Cut out the night feed - teeny bit of encouragement to do so!

I can't believe my 3 1/2 year old has taken bfing so seriously for so long!

We've been down to morning and night feeds since she was 18 mths old. Here was I figuring that she would just start cutting those out over the next 12 months or so - was I wrong! She must have read the WHO guidelines and is thinking 5 sounds like a great age to wean.

I've been saying I'll let her self wean for so long... She has missed the odd morning bf of her own accord and if I go out in the evening can go to bed without the night time one. I decided to try and see if with some gentle encouragement we could kick the night time one altogether. It seems more of a habit in with her night time routine as much as anything. So last week I asked her if she would like warm chocolate milk instead of boobie before bed. She said yes, all went ahead with no dramas. Next night, asked again, she took that, made a brief comment about wanting booby, but nothing that was repeated. She had her 2nd cousin staying for two nights and that was a fabulous distraction too. We didn't even need to continue the warm milk, she just skips right along to story, teeth and toilet.

No comments from her since. Still coming in happily for a morning bf. The challenge will be tonight and tomorrow when she's tired after preschool.

I'm quite pleased it's only one to go (although TBH with her record I could be back here in another two years...!), but I did feel a moment's pang remembering it's been quite common in the past few weeks for her to fall asleep bfing, exhausted after a long day and her afternoon ballet class. :( I'll miss that. I'll enjoy the morning cuddles while they last!

Wow Jen, what an amazing job you have done. Good on you. Sounds like BM is no match for choccy milk though. ;)

Yeah well, she's had bm twice a day for years, but choccy milk only on the odd occasion that Dad is putting her to bed! Choccy milk got ditched the next night for plain and then pink. Fickle, my girl.

Wow -
I actually dont know whether to say well done or not :redface: as i cant tell from the post whether you are happy or sad... i am thinking you are happy, so well done :)

I have been reflecting on MJ's feeding for the last few weeks and tbh was considering try to encourage the wean a little more - it seems like i have been feeding for ages (but only half that of you) and sometimes i feel it to be a bit tendious, especially when she plays and pull on and off and no longer falls asleep during the feed (unless i let her suck for over an hour).
I have always said that i would let her self wean, but have had to encourage each feed that was dropped becasue of working...

Well done on dropping that feed, but an even bigger congratulations for feeding your DD for so long, to be honest i dont think that i will make it that long (which does sadden me too)

:)

plain milk is no match for chocolate. I'll have to let her know. ;)

In all seriousness, i am in awe of woman that manage to feed for so long. I'm not sure i could do it. I take my hat off to you.

Before she weans - I want that photo. Your daughter, dressed in her ballet gear breastfeeding. Good on you for allowing her to be a normal preschooler. (yes, normal are the ones still breastfeeding - it can be hard to remember that - and I would know!) I reckon breastmilk tops choc milk any day of the week.

How's it going Jen?

Hey Jen,
Wow, you have done such an amazing job. :clap:
Lol! about the bFing in ballet gear!
I hope things are going well and I'm sure it is a time for mixed emotions no that she is down to just one feed. Congrats x

Aww Jen how bittersweet. What an amazing job you do. Hats off to you hun :hug:

Wow hunny you have done such an amazing job, i aim to do as an amazing job of bf for that long as you have babe, You should be so proud of yourself your an inspiration :)

I would be prouder, but now I know I'm still not quite up to the standard of Mongolian mothers - so that encourages me to keep going!

Thanks girls. :hug:

You are doing so well Jen :hug: