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Home › Expert Q&A › Weaning Issues › Should I wean my daughter before I go away for a week?

Expert Q&A

 

By Melissa Clark Vickers
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn.

I have a 26-month-old still nursing and am leaving in three weeks for a week with out her. Should I try weaning her now or let it be a BIG surprise, since I never leave her more than a day?

This is not the kind of surprise a 26 month old is likely to enjoy! Having both mom and the major food source disappear all of a sudden could be very upsetting to a young child like this. Some questions for you to consider:

  1. Are you ready to wean, or are you hoping she might still be willing to nurse when you get back?
  2. Is she ready to wean? How often does she nurse? Does she nurse at night or just during the day? Can she be distracted easily?
  3. Is this trip one that could be postponed, or could you take your daughter with you, perhaps with another adult who could care for her when you couldn't but still allow you to continue to nurse her?

If you are both ready to wean anyway, it would be better to gradually cut down on feedings until the trip. Make sure she's comfortable with whoever is going to be caring for her in your absence. The caregiver will need to know her well enough to know how to comfort her without nursing!

If your daughter is not ready to wean, this could be a very difficult week for you both. She won't understand where you've gone or when you'll be back. Some 2-year-olds can handle this kind of separation, whereas others simply can't. You don't mention the purpose of the trip, so only you can decide whether it is necessary that the trip happen right now, and if so, whether bringing your baby along is even an option.

If you go, and if she is still nursing a lot right now, you may need to plan some way of removing some of your milk while you are gone. If you plan to continue to nurse when you get back, then you need to try to pump (using a good electric pump) as often as she normally nurses to maintain your supply. If you don't plan to continue nursing, you may need to pump periodically -- just enough to relieve any pressure that may build up from milk that is still being produced. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for a nasty breast infection. You wouldn't need to worry about saving and storing the milk.

If there is time before you go, you could begin pumping now so your caregiver would have some of your milk to give your daughter while you are gone. This familiar flavor might be of some comfort for her.

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