I don’t normally do product reviews on this blog, but when Bea Lorimer approached me with her book “Learning To Wean” I was thrilled to review it!! It fits right in with where my son and I are in our nursing relationship and I thought it would be the ideal item for me to look at, try out and review. If you have been reading this blog, then you have probably seen my “Journey Through Breastfeeding“ post, which is all about my journey with my son and the methods of “gentle weaning” that I have used to encourage his “child led weaning.” For me personally, I really wanted to let my son lead the way with our nursing relationship, but there have been little things that I have done to “help” us along the way. You can read our whole story here.
Where we are now: My son is 3 years 10 months old. At this point we are nursing on average one time per week or a little less. There have been two times where I thought we had weaned (in April he went 10 days without even asking to nurse and just last week, it had been nearly a month since he had nursed). Both times, just as I thought we were done, he started asking again.
Learning To Wean by Bea Lorimer
The Review: I received the book, Learning To Wean, from the author, Bea Lorimer, a few days ago. I immediately took it out and read it myself. I have since read it three times with my son.
What I like about this book: Learning To Wean is a very simple straight forward book. I like the fact that is has a gender neutral toddler as the main character. “Sam” can easily be Samuel or Samantha. I also like the fact that it helps your child address the emotions that they may be having by talking about sadness and feeling proud. It is an easy read and enjoyable for both mom and child. Another thing I really like is that the author includes a letter with each book. The letter gives you some other resources for weaning including a tip list and it talks about the book and how you can personalize it for your own situation. It is a very nice touch and shows that the author truly cares about your breastfeeding journey and wants to help you wean gently and with love.
Things I might like to change about this book: This is a wonderful book, and there is really only one change I would make if I had my choice. It was written by an author from New Zealand and uses the word “mum” throughout the book. When I read it to my son, I just substitute Mommy or Mom, but if I had the choice, I would rather have an “American English” version of the book that was available for those of us in the States to purchase.
My Recommendation: I think this is an adorable and very useful book for mothers with nursing toddlers who would like assistance in broaching the subject of weaning. My son is older and we have had several conversations about weaning already (as you can see my post on my breastfeeding journey). For us, I think this book would have been more helpful if we had it one or even two years ago. Right now we are at the stage where he often forgets about nursing, so reading this book makes him think about it more and ask more. But when he was two or even in his early threes, it would have been a very helpful way to start talking about the fact that he won’t nurse forever. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a nursing toddler and would like to be able to discuss weaning with their child. Learning To Wean is a very gentle, easy way of talking about this very delicate subject with your nursing toddler.
Bea Lorimer is a mother to a 6 1/2 year old girl. Although her daughter has now weaned, it was a long and interesting process. She is also a La Leche League leader, an artist and this is the first book that she has written. She blogs about the weaning process at All About Weaning and her book can be viewed and purchased at the Learning To Wean website.
ENTER TO WIN!!
Bea has generously donated FIVE copies of her book to be given away to Mommy News & Views Readers. To be entered, please leave a comment sharing your nursing experience and the age of your baby. (this activity is required in order to be eligible to win)
Extra Entries:
You can get extra chances to win a copy of Learning To Wean by doing any or all of the following activities. Please leave a separate comment for each activity so that you will be entered to win. We will be using a random number generator to pick the winner, so be sure to enter a separate comment for each activity:
- Follow @MommyNews on Twitter – leave a comment here telling us that you are a follower. Tweet about the contest up to once per day to earn extra entries. Be sure to include a link to this post in your tweet and leave a comment for each one so that you will get your extra entries!
- Follow this blog – just sign up by clicking the NewsFeed button at the top right corner of our blog and sign up to receive our updates using your favorite reader or enter your email address to receive updates via email. Don’t forget to leave us a comment telling us that you did this.
- Become a Fan of A Mother’s Boutique on facebook. Come back here and leave us a comment letting us know that you signed up!
This contest ends at 5 PM on Monday, June 29th. Enter now and tell your friends to enter too!
I nursed my now 8 yo until she was 3+. Now, I am nursing her little sister, age 2, and know that sometime (too) soon we will begin talking about weaning and I haven’t found any good books out there yet. I look forward to checking this book out as a new resource.
