Saturday, May 2, 2009

Where do we go from here?

Beanie is almost 2. When we move into our new house the plan is to try and slowly transition her to her own bed, a twin bed. I miss sleeping (and I'm really just talking sleeping) with Glenn. I know he thinks I don't, but I do. I have only been doing what I've thought was best for Beanie. And having her all the way across the house in a baby jail (read crib) wasn't best. Nursing her at night was best for our nursing relationship. However, now that she's almost 2 I am ready to be done with the night nursing. There, I said it. I'm not quite ready to be done nursing all together, but I am over the night wakings to nurse. I am conflicted on whether to go about transitioning her to her own bed and stopping night nursing all at once. Seems like a lot of change for a young kid. When we were at the condo she was doing pretty well and I was only nursing her once at about 4am. Now she is waking multiple times (better than when we first got to the rental though) and I am afraid that will start when we move into our house as well. Maybe I will try to cuddle her back to sleep, while still co-sleeping when we move into the house? I don't know. I honestly want to make it as easy as possible for everyone.

I'm also ready to be done with her grabbing at my boobs and lifting up my shirt all afternoon long. I know it was just a phase, but boy oh boy she was driving me nuts with all her antics for a couple weeks there. Now I tell her no and offer some sort of distraction. She is smart though. she knows that I nurse her down for naptime and bedtime, so she has resorted to trying to tell me she's sleepy when I tell her no boobies. I'm not so easily fooled. She seems to be doing pretty well with the offering cow's milk or distraction and I'm glad its working. She can't just be going for and pinching my boobs all day when she wants to nurse. Its all about boundaries so we are both happy.

I'm just trying to wrap my head around all this and figure out a plan of attack. I know I plan to gate off the hallway and put a baby lock on the 3rd bedroom door so if she wakes she can only come to the master. I will probably use the monitor for awhile because I don't know how well I'll hear her. I'm actually okay if she wants to come to bed with me after Glenn leaves for work, but we'll see how that goes. I'm still trying to figure out if that is a possibility or if she needs the rigidity of being in her own bed all night long. As for nursing, I have no problem nursing her before nap and bedtime past her 2nd birthday. I do plan on weaning all other nursing sessions though. I don't think that's unreasonable and I think it will lead to more happiness with the relationship on my part.

4 comments:

  1. OMG Kirsten. I applaud you for going this far with nursing. You are amazing.

    I totally understand where you are coming from regarding having her sleep in her own bed. I am so ready to have Brandon do the same too. He just moves too much at night. JC and I usually ends up being kicked or slapped in the face, which I might add is not very pleasant at 2am in the morning. I just don't know how to go about it. I am afraid that he'll sleep with us until he is 21 years old, lol.

    Let me know when you plan on transitioning and how.

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  2. Kristen
    I think it is awesome that you have nursed for so long. You are amazing

    Please definitely tell me know how the transition goes. Abhinav still prefers to sleep with me. The thrashing about and stealing blankets is getting old too.

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  3. Kristen, I have absolutely no insight or advice on this, since I'm neither nursing nor cosleeping. But, I really wanted to chime in and say how much I admire you for keeping up your nursing relationship. I say this with a great deal of "wist" (that's what I always think "wistful" would be as a noun. I suppose I could just say "wistfulness" but that is so long) because I really wish I could have made nursing work out with Jack, instead of mostly pumping. How I would love to have that extra contact! But, I can see why you'd want to maintain just pre-sleep nursings now that Alexa's going to turn two. I just think you're amazing, though, for keeping up with nursing this long. I am determined to make it a success with baby #2. I am praying that he doesn't have a tongue tie like Jack. Anyway, I will be coming to you for advice for sure. I know this time, having had the wisdom from Jack, that no matter what there will be hiccups in the road as we establish our nursing relationship, and I sure could use encouragement! It is really difficult for me to imagine that I could be successful at nursing after my experience with Jack, but I'm going to tell myself that I can do it!

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  4. Beverly, you can do it! And you can bombard me with as many questions as you want :) I'd love to help out if I can.

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