It all really started a little over six weeks ago when the little guy decided he was no longer interested in nursing when he woke up in the morning. Apparently, it was more important to terrorize daddy before he left for work. Seriously, he stopped nursing in the mornings right around the time FTD went back to work full-time. Whatever the reason, we were officially down to two feedings a day.
Today I can happily say we are down to ONE feeding! Over the past two weeks we dropped the mid-morning, or naptime, feeding. And you all, it was actually really easy. For real! Here is how it went down...
I began the process with the normal naptime routine where I talked about naptime, turned off the lights in the house and the TV, but before taking him to his room, I grabbed him a drinkable yogurt. Then I took him into his room, with the yogurt, and acted like business as usual. Instead of offering him the booby, I offered him the yogurt. Yes, he was less than pleased about this. OK, he was pissed! He ended up drinking a little of the yogurt, then pushed it away. I then held him close, rocking him in our glider and singing lullabies. He calmed down and even began to doze off. When I felt he was relaxed enough I put him in his crib and said, nite nite, and walked out. Yes, again, he was pissed. He did start crying, but never to the point of screaming mad, and within about two minutes went to sleep!
The next day I tried the same routine, except this time it was a HELL NO to the drinkable yogurt right off the bat, and then again about two minutes of crying. On the third day, I offered the yogurt 15 minutes before naptime, and to my surprise he drank the entire thing. Then at naptime I took him into his room, and right into the singing and rocking routine. He fell asleep in my arms, and went into his crib easily! No tears! My friends, that is how we do naptime now, and it is WONDERFUL!
I have him down for his nap in less than five minutes now, opposed to the twenty when nursing. Sometimes, most times, I sit there rocking and holding him close for an extra five minutes or so, just staring at him and smiling. I love that little dude so much.
So that's it. One down and one to go!
OK... So that is not it. Now that I know how easy it is... I am not sure when I am going to cut off the night feeding. I mean, it's the beginning of the end. Once we stop, that's it... no more nursing. ever. I am still mentally preparing for that. I thought I was 100% ready, but I guess I am only 85%. Plus, the way Ollie was so easy about dropping naptime, I am fairly confident he will let the night time go relatively easily as well. So when I decide it's time, I better be ready.
There is one other thing too...
My mother in-law is coming for a visit this week and staying 10-days. I am definitely going to wait until after she leaves before dropping the last feeding. Which is a good thing, because I am still mentally preparing for the end.
I am still more than ready to accept that the end is near. The nursing has to end, I can do it now, or next year, regardless, it has to end. The Man-Child gets enough dairy from yogurts, cheese and a little milk each day to be fine without me, so nutritionally, he really does not need me anymore. It's time. I have to stay focused. FOCUSED!
I'll let you know how that works out for me...
Thank you so much to everyone who has commented and emailed. Your support and ideas were a HUGE help. (To read the original post where I asked for help, and got it from wonderful readers, Click here!)
