Chase seems to be absorbing everything these days and I’m continually shocked by how quickly he picks up new skills and tricks. He watches our lips move so intently to try to replicate words and noises and loves pointing at his hair, tongue and nose all day long. (For a while there he thought his mouth was his nose, but we’ve seemed to clear that one up for now!)
Chase is so vocal and loves to sing, babble, scream, laugh and talk all day long. His favorite words are “da” which means dad, dog and duck to him, “blease” (“please”), ball, “mo” (“more”), “dis” (“this”) and “booah” (“book”). Making animal noises entertains him to no end. If he so much as sees a dog on the sidewalk or in a book or magazine he starts panting (or “woofing” if they are barking) and is absolutely obsessed.
(The above picture is Chase mid-“woof” after he heard Sadie barking!)
Cars and trucks are a second favorite and we hear lots of “vrooms” all day long over here as well! He thinks snorting like a pig is hilarious even though his snort is more like a soft, aggressive inhalation at this point.
Chase continues to be Mr. Social and loves being around people. He waves at everyone and blows lots of kisses. We get out of the house every single day because I know enough to know by now that Chase at home all day long is a recipe for disaster. He needs lots of stimulation and loves observing and interacting with everything. This is such a fun phase of toddlerhood right now and experiencing the world through Chase’s eyes gets better and better every day.
He’s so, so active and also quite independent. We still love our regular Gymboree classes and I have to laugh now because it feels like Chase is like, “See ya, Mom!” the minute I put him down when we walk through the door. He’s so curious and loves exploring and even though I miss my cuddly baby, I kind of saw this coming months ago. Chase has always been so easily distracted (<—very frustrating for nursing!) and curious, so now that he’s mobile, staying in one place isn’t in the cards for this active dude!
Though Chase had been practically sprinting around the house with his plane toy and walker for months, he didn’t take his first unassisted steps until he was nearly 16 months old.
I felt like I was surrounded by a bunch of babies who walked early at 10 months and even though I knew Chase was just fine, I kept feeling like walking was a million miles away for our little guy. (This was probably the ONLY time Googling made me feel better in my motherhood journey. I read a bunch of stories from moms with kids who didn’t walk until 16-18 months and that definitely eased my mind.) He’s walking a lot more these days which is so fun and though he can walk by himself all the way across a room, he’ll still grab our finger if we put our hand down for him. His confidence seems to be growing by the day and I have a feeling we’re not too far off from walking becoming his preferred mode of transportation.
I feel like we’ve seen so much change in Chase in the past two months alone as he truly does seem more like a little man than my tiny baby right now. Aside from his obvious physical changes, his personality seems more and more defined by the day and we absolutely love watching him grow into the most fun little toddler.
The End of Breastfeeding: The Logistics
The last time we left off I was still nursing a lot. When Chase turned one, I was still nursing multiple times a day and wanted to work toward gradually decreasing my nursing sessions over time. Ever since Chase was born, he’s always been more of a snacker and preferred to nurse for a short amount of time many times a day. Working from home gave me this flexibility and I pretty much catered to his cries for breastmilk, for better or worse.
Once Chase turned one, I wanted to introduce whole milk into his diet and worked to gradually decrease our nursing sessions. Dropping the daytime sessions was pretty easy but dropping his “evening snack” was harder. He seemed to roll with it pretty well, but for about a week or so he’d get pretty darn fussy around 5 p.m. and would even tug at my shirt if I was on the ground playing with him around his usual nursing time. By the time Chase was around 13 1/2 months, we were successfully down to two nursing sessions a day (first thing in the morning and right before bed).
The next month, I dropped Chase’s morning nursing session and he didn’t bat an eye. Dropping the evening session went well until he decided to wake up at 11 p.m. crying like crazy. For a month or so, we were down to one nursing session between 11 p.m. and midnight. It wasn’t too bad but I found myself feeling more and more ready to be done with breastfeeding.
