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10 Signs You’re Ready to Stop Breastfeeding

2014/02 By Lauren B. Stevens 13 Comments

Featured on BlogHer.com

I recently sailed past the 19 month mark of breastfeeding Declan, and did so with a sigh.  I’m grateful for being able to nurse for so long, but the truth is that I’m ready to be done anytime now.  I started out with a 6 month goal, which turned to 1 year once I exceeded my initial length.  At the one year mark, I assumed (especially being pregnant twice) that Declan would just self-wean…and soon.  Not the case, pregnancy hormones didn’t put him off…at all.  And while it was painful, it was nothing compared to the pain of clogged ducts, so I nursed through it.  Now?  I long for the day that I can reclaim my breasts.  Completely tongue-in-cheek, here are some signs that you may be ready to stop breastfeeding:
A little breastfeeding humor, for those extended breastfeeding moms out there: 10 Signs You're Ready to Stop Breastfeeding

  1. Like an automaton, you proffer your breast when you hear the words milk, milkies, boob, boobie, etc. [or any utterance that sounds remotely similar].
  2. You gaze longingly at your regular bras, tucked into the far reaches of your lingerie drawer, and haven’t the slightest recollection of the last time you wore one.
  3. Why buy the milk when you get mama’s milk for free is no longer a humorous saying.  In fact, you’re thinking about charging at this point. 
  4. You’re ready to disassociate yourself from the Got Milk? campaign.
  5. You’re seriously questioning having another baby any time in the near future [because the thought of another nursling makes you cringe].
  6. You no longer think the I’m a Boob Man onesie is cute.  At all.
  7. You’re ready to wear something other than tank tops and cardigans [because, you know, you stopped wearing nursing clothing LONG ago].
  8. Nursing in public?  Pfft! No biggie [almost everyone’s glimpsed my breasts at this point].
  9. Your little one can now ask to nurse…using a complete sentence.
  10. Even your grungiest regular bra looks appealing.

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Filed Under: all, breastfeeding, Editorial, featured, humor, Natural Living, Parenting Tagged With: breastfeeding, humor, lactating, nursing, weaning

Comments

  1. Viv Sluys says

    2014/05 at 12:15 pm

    Great list of signs you’re ready. My first 2 babies each quit nursing around 16 months. My current ‘baby’ will be 2 in 2 weeks and still nurses several times a day! I thought she would self wean too and I definitely was not planning to nurse past 2 but…

    Reply
    • Lauren Stevens says

      2014/05 at 1:36 pm

      Thanks! Yup – our kiddos have other plans, don’t they? Great job with your breastfeeding journeys, mama! 😉

      Reply
  2. Jena says

    2014/05 at 3:54 am

    My daughter is 3 1/2 and any suggestion that she nurse less than 3 times a day leaves her distraught. So she can ask for it with complete sentences AND back it up with reasons (not that they make sense to adults, but they totally do to her; her favorite is, “Because it’s not a good idea [to wait/skip it]”). I think her baby brother will self wean before she does.

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    2014/06 at 3:35 am

    Hi Ladies. My daughter is 2 1/2 and she does not want to give up the night feed at all, only has day feed if she is not well or unsettled. I am going to have a hysterectomy next week and have been told i have to give up bf. I don’t know if i’m more distraught or if she is. How do i stop????? Please help, she doesn’t seem old enough to understand. PLEASE ANY SUGGESTIONS, i’m running out of time. Will be hospital for 3 to 4 days. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Lauren Stevens says

      2014/06 at 7:53 am

      My son stopped on his own, so I’m putting your question up on the wall, mama — don’t fret! Here is the link to the post with your question: https://www.facebook.com/TheMedianMommy/posts/735348343175228

      Reply
  4. Kelli says

    2015/05 at 7:31 am

    Two years & months. Going strong! Yes she eats and drinks like normal too.. I fill now it’s her bonding thing &/or when she is being very picky and doesn’t want anything that we have fixed to eat, she wants “beebs”

    Reply
    • Lauren B. Stevens says

      2015/05 at 8:29 am

      Well done, mama!

      Reply
  5. amber says

    2015/12 at 5:13 pm

    I dont know if this was suppose to be serious?
    I have one serious tip on when you know your done breastfeeding– when your child weans him or her self.
    My daughter is almost 18months and no signs of stopping any time soon. I wear normal clothes and even fancy push up bras. I will admit I have wished she would wean but Im not going to push her to wean for my selfish reasons. She gets comfort from nursing im not going to take that from her.
    Extended breastfeeding is very beneficial for a toddler so no its not a “sign when your ready to stop breastfeeding” when your toddler can ask to nurse. Things like that is why moms only shoot for a goal of a year and why there are so many people who are ok with infants breastfeeding but think it is wrong after a year is because comments like that.

    Reply
    • Lauren B. Stevens says

      2015/12 at 5:33 pm

      “Completely tongue-in-cheek, here are some signs that you may be ready to stop breastfeeding:” 100% satire — I nursed my son for two years.

      Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. Summer Road Trip Blog Tour | Yoga Pants MafiaYoga Pants Mafia says:
    2014/06 at 7:26 pm

    […] Next on our Summer Road Trip is Lauren, who is a former publishing rep-turned-toddler-wrangler. When she’s not playing Susie Homemaker (and failing miserably), you can find Lauren blogging about all things natural parenting/living at lo-wren.com, sewing or knitting woolen goodies, or scheming for companies as a freelance copywriter, blogger & marketing consultant. Be sure to check out these favorite posts from Lauren Why Mommy Juice Scares the Hell Out of Me and 10 Signs You’re Ready to Stop Breastfeeding. […]

    Reply
  2. Breastfeeding: My Most Rewarding, and Challenging, Feat | Social Dashboard says:
    2014/08 at 1:49 pm

    […] to let Declan lead the way and call all of the shots. When he reached 18 months, I began to develop a wry sense of humor about our breastfeeding relationship, wondering if there ever was to be an end in sight. At 21 […]

    Reply
  3. Breastfeeding: My Most Challenging AND Rewarding Feat - lo-wren says:
    2015/01 at 11:23 am

    […] to let Declan lead the way and call all of the shots.  When he reached 18 months, I began to develop a wry sense of humor about our breastfeeding relationship, wondering if there ever was to be an end in sight.  At 21 […]

    Reply

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Lauren B. Stevens is a former publishing rep-turned-writer, whose work can be found on ChildVantage, The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy and Care.com, among many other websites. When she's not chasing her precocious preschooler, Lauren pens hilarious and heartwarming stories about her life as a mother, ghostwrites blogs for businesses, and sometimes even finds the time to write a bit of creative non-fiction.
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