Hi! It's been almost 2 mos. since my last post & a little over a month since we stopped BF. Last one was the week before Christmas. I am happy now that I'm done, but I was very sad when I stopped.
Also, even though it's only been a month, it seems sooo long ago already. DS seems to have turned into a toddler & stopped being a baby in such a short time. My goal was to BF for a year & I did! So glad I was able to continue BF that long. I got pregnant during the weaning (when we dropped to 2 BF/day). Here's how I weaned, maybe it will help someone:
1st born: BF every 2hrs. till milk came in.
3mos. old: was on a 3hr. EASY, BF 6x/day (Introduce bottle of pumped milk- I went back to work 2days/wk when he was 4mos. old. Only took pumped milk from bottle on days I worked, rest of week BF)
5mos. old: on a 4hr. EASY, sm. amt. of solid foods 3x/day, BF 4x/day (introduced sippy at 6mos. but only with water, BF milk & bottle of pumped milk still only 2days/week).
9mos. old: Eating more solids, 3 meals/day, dropped to BF 3x/day
11mos. old: Introduce one sippy of whole milk/day, dropped to BF 2x/day (packed away bottles, gave pumped milk on days I worked in sippy too).
12mos. old: week after his first b-day dropped BF to 1x/day (this was the AM one), & gave whole milk in sippy
12.5mos. old: done! The reason the AM one was the last one I dropped instead of the bedtime one was b/c on days I worked I would BF him in the AM then go to work, pump there, & by the time I got home (I work 12hr. shifts), he would already be asleep in bed. So he was used to taking a bottle of pumped milk at bedtime. I knew he was not really attached to BF at bedtime, since I was not there 2 days/week. But the AM one, I have always done even on work days. It was really hard to drop that b/c he was used to me getting him out of his crib, bringing him to my bed to BF, then we would both get up, get dressed, & have breakfast. When I dropped this one, I couldn't bring him to my bed b/c he would throw the sippy at me & try to grab me to BF. I had to bring him right out to his high chair when he woke, but I would have to give breakfast first. If I gave the sippy of milk first, he would throw it at me & cry. I was crying too
He eventually got used to it. Now he doesn't even ask for it or try to get it. Bedtime cuddles we rock in his rocking chair, he enjoys that. And when he's playing in the morn. he'll stop what he's doing occasionally to come over & give me a hug. I love it!
I am glad that he's over it now & totally drinking from sippys, not even bottles. The new baby is due in 6 mos. & I wanted him to be totally over the BF & not look back, so that when the new baby comes he won't be jealous of the BF.
Thanks so much for letting me post my experiences here. I loved breastfeeding, DS & I both enjoyed it & I'm so glad it was a great experience. Good luck to the rest of you weaning!!
