a meltdown/shutdown.

If you do want any tips on how I weaned some feeds out of his routine please let me know.