Book review: The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning, and a copy to give away.

*To learn how to win a copy of this book, see the directions at the bottom of this post.

A friend of mine who grew up on a farm once told me how she knew that their cats' kittens were being weaned.  One day, she said, the kittens would try to nurse, and the mother cat would just start batting them away.  That was it. 

For us humans, weaning is often quite a bit more complicated.  How do you know when the time is right?  Should you do it gradually?  What if you can't?  What if your baby or toddler shows signs of distress?  What do you use to fill the nutritional and/or emotional space that weaning occupied?  How will you feel after you've weaned?  If you don't want to wean but feel you must, what are some ways of keeping the nursing relationship going?

The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning (Kathleen Huggins and Linda Ziedrich, Harvard Common Press, 2007, 2nd ed.) is a book for mothers who want to spend some time thinking and exploring the process of weaning.

The introduction to the book provides a history of weaning practices in the Western world.  This walk through weaning history may be more than most mothers might need, but those with a broader interest in breastfeeding will find it fascinating. 

The main section of the book is divided into chapters tailored to the age of the baby at weaning, from infants to age three and beyond.  This is helpful in that the issues are quite different depending upon the age of the child at weaning.  Each of these sections concludes with several color-tabbed pages of the nitty gritty practical information a mother needs.

A good portion of the book is devoted to trouble-shooting problems that might lead a mother to wean before she wants to.  For mothers exploring the idea or on the fence about weaning, these sections may prove quite helpful.  If a mother has already made the decision to wean, this emphasis may be a bit troubling.  There is an interesting section at the end of the book - a post-weaning epilogue of sorts - that discusses life after weaning.  The authors write that there is little written about the physical and emotional changes mothers experience after breastfeeding is concluded, but I still found their discussion very interesting.

This is the second edition of this book, and in addition to some attractive graphic changes, the book has been made easier to read by highlighted boxes which summarize main points, and color coded pages of practical information.

Not everyone needs to read an entire book about weaning, but for mothers who want to explore the idea in depth and get detailed practical advice, The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning is a good investment.

I have a copy of this book to give away.  To enter to win it, please leave a comment below by the end of the day on May 25th.  I'll pick a winner randomly and notify you by email if you've won.  Please remember to use a "real" email address so I can contact you.  U.S. addresses only, please.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed?  Click here.

Comments

[Leah]

I would be interested in a copy. :)

[Heather]

We're not ready to wean yet, but this sounds like a great resource! Thanks for the giveaway!!

[Jenn]

What a nice giveaway! I'd love to win this book.

[N]

My daughter is 11 months old, and she's been into biting while nursing lately. I think of it as a challenge to get through and I have no plans to stop breastfeeding in the near future, but several family members have said, "Maybe it's a sign that you should stop breastfeeding!"

This comment makes me CRAZY, but I have also started to think about how to transition from 5-6 feedings/day to fewer as she gets older. This book would be a great resource!

[Jen H.]

This looks like a very interesting and helpful book. I would love to have a chance at winning it; otherwise I'll see if I can get a copy from the library. I don't think my daughter and I are anywhere near weaning but I'm sure it will happen eventually.

[Darra]

This book sounds very interesting. I have nursed my baby for 6 months now, and don't have any idea about when would be a good age to wean--but I don't think I want to nurse a toddler since I have to pump at work. Maybe this book would help me decide when and how to wean with minimal upset to the baby and myself.

[Beth]

Tanya -
How funny that you should post this!!! Bailey Page is 14 months now, and everyone keeps asking me when I am going to stop breastfeeding. UGH!! Why can't they just mind their business?! I know that eventually I am going to have to wean her, but I din't know how, or when. I am also wondering ( I know it sounds selfish) how I amgoing to cope emotionally with weaning because for 14 months that has been "OUR" time, you know? I was actually going to E-mail you about this, and see what your advice would be because I value your advice - you haven't steered me wrong yet-but then I saw this blog! I swear, it is like the planets have aligned or something......

[Gina]

I feel like weaning would have been so much easier before my daughter could talk! Julia is 22 months, and I've just been trying to cut out our nursing session after her nap. She'll have none of it-- she says, "NO, I NEED MY MAMA's MILK NOW!" I definitely could use some strategies for weaning a nursing-obsessed toddler.

[Jess]

Sounds like a great book. I'd sure be interested in a copy. . .
Part of me would like to nurse my 11 month old forever, but another part of me is starting to imagine life after nursing. But like most of the commenters, I have no idea even how to begin weaning. My baby is quite a heavy nurser.

