Let Me Reassure You
November 10, 2007 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, mothering, sleep
To all the sleep-deprived breastfeeding mothers out there: I can tell you from personal experience that one day, sooner than you might think, you will wake up naturally. You will try to sleep longer, but you’ll find you can’t. You’ll get up in a silent house and sneak out to the kitchen for a leisurely breakfast while you read the newspaper. Your child will finally wake up, and won’t even ask to nurse. And you might just be a little sad about that (or not!)
[Edited to add: My nursling was 2 years and 11 months old when I wrote this.]
I’m still in the cherishing-the-nursing stage with a 3 year old who tells me every once in a while that she is too old to nurse but always changes her mind before it’s time to close her eyes at night. I feel a pang of sadness when she says it but I know it will open us both to opportunities – her for extended visits with Grandma and me for extended “dates” with my husband. It’ll feel practically scandalous the first time we spend the night away from her. I’m not hurrying this stage at all.