by Laura Falin posted in Parenting

I'm noticing that with my last baby I get more sentimental over things. When she learned how to walk...when she first tried solids...when she went to school. For the rest of my kids those were exciting "firsts," but with her, they were tinged with a little heartbreak that I would never again have a little baby who needed my help in that way.
So weaning her from breastfeeding was bittersweet. I think weaning is an even harder milestone because we always phased it out gradually so I never had that moment of "This is it. This is the last time we'll be breastfeeding." There was just a day when I went to bed and realized before I drifted off to sleep that I hadn't nursed my baby. It was a milestone no one really recognized except me.
These BabyCenter moms have some great advice on how to wean your baby. My favorite, and the advice I'd give people myself, is "Don't let anyone talk you into weaning your child before the two of you are ready." One mom had weaned her baby earlier than she wanted because she was getting outside pressure not to breastfeed a toddler. If you want to continue nursing, do what feels right.
Also, a lot of moms are fans of gradually cutting back how often you breastfeed during the day until your child is fully transitioned. This was my favorite method, too. No engorgement, no abrupt ending to the special time you have with your child -- and usually a much happier little one because they've ...