[Ann Siegle]

Wean? I have to wean her? No, seriously, 14 months along, I have moved my target date from 12 months, to 18 to 24, to... kindergarten? She's my first, my last, my miracle baby after many miscarriages. Breastfeeding is the one thing we got right! And I have to wean? WAAH! I want to know how it'll be for both of us - and if I'm holding on to our special 'nee' time because of my wants...or her needs?

[Meleah]

We are still going strong at almost 16 months. Breastfeeding my twins has been and continues to be one of the best experiences of my life. I don't know when we will wean, but I am going to be sure to have a copy of this book when we do. Thanks for offering this great giveaway.

[Katrina]

Seeing as how my baby isn't even born yet, I have a long time before I'll need to worry about weaning, but this book sounds fascinating.

[tanya@motherwearblog]

Darra,

Just want to point out, as someone who pumped at work and nursed into toddlerhood, that at a certain point (at a year, maybe?) you won't have to pump at work even if your toddler is nursing at home.

When toddlers are nursing they're often fine with cows' milk and solid foods during the day and nursing when you're home, so you wouldn't have to pump at work.

Just my two cents!

- Tanya

[tanya@motherwearblog]

Ann,

No, you don't have to wean until you and your daughter are good and ready! I really think that we all know when the time is right, and it sounds like it's nowhere in the near future for you guys!

And I have to say that, while people and certain (ahem) companies can make you feel like you're nursing because *you* want to, let's just imagine for a second trying to nurse a baby or toddler who didn't want to. See? I've worked with a lot of babies who didn't want to nurse for a variety of reasons, and I can say with certainty that you cannot force a child to nurse. If your baby or toddler is nursing, it's because he or she wants to, not because you want him/her to.

So keep pushing that date back as far as you want! :)

Tanya

[Amy]

My 19-month-old daughter and I are down to one nursing session a day, but I don't know when or how to give up that final feeding. I do know that I'm not ready, but everyone else seems to be! (Their vote doesn't count, though.) After five years of trying and eventually conceiving through ivf/icsi, I'm very saddened by the thought that our last nursing session could be the last time I ever nurse. It's been such a beautiful bonding experience, and one of my personal greater achievements since we started out with prematurity, lack of weight gain, and latch issues, followed by my own Graves' Disease diagnosis and subsequent treatment (I was told I had to wean my then four-month-old immediatly before beginning medication. I switched endocrinologists immediately instead!) I do not usually have a "stick-with-it" attitude so I'm proud to have made it 19 months so far. This book sounds like it contains lots of great weaning advice, and especially lots of help with the emotional ramifications.

[Ewokmama]

I would love a copy of the book. I'm contemplating weaning in the near future. I've established some limits to nursing over recent months but am unsure what to do from here.

[Jeannette]

I nursed my firstborn through my second's pregnancy. As the milk supply dwindled she nursed only two times a day--before nap and before bedtime. When my second was born it was a rough transition. My firstborn wanted to nurse and I wanted to oblige her but I did not enjoy tandem nursing. We got to the point where I would count to ten and we would be done. She pretty much stopped nursing at 2-1/2, but it was a rough end (she still--at 2.75 y/o--occasionally asks for a sip and I try to oblige) and I hope to do it differently with my son, even though we are hoping to get pregnant when he's a little over 1 y/o. This book sounds like a great resource! Thanks!

[janya]

I just borrowed this from my LLL library. My son is only 10 months old and I hope we have a long nursing relationship. I started reading this because I am curios about the process that lies ahead for us. I will need to return my copy at the next meeting, so would love to own one for when it's time to put it into practice.

Thank you!

[Tabitha]

Wow, after reading all those comments, I don't feel like i have anything to say that hasn't already been said! The book seems like it would be a terrific resourse- my son is only 8 months old, and I'm already getting funny looks for still nursing him... oh, and the "when are you going to switch to formula?" question- I hate that one!! How about NEVER!! If I don't win- and there are a lot of deserving Moms leaving comments, so it would be okay if I don't- this will go on my birthday wish list. :-)

[Kim]

A free book-- fun! ;-)
We have the BFing book and love it.

[Märia]

Looks interesting, my DD is only 6 months, but already I have no idea what to do at a year

[Amy]

I would like to receive a copy. Mitchell is 18 months and still going strong. I would love to hear perspectives on when to wean and how it affects different ages.

[Averi the MilkMaker]

This would be an interesting read for me. I was leaning towards child led weaning with my DS now (2 1/2) like I did with my DD (who weaned at 2yrs 8mths) but he shows absolutely no interest in giving up his "nunu". I figure he'll be off mine and onto someone elses by the time he gets married. :) But this book may help open my eyes.

