Comments on: Human Pacifier http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/ Create a greener planet for our future generations Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:17:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Annie http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/comment-page-1/#comment-3112 Annie Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:35:26 +0000 http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/#comment-3112 He sounds like my daughter. She didn't wean until 2 years old and even then I had to encourage it. I wouldn't have encouraged it as fast except my newborn wasn't latching well and my nipples were in PAIN. But when she was 14 months old she was nursing for comfort too. Today she is 2.5 and when she cuddles she will find my breast (fully clothed and all) and lay her head on it and smile. I think the mother's breast is an eternal source of comfort, especially when they are this young. Something that helped my sanity during this time (cause I know you must feel exhausted and drained) was to implement rules. I used to tell Lizzie she could only nurse when she was going night night. (nap or night time) then I would be prepared to have something to take her attention when she woke up so she wouldn't immediately want to nurse again. Then as she got older I would tell her nursing was only for when the sun went to sleep. *hugs* you are not alone! He sounds like my daughter. She didn’t wean until 2 years old and even then I had to encourage it. I wouldn’t have encouraged it as fast except my newborn wasn’t latching well and my nipples were in PAIN. But when she was 14 months old she was nursing for comfort too. Today she is 2.5 and when she cuddles she will find my breast (fully clothed and all) and lay her head on it and smile. I think the mother’s breast is an eternal source of comfort, especially when they are this young.

Something that helped my sanity during this time (cause I know you must feel exhausted and drained) was to implement rules. I used to tell Lizzie she could only nurse when she was going night night. (nap or night time) then I would be prepared to have something to take her attention when she woke up so she wouldn’t immediately want to nurse again. Then as she got older I would tell her nursing was only for when the sun went to sleep.

*hugs* you are not alone!

]]> By: Rachel McFadden http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/comment-page-1/#comment-3086 Rachel McFadden Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:34:42 +0000 http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/#comment-3086 I have no problem continuing to nurse it is just hard to understand if he needs it or its just comfort. I still pump when I'm away from him at work, but I wonder how long that will go on. On the days when we are together all day sometimes it seems he needs/wants to nurse all the time. When he's with his grandmothers he is basically down to one 3-4 oz. bottle during the whole 8-9 hours I'm away, even though I send two bottles with him! I have no problem continuing to nurse it is just hard to understand if he needs it or its just comfort. I still pump when I’m away from him at work, but I wonder how long that will go on.

On the days when we are together all day sometimes it seems he needs/wants to nurse all the time. When he’s with his grandmothers he is basically down to one 3-4 oz. bottle during the whole 8-9 hours I’m away, even though I send two bottles with him!

]]> By: Autumn Canter http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/comment-page-1/#comment-3007 Autumn Canter Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:54:48 +0000 http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/#comment-3007 That was totally River at that age and for quite a bit longer. I only just night weened him a few weeks ago and only a mere month after completely taking away his pacifier! Once they have more language, I think weening becomes easier. I just explained to River about his pacifier and his "nursies". I told him, "This is the last time you will nurse until the sun comes up and there is light outside, okay?" He agreed. If he wakes up at night asking for it, I remind him that there is no sunshine yet and would be like water? If he does not want a drink I say, "cuddle with me. Hold my hands" and that soothes him back to sleep. We nurse 2-3 times a day (before sleep, before nap, when he wakes up in the morning) Yesterday he skipped before bed and I had a lot more milk come morning. I felt like I had to actively night ween because pregnancy has made me so tired I need a better night's sleep and I know my milk will change soon anyway so I might as well begin breaking the habit of nursing so much. I agree a lot of it is comfort. There was a family battle of sorts while I was in New York with much tears and some yelling. River asked to nursie right then and there and nursed gently for a long time at a time he never nurses normally. It soothed both of us. I believe weening is a compromise between mom and baby. You do what you need to, when you feel you need to. You take his cues. Cue led everything seems to work much better all around for us. When you start getting tired of something, I think it is usually a natural sign that things are ready to change. I am always amazed by how effortless these changes have been when River and I have both gotten to a place when we are ready. We have to teach our children that it is okay for things to change and you never know if the time is right unless you try! :) That was totally River at that age and for quite a bit longer. I only just night weened him a few weeks ago and only a mere month after completely taking away his pacifier! Once they have more language, I think weening becomes easier. I just explained to River about his pacifier and his “nursies”. I told him, “This is the last time you will nurse until the sun comes up and there is light outside, okay?” He agreed. If he wakes up at night asking for it, I remind him that there is no sunshine yet and would be like water? If he does not want a drink I say, “cuddle with me. Hold my hands” and that soothes him back to sleep. We nurse 2-3 times a day (before sleep, before nap, when he wakes up in the morning) Yesterday he skipped before bed and I had a lot more milk come morning. I felt like I had to actively night ween because pregnancy has made me so tired I need a better night’s sleep and I know my milk will change soon anyway so I might as well begin breaking the habit of nursing so much.

I agree a lot of it is comfort. There was a family battle of sorts while I was in New York with much tears and some yelling. River asked to nursie right then and there and nursed gently for a long time at a time he never nurses normally. It soothed both of us.

I believe weening is a compromise between mom and baby. You do what you need to, when you feel you need to. You take his cues. Cue led everything seems to work much better all around for us. When you start getting tired of something, I think it is usually a natural sign that things are ready to change. I am always amazed by how effortless these changes have been when River and I have both gotten to a place when we are ready. We have to teach our children that it is okay for things to change and you never know if the time is right unless you try! :)

]]> By: Laura C http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/comment-page-1/#comment-2982 Laura C Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:40:50 +0000 http://www.happygreenbabies.com/breastfeeding/human-pacifier/#comment-2982 If he's anything like my daughter he will stop being so needy pretty soon and you will be back to marveling at how quickly he is growing up. :) My daughter just got her first tooth and hit a major growth spurt AND started wolfing down solids where previously she had eaten only tiny amounts of applesauce, so she has also been nursing a ton at night and has been quite needy. I started to wonder if I was encouraging the nighttime feedings too much, but then realized when the tooth popped out (finally!) and the clothes stopped fitting that it's just another round of regression she always goes through before a big milestone. Hang in there and trust your instincts. You will know what to do. If he’s anything like my daughter he will stop being so needy pretty soon and you will be back to marveling at how quickly he is growing up. :) My daughter just got her first tooth and hit a major growth spurt AND started wolfing down solids where previously she had eaten only tiny amounts of applesauce, so she has also been nursing a ton at night and has been quite needy. I started to wonder if I was encouraging the nighttime feedings too much, but then realized when the tooth popped out (finally!) and the clothes stopped fitting that it’s just another round of regression she always goes through before a big milestone. Hang in there and trust your instincts. You will know what to do.

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