one day she just stopped.
stopped what you ask?
nursing.
i nursed my daughter until she was about 28 months. no, not a typo.
if i could, i would insert the following emoticons because I know that's what the majority of you are thinking.
scoffing, judging, disgusted and appalled looks, and the look of disbelief.
I know the look because i've witnessed it. people don't mean to, but it's obvious.
to be fair, i had some pre-judgments of nursing in general. BEFORE i nursed. i just thought "oh you stop and then you are done." or "don't you want your body back?" the thing is your boobs aren't just done over night. and sometimes your babe isn't either. and honestly it's not inconvenient after a certain age because your supply tapers to the child so wanting your body back really can vary per mother. never in a million years did i think i would have nursed passed 12 months, then 15, then 18. then i just stopped counting because it was what it was. i didn't advertise it because i didn't feel like soaking in the above emoticons to make me feel uncomfortable on someone else's terms, but i'm not ashamed of it or upset by it. if someone asked i didn't lie.
my goal was 12 months so technically i'm just an over-achiever.
little gal wasn't ready at 12 months and i wasn't really sure how weaning worked or whatever, but overall it was clear that i was ready before she was...
when i wanted to cut the before bed nursing we replaced it with snuggles on the floor before bed. then before i knew it she stopped asking. we had morning and after nap nursing for what seemed like forever and that filtered into only morning. it became her routine and breaking that was hard to explain. she would fuss because this was a place of comfort and connection for her so it's really hard to explain that to a tot.
i opted to ask if she wanted food or distract her with something exciting after naps. then soon after she stopped asking. after seeking advise from a breastfeeding group, i decided to try my own sort of method of a recommended time limit. i would say "you can nurse for 30 seconds" and i would count to 30. then it was 20, 10, 5 and then nothing. and if she would randomly ask i would gently say "we don't nurse anymore, silly goose."
while extended nursing (note: the global average is age 2 so really it's barely extended. the US is just sort of backwards about a lot of things) isn't for everyone, it's not as big of a deal as people make it and it wasn't causing any harm to either of us. if anything it's benefitedus (ok, only if you count the weight i kept off haha), her as i can count on one hand the times she's been sick.
i find it so funny that this is a big deal for some people especially when it doesn't have any affect or bearing on their life. it's it a little hypocritical that we make more of a fuss about breastfeeding a toddler than giving a toddler coke, fast food and whatever other trash is out there. oh the irony.
nursing.
i nursed my daughter until she was about 28 months. no, not a typo.
if i could, i would insert the following emoticons because I know that's what the majority of you are thinking.
scoffing, judging, disgusted and appalled looks, and the look of disbelief.
I know the look because i've witnessed it. people don't mean to, but it's obvious.
to be fair, i had some pre-judgments of nursing in general. BEFORE i nursed. i just thought "oh you stop and then you are done." or "don't you want your body back?" the thing is your boobs aren't just done over night. and sometimes your babe isn't either. and honestly it's not inconvenient after a certain age because your supply tapers to the child so wanting your body back really can vary per mother. never in a million years did i think i would have nursed passed 12 months, then 15, then 18. then i just stopped counting because it was what it was. i didn't advertise it because i didn't feel like soaking in the above emoticons to make me feel uncomfortable on someone else's terms, but i'm not ashamed of it or upset by it. if someone asked i didn't lie.
my goal was 12 months so technically i'm just an over-achiever.
little gal wasn't ready at 12 months and i wasn't really sure how weaning worked or whatever, but overall it was clear that i was ready before she was...
when i wanted to cut the before bed nursing we replaced it with snuggles on the floor before bed. then before i knew it she stopped asking. we had morning and after nap nursing for what seemed like forever and that filtered into only morning. it became her routine and breaking that was hard to explain. she would fuss because this was a place of comfort and connection for her so it's really hard to explain that to a tot.
i opted to ask if she wanted food or distract her with something exciting after naps. then soon after she stopped asking. after seeking advise from a breastfeeding group, i decided to try my own sort of method of a recommended time limit. i would say "you can nurse for 30 seconds" and i would count to 30. then it was 20, 10, 5 and then nothing. and if she would randomly ask i would gently say "we don't nurse anymore, silly goose."
while extended nursing (note: the global average is age 2 so really it's barely extended. the US is just sort of backwards about a lot of things) isn't for everyone, it's not as big of a deal as people make it and it wasn't causing any harm to either of us. if anything it's benefited
i find it so funny that this is a big deal for some people especially when it doesn't have any affect or bearing on their life. it's it a little hypocritical that we make more of a fuss about breastfeeding a toddler than giving a toddler coke, fast food and whatever other trash is out there. oh the irony.
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