Weaning a Toddler

So finally Josiah is weaned! There was a good thing that came out of my chicken pox after all, it helped in weaning my persistent toddler. I cannot believe I nursed Josiah (bedtime only) for 31 months, when initially when I started, 2 months was my target. I had prayed hard that he will self wean by 2 years old, but it went on and on and extended for 7 months. That is because I was probably not firm in my decision to stop as well, inconsistency is the enemy. Plus Josiah is the type that love the nursing times. At that age, we were actually down to just nursing during his naps on weekends, and at nights before bed on weekdays. However, there are times when he came home from the baby sitter and immediately asked to nurse, unless we distract him by going out and all. So, I had thought weaning was not going to be easy with this boy. In fact, many times we had talked to him about how he is now a big boy and doesn’t need to nurse anymore. Most times, he would get angry and insist he can still nurse. Until one day I had chicken pox and as it turned out, it was the best opportunity to wean.

For the first couple of nights with the pox I still nursed him, knowing he won’t get it as he was vaccinated. However, it was getting too uncomfortable, I was in much pain and being pregnant, it was getting really difficult and painful to nurse. So, in pain I told him I am sick now and cannot nurse him anymore. He was so sad that night he sobbed in my arms but eventually fell asleep. During our nursing days, he would normally wake up 2-3 times a night and needed to be nursed to settle back down. That night, he woke up once and again I insisted I could not nurse him. I told him each time he insisted that I was sick and in pain. Once again that middle of the night, he cried and fell asleep. It was heartbreaking but I was very determined as I now knew that he can actually sleep without me after all.

On the next night, after talking to him properly, he did not fuss and just hugged me and slept. That night he did not wake up but slept through till morning. Finally he was weaned, and I guess I was a bit surprised that it was not as hard as I had anticipated. However, during the course of a week plus, he did want to nurse and cried to sleep at least twice. On other nights, he was happy to just sleep with the dad and leave me alone. A few more days and it will be two weeks, and I pray by then he will be completely weaned as in, completely forgotten about nursing. Finally, now I can sleep through the night and not have to be awaken every few hours. But I guess I can only enjoy this for the next 5 months before the baby comes along.