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Aadhu was exclusively breastfed (till 6 months) and then on-demand until 18 months
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No bottles or formula milk
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Co-Sleeping since Day1
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She only falls asleep while breast feeding. Then I transfer her from lap to bed. Shorter naps or longer naps she never sleeps by any other method. Be it rocking, singing, reading bedtime stories nothing can make her sleep. Hence all her nap times are less than 20 mins. She drinks milk again and then continue her nap on my lap for other few minutes
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Once you have decided to wean then dont keep going back feeding them. It will make the process difficult for both kid & us. Talk to your partner and take their help at nights to comfort the kid and put them back to sleep.
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Keep talking to your toddler atleast a week before and explain them that they have grown bigger, they no longer need milk from breast and instead drink from a glass/tumbler. Aadhu has been drinking water, juice, cow’s milk et al from stainless tumbler since 15 months. Though she didnt understand much I kept explaining & kept repeating it for her
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It took 3 days to stop feeding, to make her forget the routine of going to sleep on breast & 5 more days to get past that sleep regression, waking up at middle of night & crying and atlast to set a routine. Again it might vary from kid to kid
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Pills didnt mess with my menstural cycle. I got my periods as usual and am glad i took the pills..The engorgement pain was bit severe on Day1. It gradually got reduced
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Wear a tight bra
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Do not squeeze milk in hands (or in pump) or keep checking if the secretion has stopped
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Try to have their favorite snacks handy. Reserve one or two special treats for them when they scream madly at nights. In Aadhu’s case I bought Rusks and that were given to her only during midnight not during daytime. This way it made her think that she was given something special instead of breastmilk. Though she resisted eating it on Day 1 she gradually started holding it in one hand and went off to sleep at midnight on Day 2 & Day 3
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It is easier to distract them in the mornings, keep playing with them, give filling dinner & evening snacks. At night they will be super cranky expecting us to feed them. But keep comforting them by hugs & kisses. Keep cuddling them and assure them that bond, securedness is still there.
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Put them on your shoulders, pat them, start singing lullabies and eventually they will sleep off after few minutes/hours.. Day 1 Aadhu slept on me and I dozed off the on my sofa itself.
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When Aadhu woke up at middle of night I kept a small glass of cow’s milk and told her that her special milk is ready for her. She drank it and after crying for few minutes she went back to sleep.
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Remember Day 2 & Day 3 will be the toughest. They will cry their lungs out 🙁 It will be tough for us too but just remember we are doing what is best for both of us.
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No ipads, mobile phones or other gadget based distractions before sleeptime. That will mske them even more crankier. Just keep reading stories, play with them and play mild music or white noise to comfort them while crying.
A rough time schedule that I followed the first three days (Time schedule can vary & kindly adjust based on your kid)
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On Day 4 & Day 5 when Aadhu woke up at midnight I had cut down cow’s milk and just gave her water. She started crying & walking around the house for few minutes. Told her, the treat will be given in the morning
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After resisting few minutes she came back and hugged me and started to sleep
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When she woke up early morning gave her a piece of rusk and water. She slept quietly
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Day 6 & Day 7 : We didnt give water and rusk too. Whenever she woke up I just cuddled her and kept singing lullabies and started telling some stories in husky softer tone, gently patting her back.
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Day 8 she almost slept from 11:30pm to 5:30am.