The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning, Revised Edition [Paperback]

Kathleen Huggins (Author), Linda Ziedrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2007

If you are a breastfeeding mother, then you probably have the same questions that most new mothers have: when is the right time to wean, and what is the best way to go about it? The new, revised and updated edition of The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning has the answers. Experts say that breastfeeding success depends on getting off to a good start, and much of this book is devoted to advice for resolving breastfeeding difficulties that often lead to early weaning. This book also explores the hygienic, nutritional, and emotional concerns that make weaning from the breast such an important and often difficult transition. Best-selling author and lactation expert Kathleen Huggins and co-author Linda Ziedrich make it easier than ever for you to bottle-feed safely, introduce solids gradually, and find new ways to keep a growing child secure and happy during and after weaning.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the first edition: A thorough, thoughtful, and detailed handbook that explores the various reasons for weaning and provides practical how-to advice for the breastfeeding mother considering weaning. --Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nurses

Praise for the first edition: The book goes beyond the usual how-to approach...the advice given is wise, practical, and baby-friendly: a nice touch. --Booklist

About the Author

Kathleen Huggins, R.N., M.S., is the best-selling author of The Nursing Mother's Companion and The Expectant Parents' Companion and co-author with Gale Pryor of Nursing Mother, Working Mother, Revised Edition. She is a registered nurse, a board-certified lactation consultant, and owner of the maternity shop Simply Mama. Linda Ziedrich is the longtime parenting-book editor for The Harvard Common Press. She was in the process of weaning her third child when she and Kathleen Huggins began writing the first edition of The Nursing Mother s Guide to Weaning. Ziedrich has also written two cookbooks, The Joy of Pickling and Cold Soups.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: The Harvard Common Press; Revised edition (April 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155832352X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558323520
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #570,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The title of this book should be "why you shouldn't wean your child", April 23, 2007

By 

Angela Smith (Groton, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning, Revised Edition (Paperback)

First of all, let me just say that I am pro breastfeeding, but I also believe that it is a personal choice that every mother must make for themselves. So is weaning. I support nursing mothers whether they do it for 2 weeks or 2 years. My daughter is 9 months old and has always been breastfed. She never would take a bottle and doesn't like formula, even in a cup. I got this book because my plan is to wean my daughter at one year and I was looking for some practical advice. Well, I didn't find it in this book. The chapters are grouped by the child's age when you plan to wean. 90% of each chapter focuses on the reasons you may decide to wean at that age and why those reasons are not valid ones. The book basically shoots down every scenario for weaning your child. The sections on "how to" wean focus on how ineffective most of them are. This is not a book that will give you support and advice on weaning. It does not acknowledge and accept the fact that breastfeeding until your child is in preschool is just not the right choice for everyone. I am proud of the fact that I have breastfed this long but the decision to wean is something that I alone (taking my daughter's needs into consideration) will decide. If you are looking for a book to talk you out of weaning then this is the book for you.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sensitive and compassionate guide to weaning..., March 16, 2009

By 

Logical Libertine (Sarasota, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning, Revised Edition (Paperback)

I am shocked at how negative some of the reviews were for this book.

First let me begin by saying there is some superfluous information about breastfeeding and weaning through the ages in the lengthy introduction. I actually found it fairly interesting but given that most mothers don't have much time to spare on such matters, I found it could be skipped if a reader so wished.

That being said, the rest of the book is organized brilliantly first by age of attempted weaning and then by situation/technique. This allows the reader to easily skip over anything not relevant and move through the details they are looking for.

Other reviewers said that the guide tries to dissuade the reader from weaning. I suppose this is true, but I view it more as advocacy in addressing why a woman is weaning, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all view on weaning. For instance the author mentions societal pressure we moms may feel towards weaning - and its absolutely true. I have had pediatricians, family and even other mothers scoff at the fact I am still breastfeeding my 18 month old. So for a mother who may be on the fence (like myself) - the passages were helpful and allowed me to re-evaluate what my next steps in the process would be.

I think the negative reviews stem from people who want an easy solution to a fairly complex and emotional situation. Just like childrearing - there is no easy route here.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, January 4, 2008

By 

Silicon Valley Girl (Sunnyvale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning, Revised Edition (Paperback)

While it's true that this book encourages extended nursing, it also contains useful strategies for weaning at any age. If you're on the fence about weaning, read the whole book and then decide. If you're sure you want to wean, skip the "whether to wean" sections and go straight to the "weaning ideas" pages. The book offers a variety of strategies and stories from numerous parents.