I *so* want to win this book! I’m weaning/nursing my son who just turned 2 a couple of months ago. My big challenge is mainly responding to how it’s perceived by others, and also my own feelings about him grabbing down my shirt when he wants to nurse. It’s starting to feel intrusive. But, I’m trying to just sort of naturally wean him. This book sounds like a great resource.
http://www.moboleez.com/extendedbreastfeeding/
actually, make that 3 – he just turned 3 – I forgot a whole year!! LOL!
Oh, and I followed you on twitter!
and followed the blog on the newsfeed button!
My daughter is 3 years 9 months old and still going strong! If she’d have it her way, she’d nurse morning, noon, and night. She was always an avid nurser, but once her little sister was born 17 months ago, she’s been an even bigger fan.
I’ve been tandem nursing for 17 months, but I’ve really been waiting for her to self-wean. I’m trying my hardest to gently wean her. She’s very understanding and patient, but sometimes when we’re out and about she asks to nurse and throws a fit in front of everyone. I really need to work on putting a stop to that. This book sounds lovely and would really love to check it out.
I am breastfeeding my 2-and-a-half year old and plan to feed her for as long as she wants to. I weaned my elder daughter at 16 months (because I was 5 months pregnant and it was verrrrry uncomfortable with the bump) but I deeply regretted it later. I think this book sounds interesting and very useful — and I *like* the fact that it has a mum in it, because I am Mum. Usually, I’m the one having to translate Mom, so it would be nice not to!
Next, I think she needs to write a book for mothers as well. I’m less worried about my daughter’s feelings at weaning than about mine. I cried last time, but I think it will be very hard this time, knowing this is my last baby!
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I’m subtly starting to wean my daughter, or rather she is weaning me, at 16 months. Its been a stressful time as we’ve been dealing with custody issues. Her dad fought hard, and he gets her for long periods of time. This is one cause of problems leading me to encourage weaning much sooner than I’d anticipated.
Totally would love the book.
Nursing my son is the best thing that I’ve ever done. He is 19 months old and some days it seems he is close to weaning and others he is an enthusiastic nurser. I am still enjoying it for the most part, although there are days I wish it was over.
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I am a follower of yours already.
Elita’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Twinsies!
I am currently tandem nursing my 21mos old and 34mos old toddlers. They both nurse about once a day, and sometimes let a day go by without asking. All of a sudden they started getting jealous when the other asks to nurse and since they are too big to nurse at the same time we’ve been having little fights/tantrums. This book might help them see that they can get love from mommy in other ways and they aren’t losing anything when the other nurses.
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I have three children, the youngest is 2 1/2. I chose the weaning date of my second child because after 1 1/2 years of tandem I needed to stop. I would have loved a book to help. Luckily he wasn’t too bad about it and even now, over a year later, when he asks for a little drink I let him, for the comfort. I believe in child-led weaning so it was a difficult decision. With my 2 1/2 year old I am not eager to end breastfeeding BUT I am open to the fact that in another year, after over 10 years of consecutive breastfeeding, I may want my breasts back. Right now, it’s still wonderful for both of us! And luckily the nighttime feedings have ended and we all get a good night’s rest!
I subscribe via google reader
I am nursing my 18 month old, and would like to wean her around 2 years of age. I already know it is going to be difficult. This book sounds very good.
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I now follow you on twitter. @lavonnelong is my username.
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tweet tweet: http://twitter.com/lavonnelong/status/2218605548
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I am a follower on Twitter. I have a son who is 33 months old and still nursing about twice a day. I also have a 3 month old champion nurser. I’m not in a hurry to wean my oldest, but I would like to work towards it.
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Tweeted!
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I am breastfeeding my now 14 month old son. We had every breastfeeding problem in the book in the beginning. I didn’t get milk until 6 days postpartum so we finger fed in the very beginning and then used a nipple shield until six months but we kept at it and here we are still going strong.
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I am a fan on FB
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Currently nursing my 7 month old, and I nursed my current almost 3 year old until he was 22 months! I might have kept going but I was 3 months pregnant and it was getting to be a bit much for me.
Oh, and I’m already following you on Twitter, I’m “tirree.”
I am nursing my 22 mth old 5+ times a day and would like to start weaning him after he turns 2…but he doesn’t like any milk but Mummmy milk, so he’ll be a boob monster a bit longer
I have 2 children. My first is now 5, and was bottle fed. The baby is 10 months and i am proud to say is nursed exclusively. At this point he is an avid nurser, nursing 10-12 times a day/night. I am enjoying nursing more than I could have ever imagined and hope to continue as long as he wants – meaning weaning around age 3. And when the day comes, I would love to have a wonderful book like this to read to him.
