Training & Weaning

Potty training & breastfeeding weaning, that is. I decided on the last day of March that I was going to attempt both. One is going great & the other…not so much. Which one may surprise you.



Riley is doing great with potty training. GREAT. I’ve attempted to start potty training a couple times before, but I (and Riley) quickly got intimidated. I just felt too overwhelmed at taking on the task, especially with Averly running around as well. And Riley just didn’t seem quite ready either. He wouldn’t want to go in the potty & would rather just wear a diaper.

Well, on that Thursday morning I decided that I was ready to tackle it if Riley was. I told him that the store doesn’t make diapers for him anymore; only for babies like Averly. I put him in big boy underwear & asked him almost constantly if he needed to pee pee (just to remind him so he wouldn’t go in his pants). The first couple of days, despite my constant reminders, he did have 2-3 accidents. But we stuck with it, giving rewards of M&Ms, cookies, or chocolate covered raisins. Those are great incentive for him! I am happy to report that for the last 5 days, he has had ZERO accidents! Even during naps & at nighttime. I had thought for a split second about getting Pull Ups for bed time, but I feel like they would be a set-back because they are basically just diapers in themselves. So, underwear only & he has done great!

I am SO proud of my big boy but can’t believe he is no longer in diapers!!



Now Averly & weaning haven’t gone quite as well. I nursed her to 12 months, which was my goal. But since she turned a year old, I have tried to back off & put her on whole milk only. She does ok until she gets sleepy & wants me to hold her before I put her down for a nap or bedtime. If I am holding her, she wants to nurse. So I can’t really rock her to sleep anymore without a tantrum or her ending up nursing. Luckily though, she does great when I just lay her in her crib. She puts her self to sleep. So I guess rocking her is more for me. I love holding & rocking my babies more than anything so I miss that part when I just lay her in her crib.

Other times she will decide that she needs a quick drink & refuses her sippy cup. The girl just wants her Mama. I usually end up just giving in to satisfy her & avoid a meltdown but I can’t keep doing this forever. I wanted to have her weaned at a year but this is technically my first time to have to wean a baby. Riley just up & decided one day (around 8.5 months old) that he was done breastfeeding & that was that.



So we are working on that gradual weaning process. But for now I’m pleased. I know it will get easier the more I stick to my guns.

And…I have a potty trained child!!!!! Yayyyy!!!!