At the end of October, I ended up going out of town for a weekend and since Ryan was alone with Chase, we thought that might be the weekend I officially finished breastfeeding. Ryan said Chase woke up around 11 p.m. as usual but when he went in to comfort him, Chase settled down after a few minutes of dad time. He woke back up at 2 a.m. and Ryan went in, readjusted him and gave him a kiss and headed out. When I was back in town, we stuck to Ryan being the “point person” at night because when I tried to go in to settle him, Chase tugged at my shirt and didn’t relax at all. I’m not sure why we didn’t think to have Ryan try this earlier since Chase clearly associates me with middle-of-the-night nursing, but once we realized the issue, I stayed far away from the nursery and within a couple of nights Chase was officially sleeping through the night. Yep, it took us 15 months of sleep struggles to get there but we FINALLY have a child who (usually) sleeps for 12+ hours straight! Can I get a WOOHOO!!?!?!?
The End of Breastfeeding: The Emotions
On the mental side of things, finishing breastfeeding our little boy was admittedly harder for me emotionally than I thought it would be. Since Chase has always been extremely active, easily distracted and just plain wiggly, nursing was the only time I had moments of quiet calm with him for several months. I truly cherished my nursing sessions with Chase and would honestly find myself overcome with the most vulnerable, intense feeling of love many times as I looked at his beautiful cheeks, stroked his soft hair, inhaled his intoxicating baby smell and watched his whole body relax in my arms.
Toward the end of our breastfeeding journey, I kept wondering if every time I’d nurse Chase, it would be my last time. It made me slow down and focus on my baby and remind myself just how fleeting this time is and how much I loved nursing my baby. It wasn’t always easy… from cracked, sore nipples, navigating nursing with a tongue tie, figuring out how to travel with breastmilk, following our pediatrician’s advice and nursing Chase every two hours for weeks and trying not to get ragey when someone would ask if he was hungry when he was a newborn… It was an adventure for sure!
Once I was officially done breastfeeding, I noticed a few changes I don’t think people talk too much about but I wanted to share here just in case someone else is going through a similar stage or will be going through this transition soon. On the positive side, I didn’t realize how whacky my hormones were at times when I was breastfeeding and honestly felt a surge of energy when I stopped nursing. My appetite also normalized a little (if I thought I was extra hungry when I was pregnant, that had nothin’ on my nursing hunger) and I felt more like myself. It is also nice to feel a sense of freedom and spontaneity again. I don’t have to worry about pumping fresh milk if I’m leaving and can enjoy wine at the end of the day without worrying about Chase crying for breastmilk when I’m a glass or two deep. On the negative side, I definitely miss my nursing boobs (when you have a small chest, breastfeeding can feel like a pretty sweet boob job for a while there) and nighttime baby cuddles and worry more about Chase’s nutrition.
Eating
Now that Chase is no longer nursing, he’s eating more, drinking milk 1,000 times better and sleeping longer stretches at night. I joked to Ryan that Chase would’ve survived on breastmilk and puffs for years if we would’ve let him, so now that I’m done nursing and he’s eating better, I feel myself beginning to loosen up and exhale a little bit regarding the amount of food he is eating.
Chase’s favorite food is, without a doubt, my whole wheat pumpkin muffins and he eats one almost every morning for breakfast. I make large batches at a time to freeze and when he sees me take one out of the freezer to microwave for 20 seconds, he gets so excited and says, “blease, blease” on repeat which I think it just way too adorable. He also loves practically any fruit (though he’s never been huge on bananas) and would happily drink smoothies all day long. Peanut butter and almond butter sandwiches are a favorite (I always have one in my purse) and he definitely prefers fresh vegetables to cooked vegetables at this point.
Sleep
I was so grateful to so many of you guys for your support when I shared some of our sleep struggles on the blog in the past. I was admittedly embarrassed to have a toddler on my hands who was still not sleeping through the night, but hearing I was not alone made me feel so much better. And to those of you who encouraged me to hang in there and assured me it would get better… You were so right! Once I stopped nursing, it was like a switch flipped and Chase began sleeping better at night and we can now pretty much count on a solid 12 hour stretch of sleep at night. High fives all around!
Right now our sleep-related challenge centers around napping, but I’m trying not to stress about it too much. We’re basically down to one nap a day and though Chase seems to want to go down early (between 10 and 11 a.m.), I try my best to stretch him to at least 11:30 so he’s not completely wiped by 5 p.m.