I follow on Twitter
eclairemom
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I am now a Fan on Facebook!
Thanks for visiting our blog Jennifer! My son was an avid nurser too! He was nursing 10-12 times a day at age 12 months. He is now nearly 4 and almost weaned. Thanks so much for sharing your story!!
I am currently nursing a 6 month old and have every intention of child led weaning after “being made to wean” my DS at 8 months. Im looking for great material that will help me prepare for that day! THX for the chance.
Hi Danielle – thanks for visiting our blog!! I’m so sorry you were made to wean your older child. So many moms are given bad advice when it comes to breastfeeding. I hope you browse around our blog to find information that you may find helpful — Judy
My daughter turns 3 next month and is still nursing up a storm. She is no where near ready to wean. I’ll go as long as she wants, but it sure would be nice to be able to wear a regular bra instead of the frumpy nursing bras.
I tweeted!
I’m a fan on facebook
Oh, and I posted the contest on my FB page, too.
My 25-month-old son still loves his na-nas. I don’t think either of us are 100% ready to wean, but I would love to introduce the idea. He still wakes in the night to nurse and I am ready to cut that out. He really loves to read too, so I think having a story about weaning will really work for him.
I breastfed my fist daughter until the eve of her third birthday and I am currently nursing my 26 month old daughter. I am hoping we can wean within a year or so and do it as gently as possible. I would love a child friendly weaning book to help us out in this.
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I follow you on twitter and tweeted the contest.
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I subscribe to your blog too!
Melodie’s last blog post..Foodie Fridays: Fresh Strawberry Pie
I tweeted it again!
Well, first, I already follow you on Twitter (that is how I found out about the review!).
now I’m following your blog…
and I’m now following you on Facebook…. (:
So, with that out of the way…Here is my nursing experience…
I have been BF my toddler for 2 yrs and 4 months. At first, I had goals of weeks, then months and then years. I have to be honest and say that I’m ready to be done around 2.5 yrs (which is why I’m interested in the book).
BF has been wonderful – one my favorite parts of being a mommy. Of course, the first weeks were rough but it continued to get better and better. At 6 mos, I went back to work so I’ve done the working mom and BF experience as well (16 mos of pumping).
I wouldn’t change a thing – BF made me a better mom and I try to share my experiences with anyone I can.
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Whoops – I guess one more:
I RT the contest on Jun 17 (@lorilady) while on vacation no-less!
Nursed my first until nearly 4 yrs. Tamdem nursed for 1.5, and still nursing my second 2 + yrs!
Now following you on twitter! @kblogger
Tweeted about your contest!
My girl is coming 2yo and we are still nursing and at times I feel pressured to wean her cos ofthe surprised looks I get when people ask so what’s she having for milk
I wanna let her lead in the weaning but by the way she is, she isn’t gonna give it upwithout a good fight haha…she still asks for milk at various times of the day, when she’s fussy or cranky or upset or just took a fall, you get the idea 😉 and still wakes at nights :/ 2-3 times at that…while sometimes I think we are so gonna be done with this NOW! and then when she’s nursing, we are happy together and then I think of how much I will miss this when she’s done 
sooooo, anyway, I think such a cool book will be a good starting point to let her know we won’t nurse forever 😉 and she does have a fond liking to books 
such wonderful books are sometimes hard to source for Singapore, Asia 
so fingers crossed for a little good luck in winning this! 
and I’m following you on Twitter , @avalanchelynn
This seems like a great book. I’m stll nursing my 17 mo old at nap and night time and since he’s been weaned off the “paci” its the only way for him to fall back asleep
I am BFing my 17 month old son and i would love to have this book!! it is something i could let him and I read…my plan is to help him understand and when he is ready to wean then so be it…
Well, I can’t tell if this contest is over or not, but I would LOVE this book. my daughter just turned one a week ago, and I’m dealing with cutting one pumping session at work (down to one a day now) and trying the continuous struggle of getting her to sleep most of the night. I’m really at a loss when it comes to getting to that weaning point because I’ve never had to do it before! Anyway, hope I’m still eligible for the drawing…