FINALLY!!! I WEANED HER OFF

My daughter turned two in January, a perfect time to wean her off breastfeeding. I described it as a perfect timing because in the contemporary  Ghanaian household a child is completely weaned on his/her second birthday. But to my surprise mine was the opposite, after her first birthday I decided to wean her off the breast gradually since she start eating well and I introduced more of the family foods to her which is took as well as giving her formula milk.

I only offered her the breast in the evenings when I am back from work and during bedtimes, we did that for nearly six month and she was okay. She ate well, so I decided to go a step further by eliminating evenings feeds, that was when I got the surprise of my life. she will cry so hard and throw herself to the floor, she started refusing any meal or snack I offer her.

Then I decided to resort to the unconventional traditional way of weaning babies of the breast in Ghana which involves;

• Applying a bitter pill ( paracetamol)

• Fresh Aloe Vera on the breast

• Send them to grandparents house to spend some few days.

I tried all in vein, so I decide to let her have her way until she turned two, that was when I came up with the idea because I saw that the breast was mainly for comfort and that anytime I see her bored (mostly that is the time she wants to feed), I either distract her by reading a book to her which is loved so much or play music and we have a competition to see who wins. 

Another ideas I came up with was to pretend to call her teacher at school or her grandmother on phone to report she wanted to breastfeed, there and then she will says I don't want to nunu (word used for breastfeeding). I did that for two months, yea before I saw results. She woke one morning and she said to me "mummy's nunu is sick" and I have never seen her wanting it even if I offer her willingly. She eats a meal  and is willing to try new things I give her.

I did it and I  am super proud even though it took me 14 months to wean her.

BEING A NEW MUM

After having my daughter two years two months ago, things have really changed in my life. Some have been fun, others exciting, others adventurous and some hmm. It better I leave it there. I had my daughter when I was 27 years, naive, didn't know anything about being a mummy. Then when the reality donned on me I began to learn quickly and fast, thanks to social media and the internet things came in handy and a very supportive family. 

After my daughter was two months old, I left my parents’ house to my place to begin the journey with just my husband and the baby. It was super pleasant site to watch, from there to now I have been able to endure for two years and two months now and will like to share with you the experience as we prepare to add an addition to the family. I will update you on my progress from time to time as I just started blogging.