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Q&A: Older breastfeeder is no longer weaning as much
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Most of us mothers, whether we formula feed or breastfeed our children, take great pleasure seeing our children try their first spoon full of mushy yams and later learn to manipulate their spoon and fork. We love letting them try different foods, little bit at a time, gradually building them up to “big kid” foods like sandwiches and tasty pasta dishes and maybe even adding a bit of “spicy” foods in there! We smile proudly at them, we can see the day when our breasts will once again be ours and ours alone – NO MORE FEEDINGS – and then it happens. They begin to reject their potatoes, reject their bananas; all the cereal and sippy cups provided are in vain as they end up being thrown to the floor in disdain. She wants to breastfeed and she is having NONE of this solid food business.
How does it happen that a child who seems to be moving forward and taking self-lead weaning in stride then begins to revert back to the breast?
Consider why they love breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a very comforting thing for children. Think about why he or she may need comforting: has there been a big change in his or her life recently? Are they teething, in pain, or ill? Is he or she having troubles sleeping and perhaps using breastfeeding as an attempt to put themselves to rest?
Continue to Offer Solid Foods, but Do Not Deny the Breast
It is important to still offer the solid foods you were offering before, even if they do only end up on your floor. Stay supportive and positive about her eating her crackers, her cheese, her cereals, and if she insisted on the breast? So be it.
It is Good to Breastfeed your Child
Many mothers want to stop breastfeeding just because it is “weird” to do so beyond a certain age. Some mothers I’ve spoken to find it odd after 2 years of age, some consider it ludicrous after 6 months. Remind yourself how good breastfeeding is for you and your baby, regardless of the age. It is optimal nutrition and you’re strengthening a bond that will last a lifetime.
Remind yourself that breastfeeding won’t last forever. No teenager or adult has ever depended on breastfeeding for sustenance (or at least not to my knowledge) so do know that one day this breastfeeding business will come to an end. Have fun with it while it lasts.