Ever since we found out about “our new Belly Baby”:/news/2007/our-little-announcement/, we’ve been thinking more and more about weaning Lucy from nursing. And, surprisingly, the whole process is going much more smoothly than I would have expected.
Our “August trip to Cedar Campus”:/news/2007/road-trip-update/ moved us along on this goal, since Mama wasn’t available for a before-bedtime snack (and for several others). Mornings were easy to skip since Papa usually is the one to “wake up with Lucy”:/news/2007/sleep-bank/, and then we all have a hearty breakfast together. “Dropping to one nap”:/news/2007/the-cedar-campus-effect/ changed things enough that we lost yet another feeding.
Right now we are down to just one post-nap nursing, which has recently become more like a “half” nursing, since we only get to one side before becoming distracted by all of the interesting things to discover in the world. She’s also a prodigious wiggler during nursing, now more than ever, taking special delight in sticking her butt way up in the air without breaking her latch (see photo). But since Lucy often wakes up quite cranky, we need something to cheer us up. Maybe this last nursing can be replaced just with a “Lucy-video”:/news/category/video/ watching marathon for a while….
Weaning brings mixed feelings:
* I miss those snuggly times with Lucy.
* I miss having time to read magazines and books while Lucy is happily occupied.
* I miss the regular routine of our old nap and nursing schedule.
* And I think I’ll miss having so simple a “reset” button for those frowsty, crabby, just-up-from-the-nap moments. (Do you think the Lucy videos can handle the pressure of this job?)
But naturally there are a lot of benefits, too.
* It is fun to have Lucy joining us for meals these days (even when she throws food on the floor, with a purposeful “uh-oh”).
* It is fun to have more flexibility in our schedule to participate in new activities like morning playdates, book clubs, and nature outings.
* It is fun to see Lucy taking care of her own needs — asking for water or food when she is hungry, falling down and being able to comfort herself, sleeping 12 hours solid at night.
Looking at “old photos”:/news/category/the-daily-lucy/ and videos can make me feel a bit nostalgic for those tiny-baby days, but it is even more fun to watch Lucy grow into a big person. Besides, as for my love for a tiny baby, isn’t that part of the reason Belly Baby is on the way?
I love the picture! Ella is a squirmy nurser too – she is now so distracted by life that she will only nurse in her quiet, dark room, so she has voluntarily dropped herself down to 4 nursing sessions a day (first thing in the morning, before both naps and at bedtime). I had thought to nurse her past her first birthday, but now I’m pretty sure we’re just going to wean – I feel like it’s a wrestling match to get her to nurse at all, she would much rather just feed herself so I think we will both be happier to have her weaned. It makes me sad though – she’s growing up!
Never underestimate the reset value of a Lucy video. We sometimes use it even way over here in Michigan. happy weaning.
Evan still drinks something (usually milk) almost immediately after nap. When we dropped the after nap feeding, I’d show up at his door after nap with a full sippy cup in hand; the boy was crabby and needed to eat! Now, he wakes up pretty cheerfully, but he still likes the routine of waking up slowly, and taking some time to have a drink before rushing back into playtime. I find that it’s often a nice cuddle time for me. He’ll sit on my lap to snuggle while he has a drink and adjusts to being awake.
Update: It’s almost as if Lucy read this post — because this afternoon she woke up so happy that Ann realized she could skip the nursing. So today was her first no-nursing day in her life! Soooo big!
With Kaia it was a battle, but spending 2 nights at grammy and papa’s meant 2 nights of not nursing. So when I picked her up from their house, I decided that was it. Once she realized I wasn’t giving in, and that I’d still cuddle her while she drank her sippy, she was fine.
Mo never cared when I had to suddenly wean him at 6 months due to medication. I however felt the pain of not having a gradual wean.
I loved nursing both kids, but I was also so happy to have my breasts back and out of use.
Ann, Jon, and Lucy…
I cannot tell you how much your stories and experiences and feelings mean to me when you share your lives with all of us. It is a beautiful part of my life now and I am grateful for the opportunity to read/hear/feel your varied life experiences. Sometimes I see/hear Jim in them, sometimes Jon in them, ALWAYS Betty in them, and I am so thankful for my growing family. Life is rich and precious and mine is made better by all that you share with me. You are in my heart and I send my love always…