What is self weaning, sorry if I'm beeing dim....

[GoodGollyMissMolly]

I've read it so many times on here and I don't know what it is, please tell me.

TIA

It is when a mum decides NOT to actively wean a Baby from the Breast but to wait for her child to wean of themselfs...

Do you mean baby led weaning, Molly?

That's different from self weaning. You can get info on baby led weaning on the weaning board - it means more emphasis on self-feeding with finger foods, and dispensing with purees, slop and spoons.

3andnomore, so the DC just stops when they no longer want breast milk, is that it? (Sorry dim day today) how old do they usually do that at?

Tiktok, thats another one that I need to know about, do you just put a selection of different finger foods in front of them and let them go for it.

BTW I don't need this yet as DD is only 8 and a half weeks old, but I like to be prepared.

Thanks for replying.

Miss Molly - lots of info on baby led weaning at www.babyledweaning.com

Self-weaning from the breast can happen at any age, often between 2 and 4 yrs I think, but some children will go on for longer.

my eldest daughter self weaned at 11 months. She had been spending less and less time feeding and it was more and more of an effort to get her to latch on then one morning she just wouldn't - just wanted to play. It was my birthday and I cried and cried! Now of course I know this was an early example of her character - that girl is always only going to do things her way!

A few links re child-weaning from the breast:
www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning_intro.html
www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/how_weaning_happens.html
www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/babyselfwean.html
www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/toddlernursing.html#selfwean
www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVMarApr87p23.html

Thanks Mae and terramum I will take a look at that links.

Northernlurker I bet it is heartbreaking when they self wean, but as you say you DD sound like she knows what she wants

It is hard - but it's also really good 'cos you know you've really done things to their timetable not yours - and that is satisfying

Whilst in our society it probably isn't that rare that a Baby under 1 self weans from the breast, it tends to be other issues than not wanting breastmilk anymore that contribute to it...! My youngest selfweaned at 13 month, but it had probably to do with his love of his dummie...