I may have to take my 11 month old son who breastfeeds to his grandmothers to stay a few days, and i'm scared that may wean him. Does anyone know if it will?
He stayed with my grandparents for a week. He's still nursing. I don't think he'll ever stop :)
It is possible. How often does he nurse? Is it possible to take him with you wherever you are going and maybe have someone go with you to watch him.
You say "may" so if there is any way not to be apart that long I hope you can take that route. If you do in fact have to take your son to his grandmother's for a few days my best advice is to do as the pp said and start beforehand giving him a bottle once or twice a day so its not completely alien to him when his grandmother gives him one. Also, you should pump while you are gone at least as many times per day that you are currently nursing your son so that you maintain your supply. Good luck!!
He should not if you have been feeding him a bottle from time to time. I nursed my 1st child and went away for 4-5 days when she was 2 months old. I just started pumping and using a bottle a couple times a day before we left. She learned to go back and forth and it worked great.
actually that depends on him. not all children want to stop breastfeeding. you will find that many will tell you when it is time. you may find yourself surprised at the change. only time will tell if he will want to stop.
A few days after you are past the 6 month mark won't make her wean or your milk dry up. Make sure to take a pump with you! It might however cause him some stress for you to be away. Is there a way to take him with you?
It is not really going to do anything. If you want to wean it will probably will. I learn that you want to wean slowly. Like breast feed at night. My doctor told me that relaxes the child. Into what that child knows and may keep them at eaz while you sleep.
I nursed both my kids until they were a year old. With both there were times were they had to be left with someone for a couple of days. I pumped while I was away from them, but it also helped that the bottle had already been introduced. Most kids can switch back to nursing with no problem.
Definitely pump while you are away from him. As long as the grandmother is feeding him breastmilk too, he shouldn't switch because of taste. Hopefully you already have some stored up that you can use. If not, start now. My family doctor gave me the best advice for nursing, start saving some early on so that if I was to get sick then we wouldn't have to supplement with something else. Same for your situation, if you don't have even stored up, start now so that you can use it if you need to have someone keep him. Good Luck!
Hi A.,
I nursed my daughter until she was 14 months old and just recently quit when I found out I was pregnant (actually she weaned herself). Anyway during the time I was breastfeeding, I too had to leave her for a couple of days and she had no problem taking the breast when I got home, infact it was as though she missed it. I think at this stage in the game, with your son's age and the time frame you will be leaving him, you should have no problem. Is he drinking water from a cup? If he is why don't you try giving him breastmilk in his cup when you are out of town, that way he isn't drinking from a bottle. With all of my research I have done on this topic I assure you he will be fine!!!
L.
A.,
Chances are that once you are back together the breastfeeding will resume. Keep in mind however, that children wean at different times and if your son is ready, he may.
It has been my observation over my 10 years experience helping breastfeeding dyads that most babies do not wean without some encouragement before their second birthday.
How often does your son nurse?
If you were planning to wean him, how do you think he would respond?
These are often good indicators of weaning readiness.
L. G
