* This is a new copy. When counseling breastfeeding families who ask How Weaning Happens, author Diane Bengson says, "Gradually, with love." She answers the many questions she's seen hundreds of families bring up through her years as a La Leche League Leader and wrapped her own as well as their personal experiences into her book How Weaning Happens. She covers social and cultural differences among the breastfeeding families, pressures to wean, natural weaning and various other reasons to wean. She also writes about the physical and emotional changes of mother and child in a nursing relationship. Weaning is the first complete book on the topic from LLLI, though the organization has a number of shorter publications on the subject.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
"Other LLL books help mothers get started and continue the breastfeeding relationship through various circumstances," said LLLI Director of Publications Judy Torgus. "Weaning, however, answers their questions about how that relationship will end. We are thrilled to be able to offer an entire book on the topic for all nursing families."
"Knowing and understanding the weaning process is as significant to a mother as her initial decision to breastfeed her child," said Torgus. "Therefore, LLLI has come full circle after more than 40 years in the business with its new book."
From the Author
"Weaning can be a bittersweet thing," said Bengson. "It's the closing of a certain part of a relationship, but it doesn't necessarily have to be negative."
"Breastfeeding is actually a way to build independence within the child because the child outgrows the need. Now doctors recognize the benefits of breastfeeding for a year, but research shows there's nothing harmful in longer nursing and that there's actually benefits to it."
"The topic of weaning comes up at La Leche League meetings, and I always thought it would be nice to have a book available to give mothers some insight," said Bengson, who has learned a multitude of gentle and supportive ways to assist mothers through weaning.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
68 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Wonderful book whose focus is allowing the toddler to determine when he wants to wean, which is also termed "child-led" weaning. Explains benefits of toddler nursing and how the toddler does stop nursing when the NEED to nurse is no longer present! Many stories and quotes from mothers who have "been there and done that"--something that I especially like. Easy to read and informative. Nice for mothers who nurse a toddler, such as myself, to read what may be in store for us in the future and wonder how the weaning process may go for us when that day comes. I learned that every toddler weans in a different way. Great book on subject material that is hard to come by despite the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that breastfeeding should continue until at least 12 months of age and beyond so long as mutually desirable by mother and child.
91 of 96 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Knowing how and when to wean your baby from nursing can be a difficult and emotional experience. Reading How Weaning Happens, published by La Leche League, can be of great assistance.
This book is written from a pro-nursing perspective and is more of a primer about why you should continue nursing book, than it is a "how to wean" guide. If you know that before you purchase the book, then you probably won't be disappointed.
The book is broken down into helpful chapters, such as thinking about weaning, stories of natural weaning, weaning because of medical advice, and gently encouraging weaning, just to name a few.
Throughout each of the chapters there are a number of mini-stories, written by real mothers who share their personal experiences, of how they weaned or, in some cases how they decided not to wean.
How Weaning Happens is a book that is best suited for a mother who is not sure if she is ready to wean, and is looking for support to continue breastfeeding.
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By W. Overton
Format:Paperback
This book is about how a child will eventually wean himself--NOT how you can wean your child. It provides support to a mother as she nurses her growing child--both to help the mother understand the child's needs and to help her "fend off" well-meaning onlookers who don't understand the mother's choice to let the child decide on when to wean.
Do not buy this book for help on how YOU can wean your child--you'll probably be disappointed. However, the book does give good advice on when you as a mother may want to set some boundaries regarding nursing your young child.This was one of the main benefits I received from the book.
I wanted to let my daughter nurse as long as she wanted and then let her wean when she decided to wean. We usually nursed at bedtime, nap time and other times of the day when she was in need of comfort and love. However, I began noticing the bedtime/naptime nursing sessions started to backfire on us. Instead of drifting off to a blissful sleep like she did when she was an infant, a few minutes of nursing was all she needed to regain her energy. She'd be up for another hour while I struggled to get her to sleep.
So, I instituted "nursing boundaries" at about 16 months. She was allowed to nurse whenever she wanted, just NOT at naptime and bedtime. My intent was not to wean her--the nursing boundaries were a loving way to help us avoid battles over bedtime. The result? Although given free access to nurse anytime except before sleep, my daughter decided to wean herself by 18 months. I offered, but she wasn't interested. Life was much too exciting by then to her to be slowed down by nursing.
Bottom line:
*Buy this book if you want to let your child wean himself.
*Don't buy this book if you want to stop nursing.... Read more ›
Do not buy this book for help on how YOU can wean your child--you'll probably be disappointed. However, the book does give good advice on when you as a mother may want to set some boundaries regarding nursing your young child.This was one of the main benefits I received from the book.
