Weaning: Hard for Baby, or Me?

Weaning: Hard for Baby, or Me?


I took a small break from Everything Green Home blog to wean my baby from the breast. Well, I didn't actually mean to take a break, but something peculiar happened. Baby took right away to the bottle. He had no trouble adjusting to the medical grade silicone nipple.

The problem arose for me rather than him. I found I began to have what I assume is labeled "the baby blues." Suddenly, I was a bit downcast for no apparent reason. I kept thinking, "He's never going to nurse again." I was highly unmotivated.

This was peculiar since I had anticipated a bursting forth of my new found freedom from the constant demands of nursing. And yet, that was not what happened at all. I was sad to see this stage of bonding between me & Baby coming to an end. To add further injury, Baby seemed to be utterly disinterested with the breast and even seemed to prefer the bottle. Oh, woe is me!

Now that stage act is over and we are both right back on track. Also, I love my Green to Grow Bisphenol A-Free & Phthalate-Free bottles. I have no worries about plastic leaching when I pop a ready made bottle in the microwave in the middle of the night. Next big adjustment, sleep through the night...

Does the Bottle Indicate Neglect?

Does the Bottle Indicate Neglect?

Breastfeeding versus bottle feeding study shows bottle fed infants more likely to be neglected. This statement created quite a stir in the mommy world when it was mentioned last week on Eco Child's Play blog. The core issue, I believe, isn't bottle versus breast at all. Rather, neglect in general. Bottles were only introduced fairly recently in comparison to the history of mankind. Neglect, on the other hand, has been an issue for all of history.

The Bible says, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you" (Isaiah 49:15 NKJV).

This isn't a scripture to bash nursing mothers, but exemplifies the least likely candidate for neglect, a nursing mother. The flip side to this is that every woman has a free will and can choose to neglect or not to neglect; the bottle isn't the determining factor. Even according to this study, the chemical oxytocin, produced in the brain by animal studies during breastfeeding (and presumably humans), doesn't completely eliminate neglect; the study showed even a percent of nursing mothers neglected their children.

The wonderful thing is this: Even though the least likely candidate for neglect, the nursing mother, can forget her child, God will not forget us.

Mothers choose how they treat their babies; parents in general choose how they treat their babies. If you are a parent researching the best home environment, the most healthy and natural way to raise your child, how to avoid exposing your baby to unnecessary toxins, and doing all the neurotic research you can imagine, then the fact that you are putting in so much time regarding the upbringing of your child indicates your concern. Therefore, in my mind, your concern in action greatly reduces the risk of neglect.

I wanted to comment on this subject because I am a happy breastfeeding mother, but I do not find it appropriate to belittle or insinuate a mother that bottle feeds is not a good mother.

Sure, breastfeeding is an amazing bond for infant and mother, but can you think of all the other amazing bonding moments parents can share with their children?

Breastfeeding with Teeth

A little dramatic, I know. Thank you, Tina Keller for the use of the picture.

Okay, so this title sounds like OUCH to me! My son's two front teeth just came in and he's only 4 ½ months old. So far he has not put me through the chomp but I imagine it would be painful if he decided to start biting. How do you stop a little one from biting? Thus far, I noticed he will start to pull or tug if he's done eating and still at the breast. To avoid the teething response of the clamp-down, I remove him from the breast before he tries anything new. Any suggestions from a seasoned mother?

My baby's MD recommends 6 months of alone Breastfeeding before introducing any other foods. But now with the appearance of the teeth, I'm wondering about the 6 months. My ultimate goal is to breastfeed for 1 year. I knew his teeth would arrive eventually, but not so soon. I'm just getting the hang of all this sleep walking, breastfeeding stuff and now potentially hazardous weapons have been added into the equation.

I love breastfeeding. Not only is it an amazing bond between baby and mother, it also gives baby the perfect nutrients needed at each stage in development. It is the most healthy, natural and green way to feed baby. I love it too for more selfish reasons: quick, easy, pre-made, perfect temperature and no clean up. Also, no stinky poops in his cloth diapers! When the other foods are introduced, here come the stinky-stinkies.

If he decides to start biting, I will have to figure out this breast pump contraption and feed him from a BPA-free bottle. Besides, that would make date night with husband a whole lot simpler.

More on the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding later. For now, any Breastfeeding with Teeth stories to share?