Once there was a baby born, a princess baby born to rule a (soon to be) suburban kingdom, a princess baby born knowing exactly what this breastfeeding caper was all about. Despite her mother’s small breasts, clumsy hold, grazed nipples and general ignorance and in-expertise, this princess baby simply got on with the job at hand, feeding from the booba.
The princess baby fed morning, noon, quite alot in the evening and through the night. She grew and grew. Before long she no longer woke to feed at night, much to the relief of her weary parents. But still she fed morning, noon and quite alot in the evening.
The princess baby grew and grew and before long it was time for her to start eating real food which she truly enjoyed but still her favourite feeding time was booba time. Morning, noon and quite alot in the evening.
The princess baby grew and grew and started to walk and blew out her first birthday candle and still she breastfed morning, noon and a bit less now in the evening. One by one her baby and toddler friends had moved on from the comfort of their mother’s milk but still this princess baby fed morning, noon and evening.
One day when the now princess toddler was seventeen months old, her Mummy and Daddy thought it was time for her to give up her daytime feed. But despite her Daddy’s patience and her Mummy’s tears the princess toddler was not ready and would not have a bar of this weaning business. She became crotchety and emotional and refused to sleep and so weaning was abandoned for the moment and it was back to booba, morning, noon and evening.
Three months later her parents tried again. This time they thought it might be easier for their little toddler princess to go without her morning booba so they simply changed her morning routine every so slightly and to their amazement it worked. Instead of getting out of her cot in the morning and having a breastfeed in bed with her Mummy before snuggles and stories, the princess toddler enjoyed a cup of milk and morning stories on the couch. And she was perfectly fine. In fact, this time not one tear was shed by either princess toddler or (more surprisingly), her mother.
And yet still the princess toddler continued to feed from her beloved booba every noon and evening.
Three months on and her now somewhat, just a tiny, little bit wiser parents decided to try again to wean the princess toddler, this time from her evening bedtime feed. They talked to the princess about the fact that she would soon enjoy a birthday with two candles and as such a big girl she had many friends who did not drink from their mother’s boobas. Once again the parents changed the routine to assist with weaning; instead of bath, pjs, stories with her Daddy in her bedroom, into sleeping bag, breastfeed and then settled in her princess cot, the new routine saw the princess toddler have a bath, then dress in both her pjs and sleeping bag, before her Mummy says goodnight and she enjoys stories with Daddy while they she drinks a little cup of milk, and then she settles in her cot.
The princess toddler grizzled for a moment or two the first few nights and took quite a bit longer, and her Daddy’s help, to settle to sleep to begin with but now she is fine.
The princess toddler still enjoys a short booba drink before her noontime nap and giving this one up will be the true test of her parents weaning ability but for now the little family are happy in their kingdom and rest in the knowledge that it can be done. Slowly and thoughtfully and considerately, when everyone is ready.
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
Christie you have described this so beautifully and with so much love. Big question…will the final success happen before or after the second birthday. I think the King and Queen have done wonderfully well in caring for their special Princess. I hope you will all be really happy in your new castle. xxxx
I loved how you told this as "princess" baby and the "castle." So cute! And that cupcake topper? Awesome!
I loved how you told this as "princess" baby and the "castle." So cute! And that cupcake topper? Awesome!
Awwww, this made me remember when I weaned my daughter… I'd hoped to go longer, but after 14+ months, she was D-O-N-E! I'm jealous that your princess wanted no part of the weaning process; this mommy didn't either!
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
I loved this post – it gave me a little smile 🙂
I'm laughing right now. This was so my niece. My sister had the hardest time weaning her. My little buglet, on the other hand, literally cheered the morning I walked into his room with a cup of milk rather than offering to nurse.
Beautifully told! I've heard it from all sides, from those who had trouble nursing and ended up weaning earlier than one or both would have liked, through to those who ended up in a weaning battle. There were bumps certainly, but overall I think I was lucky and all three of mine weaned when we were both ready. But I wish all experiences could be like yours, slowly and as a lovely part of growing up. I'm also glad to see that you were able to replace one bonding time with another; that was important to me, and I think it really helped us both!
I really appreciated your comment, "Slowly and thoughtfully and considerately, when everyone is ready." That's quite a wise statement and a very helpful reminder. It's very easy to rush things, rather than taking things slowly and thoughtfully. Thank you!
Great story, very well written 🙂