I wanted to let my daughter nurse as long as she wanted and then let her wean when she decided to wean. We usually nursed at bedtime, nap time and other times of the day when she was in need of comfort and love. However, I began noticing the bedtime/naptime nursing sessions started to backfire on us. Instead of drifting off to a blissful sleep like she did when she was an infant, a few minutes of nursing was all she needed to regain her energy. She'd be up for another hour while I struggled to get her to sleep.
So, I instituted "nursing boundaries" at about 16 months. She was allowed to nurse whenever she wanted, just NOT at naptime and bedtime. My intent was not to wean her--the nursing boundaries were a loving way to help us avoid battles over bedtime. The result? Although given free access to nurse anytime except before sleep, my daughter decided to wean herself by 18 months. I offered, but she wasn't interested. Life was much too exciting by then to her to be slowed down by nursing.
Bottom line:
*Buy this book if you want to let your child wean himself.
*Don't buy this book if you want to stop nursing.... Read more ›
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is great! Its easy to read and very interesting [and a pretty quick read]. As a mother who has made the choice to continue to breastfeed past the first 12 months of my daughter's life, it was really reassuring to find a book like this. It gave me very practical information on how to decide when to wean and great ideas on how to achieve weaning when the time comes. I also really enjoyed reading the stories of many other mothers and babies and how they achieved weaning.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a mother nursing a 2+ year old I am used to the question, "How long do you plan on doing that for?" and the occasional raised eyebrow or odd look. Modern society seems to view extended breastfeeding as unconventional and radical. Many people that know about my breastfeeding relationship with my daughter also assume that I share a bed with my children, finger-paint and eat tofu all day! Perhaps the disapproving and sometimes hostile attitude towards extended breastfeeding was the breeding ground for such an assertive book that is more about NOT weaning than weaning. At the time that I took an interest in the book I was grappling through some challenges with my own extended breastfeeding with my younger daughter. Though I certainly don't think weaning is something you would buy a straightforward guidebook for, How Weaning Happens was an inspiring book to read. The book is a collection of personal stories and experiences combined with information about natural weaning and weaning at mother and child's pace. I would suggest this book as counteraction to the negative views of extended breastfeeding... perhaps something to leave out on the coffee table when the disapproving neighbors or in-laws are coming by!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource for weaning.
This book has been a wonderful resource for breastfeed weaning. Recommended by my Lactation Consultant and now I realize why :)
Published 3 months ago by A. Hufford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank you
So helpful... Just when I feel alone.. This book is giving me the natural weaning perspective I. Needed to wean my beautifully astute child.
Published 7 months ago by Natalie A. Morrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book! Highly recommend!
This book really helped me in my attitude towards nursing. The stories in it are sweet and helpful. It's a relatively quick read, with useful facts, and good references.
Published 16 months ago by chelsea mckell
1.0 out of 5 stars
Should be called "How to Breastfeed your child until age seven"
This book had very little information on weaning, or even child led weaning. It had plenty of anecdotes about mothers who continued nursing their children until the child was four,... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Two Toddlers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent aid for nursing mothers
This book is a must-read as mothers reach that supposedly 'magical' first birthday, and are wondering how/when/if they'll be weaning their child. Read more
Published on February 10, 2010 by elanorh
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great message
This book had a wonderful message, and was very helpful in understanding why my daughter is reluctant to wean.
Published on October 2, 2009 by Tammy Cruse
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for mom's who know they want to wean...
I bought this book looking for ideas on how to wean my son from breastfeeding. My son is 19 months. He loves breastfeeding, but I am ready to wean. Read more
Published on October 27, 2008 by M. Stoops
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound, factual advice and information
I read all the negative reviews of the book before reading so I was hyper-aware of any condescension or propaganda. I found none. Read more
Published on April 16, 2008 by Corrina Milito
3.0 out of 5 stars
Book on Natural Weaning
I was looking for a book to help me with gentle suggestions for weaning. This book suggested natural weaning, where you wait until the child weans himself.
Published on September 23, 2007 by K. Langley
4.0 out of 5 stars
more about EBF than weaning
Although this book is supposed to be about weaning it is more geared to extended breast feeding. It is more based on child led weaning which correlates to the La Leche League... Read more
Published on April 19, 2007 by Krista B.
Citations (learn more)
10
books
cite this book:
See all 10 books citing this book
- Mother's Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture by Bernice L. Hausman in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Mother's Milk: Breastfeeding Controversies in American Culture by Bernice L. Hausman in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Essential Guide to Lesbian Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth by Kim Toevs on page 471
- Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry--Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby by Elizabeth Pantley on page 547
- Breastfeeding at a Glance : Facts, Figures & Trivia about Lactation by Dia L. Michels in Back Matter
See all 10 books citing this book
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