Weaning: What's The Rush?

Photo Credit: The Unperfect Mummy

 "Once they can ask for it, they are too old to get it."

"You're still doing that?!"

"If you don't wean that kid soon they are going to still be on the boob in college."

Really? Really?!

These are clearly ridiculous statements.



A baby's cry is their way of asking for the boob. So by that thought, it should be solid food from the start? I think not.

Yes, yes I am still  nursing my baby. She 's only 3 (6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36, etc.) months old. It is a relationship and time I treasure, and I'm in no hurry to end it.

I can guarantee you that regardless of when my child and I decide to end our nursing relationship, it will be long before her high school graduation/first semester of college.

For some reason, the moment you announce your impending parenthood to the world, either by Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Instagram or your growing belly, strangers seem to think it is suddenly perfectly acceptable to be completely fucking rude to you. They tell you how you should live your life, what you're doing wrong, and how you are doing irreparable damage to your child by wearing white after Labor Day, even though your babe is still in utero and that rule went out about 20 years ago.

Breastfeeding seems to be a very hot topic. It can split a family in two. I've seen football rivalries that were less bloody than a breastfeeding debate. I'm pro breastfeeding, but I'm also pro choice, and I don't think you really have a choice if you don't have all the information. That is why I'm excited to contribute for a second year in a row to the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt.

When I wrote about nursing my toddler last year, I was only a few months in. She was already really good at helping herself, and she vocalised pretty well what she wanted. In the year since we have established that she needs to ask and wait for an appropriate time and place to nurse; she is not allowed to just pull my shirt up and have at it. She is talking more and more every day, and has the most wonderful things to say about nursing. This is another great thing about nursing a toddler. You can get their opinion on the whole nursing relationship. Danger Baby loves to nurse. As I mentioned in my post on Tuesday, she likes to tell me that, "Boobie milk is good stuff." It is also "'Licious" (delicious,) "Yummy," and her "favorite." She tells me which boob she wants to start with, and announces when she needs to switch. She seems to have forgotten about treating the boobies gently lately and has taken to pinching again (something I'm less than happy about,) but I keep holding out hope that she will get through this stage soon.

I don't know how long I'll nurse my daughter for. I get asked all the time when she's going to be done and my answer is usually, "When she's ready." Too many stages of your baby's life go by too quickly. Why rush this one? As long as the two parties involved are still happy with the arrangement, there is no reason to end it. This stage will pass like all the others. It will eventually be yet another fond, fuzzy memory of your early parenting years, but while you are in the moment, be in the moment. Bank the memories now, so you can draw on them in the teen years and beyond.

I'm not the only one writing about the wonders of breastfeeding. Check out these awesome blogs:

Twinkle Mummy

Little Scribbles

Mum2BabyInsomniac

The Great British Family

Little Lily Pad Co

Verity Castledine with Truly Hooked has not only contributed a prize to the grand prize package, she has also chosen to do an additional giveaway of a BooBeanie hat, boobie tea cosy, BooBeanie bottle cosy, and boobie stress reliever/education tool. These are all hand crocheted and will be made to order for the lucky winner (so you can chose your own colors, and so the hat is the correct size.) These little hats are fantastic, and I only wish I had one when Danger Baby was smaller and needed to nurse all the time in public. I love boobs, and all the wonderful things they can do, so when the chance to work with Verity came up, I jumped at it.

Here is a little info about Verity:

I'm Verity, mum to 27 month old Alfie, and owner/creator at Truly Hooked.
I started crocheting in October 2011 after the sudden death of my father when I needed something to take my mind of things. I fell in love with it, and quickly started making items for friends and family. A few people suggested I should make boo hats for breastfeeding and suddenly Truly Hooked was born. Things really took off in 2012, and I now have a great range of crocheted items, hand dyed yarns and patterns written by myself. I love new challenges and I'm always looking for new ideas for things to try. 

As a breastfeeding mum, I'm keen to promote breastfeeding, in its many different forms, and this is reflected in my BooBeanie product range. The hats are a lovely cheeky way of promoting breastfeeding in public and are my most popular product to date. I'm also keen to recognise that some mums use bottles or cups to give breast milk, and that donor milk may be their only option. I'm a former milk donor, so I'm aware of the huge milk sharing community out there, The BooBeanie bottle cosies are a lovely way for mums to promote breastfeeding, when they are using alternative methods.
The stuffed Boobs are not only a great stress reliever, for those moments when it all gets a bit much, but they are designed with a small row of ridges inside, so can be used to demonstrate hand expressing, as well as latch and positioning, by breastfeeding peer workers. Finally, the BooBeanie tea cosy is just fun, and lets be honest, who wouldn't smile at a giant boob sitting at the centre of an afternoon tea?!

These items are all made to order, in a range of colours and that hats can be made in all sizes from newborn up to adult! I'm delighted to be taking part in The Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger hunt, and to be donating a full set of BooBeanie products to the prize pack. Wishing you all the best of luck!

CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER GREAT STUFF YOU CAN WIN!

Here's your chance to enter and win. 

GOOD LUCK!!

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