2 Years 3 Months: We have weaned!
We sort of plunged into this after being wishy-washy about it since she turned two, but I'm happy to report that it took her three days to get used to it, and on the fourth day she stopped complaining. Now it's been more than a week and she has settled into her new routine.
I was hesitant about when to start this because she seemed so attached to me, and I was hoping she'd magically just get over it (baby-led weaning) but there were some telltale signs that she'd be okay with it:
1. She can comprehend certain concepts and will actually follow once told something. Like, "don't do this."
2. She can be talked into delaying something she wants to do, because of whatever reason. "Can you wait a few minutes?"
3. She can be bargained with. "I'll give you the thing if you eat this first."
So with all of these things already happening, the next step was to employ all of them in the weaning. And it worked! The first day wasn't so difficult. It was the second day when she protested the loudest (probably realizing that this was it, and that yesterday wasn't a fluke), and by the third day she had moved to a self-pity strategy. But now she's fine, and a new routine has been established.
Freedom! Heehee.
I was hesitant about when to start this because she seemed so attached to me, and I was hoping she'd magically just get over it (baby-led weaning) but there were some telltale signs that she'd be okay with it:
1. She can comprehend certain concepts and will actually follow once told something. Like, "don't do this."
2. She can be talked into delaying something she wants to do, because of whatever reason. "Can you wait a few minutes?"
3. She can be bargained with. "I'll give you the thing if you eat this first."
So with all of these things already happening, the next step was to employ all of them in the weaning. And it worked! The first day wasn't so difficult. It was the second day when she protested the loudest (probably realizing that this was it, and that yesterday wasn't a fluke), and by the third day she had moved to a self-pity strategy. But now she's fine, and a new routine has been established.
Freedom! Heehee.