It is very helpful for me when compiling answers if you at least number the answers you give. You can also copy the questions and answer them. If the question does not apply to you, simply put “N/A.”
1. What age did your baby wean from the breast?
2. Did you initiate weaning or did baby?
3. Why did you wean?
4. Did you experience any engorgement?
5. Did you notice any enhanced emotional states? (sad, weepy, etc.)
6. What method/process did you use to wean? (cold turkey, dropping one at a time, etc.)
7. How did your baby handle the weaning?
8. Any advice or words of wisdom?
1. What age did your baby wean from the breast? 14 mo, 18 mo, 14 mo2. Did you initiate weaning or did baby? I did3. Why did you wean? 1st time, to go back on fertility meds, second time I felt like it was a good time to wean, third time I weaned to go on a mission trip and felt fine with that decision4. Did you experience any engorgement? No, because of slow weaning5. Did you notice any enhanced emotional states? (sad, weepy, etc.) No6. What method/process did you use to wean? (cold turkey, dropping one at a time, etc.) Dropping to just morning and bedtime feedings by 13 mo, and then 1 feed a day, then none7. How did your baby handle the weaning? Dad did morning bedtime duty for a week and they didn't seem to miss it. 8. Any advice or words of wisdom? Follow your gut. If you want to nurse longer, do it!
1. What age did your baby wean from the breast? 13 mo for both2. Did you initiate weaning or did baby? baby for the first, i did for the second3. Why did you wean? After a year, there is plenty of nutrition in solids and whole milk and I wanted to have the freedom of no breastfeeding.4. Did you experience any engorgement? no for either5. Did you notice any enhanced emotional states? (sad, weepy, etc.)I was definitely sad with the last few feedings, wanting to hold on to the memory :)6. What method/process did you use to wean? (cold turkey, dropping one at a time, etc.) I dropped on feeding every 1-2 weeks.7. How did your baby handle the weaning? no issues with either!8. Any advice or words of wisdom? Do it slowly so your body will adjust and feel free to adjust your time line as needed to accommodate vacation, illness, etc.
1. What age did your baby wean from the breast? 2 yrs2. Did you initiate weaning or did baby? I did3. Why did you wean? I met my breastfeeding goal4. Did you experience any engorgement? No5. Did you notice any enhanced emotional states? (sad, weepy, etc.) I was sad but I don't think overly so–just sad to be ending that time of bonding with my son.6. What method/process did you use to wean? (cold turkey, dropping one at a time, etc.) I dropped one at a time over a month or two I think. Maybe even longer time period.7. How did your baby handle the weaning? Pretty well. He only nursed at specific scheduled times anyway so he wasn't asking to be nursed all day long. 8. Any advice or words of wisdom? Substituting other bonding activities (snuggling, book reading, talking together) helped both of us not miss it.
1. What age did your baby wean from the breast? 13 months2. Did you initiate weaning or did baby? I did3. Why did you wean? Felt we were both ready, wanted to have a bit of freedom back4. Did you experience any engorgement? No, since weaning was gradual5. Did you notice any enhanced emotional states? (sad, weepy, etc.) I was a bit sad that our breastfeeding relationship was ending, but I don't think it was brought on by the physical weaning itself.6. What method/process did you use to wean? (cold turkey, dropping one at a time, etc.) Dropped one feeding per week. Morning feeding was the last to be dropped.7. How did your baby handle the weaning? He didn't seem phased by it! He loved cow's milk, so once he caught on to the sippy cup, he seemed excited about it!8. Any advice or words of wisdom? For his morning nursing session, I would always bring him to my bed and we would snuggle and play afterwards. So for a few weeks after weaning, I would make his sippy of cow's milk and still bring him to my bed to drink it, so that we still had that special time together.
Thank you everyone for your comments!