We have made the family decision it is time for The Son to be weaned. Two of the three of us are fine with it, but the third is not so sure.
I have been cutting off my little “Nur-nur” addict s l o w l y and it is just plain time to be done already. The original plan was to do Child Led Weaning, which means he chooses when he is done, but y’all, I know my kid and I seriously think he would nurse until middle school if I let him!
Here is the new plan. We are pretty much down to two or three (okay three to four) nursing sessions a day and they (with exception of nap- I will do whatever it takes for him to nap) are only about two minutes long. This month we are going to cut out two full sessions, and get any others to less than a minute.
On Monday we went to Hobby Lobby and I let him pick out several scrapbook papers, then we bought a pair of safety scissors (only big boys get to use scissors) and worked together to make a paper chain–one link for each day until he is a “big boy”. We hung it up in our living room and remove a link a day. We also have let him help pick out a “big boy” bed, and are going to do some re-arranging in his room.
We talk everyday about all the cool things a big boy gets to do and how he will be a big boy when he stops nursing. We have had a few instances of, “but I want to be a baby” but so far the elusive joys of big boydom seem to be winning. On August 29 we are having a weaning party (NOT a birthday party even though it is just two days before he turns three) we will all congratulate him on being a big boy, will set up his new bed, will have over his friends (um, at least the children of my sweet hippie friends who are cool with coming to a weaning party) and will have yummy homemade ice cream (made with rice milk for previously mentioned hippie friends).
What do you think internet? Anything else I can do to make this a gentle transistion for him? Anyone ever been to a weaning party and have suggestions of what we need to do? If you are near home town and are cool with what we are doing, you should totally come! (8/29, 10:30 am) Anyone appalled he is not weaned yet? Eh, get over it, nursing has been one of the best experiences of my life–has changed my life, and the way I think about my body. But, I am ready to see what comes next.