[Rachel Giordano]

This book sounds great! I'd love to donate it to our local La Leche League's library!

[ASO]

I recently weaned my daughter rather suddenly and unexpectedly. It didn't feel like weaning...it was much like how the cats do it (without the batting). If there is a next time, I'd love to have a book like this to read up on...

[Misti]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and nursing my 2Y5MO. While I'm not ready to wean, I am very interested in the history of mother-led weaning and the emotional aspects of the aftermath. :)

[Kristin]

My baby had to stay in the hospital for 10 days after he was born, drinking breast milk out of a bottle. Getting him to nurse took perseverance and I never thought I'd be interested in a book about weaning. He is 19 months old now and I am interested in cutting back slowly and want it to be a positive experience. Thanks for the review.

[jess]

As someone who is in the process of applying to be a La Leche League leader, i've recently become familiar with this title. My daughter is 11 months old, and I see no end in sight to nursing (though I go back and forth as to when I will quit pumping). But I would love to read this book for good advice on the process of weaning, and to be able to give others well-researched tips and perspective.

[Becky]

Thank you for featuring this book as I need some help. I am facing weaning from pumping at work in the next few months and substituting cow milk and food but keeping up the nursing at home like you describe above Tanya. You promise I will still have milk to give at night and on demand during weekends?

This book would be a great resource. I will be checking to see if the library has a copy that I can borrow for a little while :)

[Jessica Knight]

I am also interested. I'm about to give birth to my second and wondering how weaning the first (whenever that happens) will go.

[andrea]

I too, am loving nursing. After 3 months it's become much easier and a pure delight most times. I can't imagine weaning, but it's just my thing to read about the process and then figure out how to do it best for us as a family. Thanks for the opportunity to WIN!

[Kansas Mom]

Tanya,

I thought you'd be interested in this article about nursing in the wake of the earthquake in China:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/22/
china.breastfeed/index.html

(I broke up the address to make sure it would appear in the comments. Just combine the lines in the address bar.)

[Annie]

I'd love to read this book (win a copy?), sounds interesting. My daughter is almost 2 and still enjoying being a nursling.

[Wendy]

Sounds like a very helpful book - both personally and professionally. I too still breastfeed my miracle baby at 18 months old. He almost weaned himself last month and I felt like a forced him to continue because I wasn't ready to end the relationship. He now asks for it again (brings the boppy to me to let me know he wants to nurse) but I know it may be soon that he is done. I am a family physician who delivers babies and cares for both moms and babies. I find many of my patients are happy but suprised to here I am still nursing. The book sounds great to give them advice on weaning. Your blog is great (both personally and professionally :) ).

[Meg Pearce]

I am an intern with the Lactation and Childbirth Education Unit at a large hospital and will be holding a few World Breastfeeding Week events in July/August. We are planning to give prizes to many new mothers who are on WIC and other government programs, and this would be a great item for a new breastfeeding mom, who would otherwise not be able to get it!

[Julie]

I'm getting ready to consider weaning as my son is almost 2. He's down to a nursing before bed & first thing in the morning. This would be a great guide to have to help us along.

[gusmom]

thanks for the review! some days my 15 month old shows signs of weaning (only nursing to sleep) & others he wants to nurse seemingly all the time, so weaning has been on my mind a lot lately.

[jaime zee]

i had to wean my first before i was ready due to complications with my 2nd pregnancy. would love a chance at winning this book. thanks!!

[Kat]

Although Nate recently self weaned I had been unsure how to go about it if the need should arise (I'm pregnant again, so you never know) for me to wean him. I'd be interested to read this book and to share it with clients as well.

Kat

[Stacy N]

We are about to start "highly encouraging" our almost-2-year-old to wean this summer, so I would love to get the book. This would be very timely.

[Kerrie]

This book sounds like something I have been searching for. I have the one from La Leche League on weaning. As my daughter who is now 9 months old approaches her first birthday, I need to wean her so I can do a embryo transfer for IVF. Because of the hormones I have to take, I am unable to continue nursing. I would like the transition to go easy for both of us. I hope the book can give me some good ideas.

[Tara]

Thank you for this opportunity! I am a breastfeeding peer counselor and this book would be a welcomed addition to our library. I am currently nursing my almost-2-year-old with no end in sight! While I'm not ready to wean until he is (I think!), this book could give me some excellent info for helping other mothers who have reached their breastfeeding goals.

[Maria]

I'm not sure how I missed this post the first time around, but in three days, we will celebrate 18 months of nursing without supplementing with cow's milk or formula at any time. I stopped pumping around 15 months, but we continue to nurse when together. I love it. He loves it. All around, lots of love!