Comments on: Separation while extended nursing

By: baroquebabies

baroquebabies — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:36:33 +0000

Also great to hear the extended nursing stories. My son is 18 months and we’re still going strong. I have not yet been away from him for more than a day and although he does not nurse in the middle of the night, a trip away could be interesting.….
Good to hear your stories. Part of me is ready to give it up, but part of me does not want to. I’m trying to hold out until after our trip to California for Christmas (9 hours time difference and 11 hour flight… nursing helps so very much with both of those!) Laura in Ludwigsburg

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:38:58 +0000

Wow, I am so glad that there are so many others out there who don’t think it’s weird to nurse longer than 6 months. I finalled weaned our son when he was two years and about 4 months old, right after we moved to Germany. My husband thought it might be a good idea to get him “off the boob” before he would start asking for the car keys. While I was trying to wean him he didn’t really make it easy on me — he would look up at me, hold up his index finger and say “Mommy, just one more sip, please?!” We now have our little Elyssa who is 9 months old and happily breastfeeding. I will go for as long as she wants to. The longest I will go without nursing her so far will be at the end of the month for a WHOLE day I know, it’s next to no time at all, but I am still nervous about it — we just have a routine, and that will be upset.

By: Rachael D

Rachael D — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:11:58 +0000

We co-slept until weaning, and my kids self-weaned (complete loss of interest when they started walking -- both were done around 11 months). So, I traveled overnight only after this period. There was more co-sleeping when I was gone. I think all family members slept better in my absence. One thing I noticed... my oldest child used the word "mama" as a synonym for "I want" and "I need" until about 2. So, not a surprise that Rainer as caregiver became "mama". Even my youngest tends to use my name when under duress when he needs something but not otherwise. Re: breastfeeding. To some extent both kids saw this as a comforting or "bonding with mom" act as opposed to a feeding act by about 8 months or so, as solids were introduced. They did get fed by the milk, but they would seek it when emotionally "needy", tired, etc. more so than when it was time for the usual feeding. I felt like a human pacifier at times (and then guilty for feeling that way!) Perhaps this explains Oliver's latching on for quite a while upon your return (needing that bonding). Re: extended travel, the kids tend to do well with whoever is caring for them despite having periods when they preferred one parent over the other. But, I suspect the bond is entirely different if you are a stay at home parent and breastfeeding is such a part of the kid's life. My kids lost interest in breastfeeding and would cry (to get down) or bite out of boredom. So, they didn't miss it!

By: Penny

Penny — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:32:49 +0000

Hi!
I left my son for 4 days when he was 8 months old. My breasts were sore in the evenings when I used and eletric pump to empty them. When I returned home my mother told my proudly that she had weaned him…he wasnt at the stage of helping himself but I offered and he took it. We went on the bf until he was 1. One day (when he was 1 and a couple of days old) he bit me so badly on both breasts that I decided enough was enough.… It actually turned out I had just concieved…so maybe my hormones had done something to my milk. I do not think he misses it. He paws at my top sometimes but mostly because I am wearing v-necks and he likes to feel my skin.
Funny enough it is now almost 3 months and I still have my milk. I was tempted to go back to breastfeeding when I realised it was probably the hormones that put him off but I think it may be better this way.…I am soooo tired anyway )
I do miss it though.

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:14:15 +0000

Every time we are apart, I expect The Boy to wean, and every time I return, he asks to nurse. Our recent separations while I have been in DC have been no exception. At one point it was six weeks without nursing– my breasts did not ache– and I still had milk! Amazing!!!

He does struggle with sleep in my absense, but that is more due to the fact that I am always the one who puts him to bed. Kevin is gone for long periods of time, and The Boy is used to me.