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Expert Q&A
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| By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant | ||
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My daughter wants to wean her 25-month-old son, and wants me to be the one to put him to sleep, etc. as he is only used to feeding to sleep. Is this even feasible? I feel it is substituting one ""thing"" for another."
Your daughter has had a loving nursing relationship with your grandson for over two years. It may be difficult for both of them to end this easily. She is asking you to step in and offer him love and comfort as he learns to go to sleep without nursing. Perhaps he will settle down with a rock, a song, a backrub, or just being with him. Would you feel comfortable in helping him take this step towards independence? He is used to two things as he falls asleep: comforting and nursing. She has decided to remove the nursing step, but does not want to remove both steps at the same time. She would like him to still feel comforted. She would still like him to look forward to his ""falling to sleep"" time. If you decide to help her, it may still take a while for him to adjust, but he will adjust with loving guidance toward sleep. Perhaps the two of you should talk this over further, and discuss what it is she would like your role to be, and then decide if you want to be part of her plans.
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