Bed time is between 6:15 and 7 p.m. (usually depending on how well he napped) and ever since the time change he’s been waking up at 6:30 a.m. most mornings. Since I always wake up early to work, the mornings he sleeps past 7 a.m. feel like such a treat since I can get more done before the craziness of the day sets in.
Likes
- Dogs (x 1,000,000)
- Magazines with ads that feature pictures of dogs and cars
- Going for walks with his plane toy
- Books
- Balls
- Throwing balls
- Gymboree
- Blowing kisses
- Waving
- Pointing at his hair, nose and tongue
- Toothbrushes
- Running around and racing us with his plane toy
- Hiding things in the seat of his plane toy
- The car cart at Publix
- Climbing all over pillow forts on our couch
- Pumpkin muffins
Dislikes
- Getting his face and hands wiped
- Staying inside for too long
- Getting dressed
16 Month Favorites
TOYS
- Little People Activity Airplane Ride-On (His absolute favorite!)
- Jellycat Reindeer
- Balls
BOOKS
Something about the past couple of months flipped a switch in Chase and he is now ALL about books! He’s always liked them but was previously way too wiggly to enjoy them. It’s such a treat to be able to look at books with him now and he has the best time pointing at animals, cars, etc. and has definitely developed a small collection of favorites which I have listed below. Books definitely trump toys right now!
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear Slide and Find
- Pat The Bunny Touch and Feel
- Grandma Wishes
- My First Words Board Book
- Jingle, Jingle Little Reindeer (A cute toddler stocking stuffer idea!)
EAT/DRINK
- Lollacup
- Munchkin Snack Catcher Cups
- Munchkin White Hot Infant Safety Spoons
- Chicco 360 Hook On High Chair
- Chicco Booster Seat (A new addition and we love it! Super affordable, too!)
Past Updates
- Twelve Months
- Eleven Months
- Ten Months
- Nine Months
- What I Wish I Knew Before My Baby Was Born
- Eight Months
- Seven Months
- Six Months
- Our First Sleep Training Experience
- Traveling With A Baby For The First Time
- Five Months
- Four Months
- Three Months
- Two Months
- And Then He Smiled
- Three Weeks
- The First 12 Days
- Q&A: All About Birth & Life With A New Baby
- Chase’s Birth Story: Part I, Part II
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I am so glad you posted this update. Ever since you mentioned that you had finished nursing, I was really wondering how and when it happened. My little girl just turned one last month, and I knew that sometime soon we would be trying to reduce the dependence on breastmilk. It gets stressful trying to pump at work and make sure that she has enough milk for the day, especially because my little stinker refuses cows milk and formula. I’m still so thankful that I was able to continue to breastfeed for this long, and I think I want to try and get through the winter before completely ending it. I too have a baby that doesn’t want to sleep through the night, and she wakes 2-3 times per night to feed, so I am hopeful after reading this that she will start to sleep through the night eventually too. 🙂
Hi Dianna! I’m pretty sure we have the same baby! My son (also a november baby) still doesn’t STTN and is a boob addict! I’m also hoping to nurse through the winter. Hopefully we can get some sleep soon, but until then, we’re doing the best we can!
Thank you for being so open with nursing! My little guy will be one at the end of January and I’m planning on stopping nursing at that time. I honestly have no idea how we will wean him off but this gives me some direction!
Stopping nursing was such an emotional battle for me because mine is so active too, but I love all the pros you pointed out. It felt good to not be the only person to basically feed her so I was able to go out. Definitely agree with hormones, too! Isn’t that crazy how much they can even out after that. I am so so happy he’s sttn now. Thanks for the update! I’m not sure how we’ll go with transitioning to one nap but I’m hoping to hold off for a little longer on two. Lastly, books! Mine is 13 months and is obsessed with books now. I LOVE it! For so long I couldn’t interest her in anything and I was nervous she’d never like them. Seems maybe it’s an age thing, then!
I love reading these updates even though I’m not a mom. When I become one I’m definitely looking back and reading these all over because I love how open and honest you are about everything! Love the picture of Chase with the toilet paper! lol
As someone without a baby I appreciate your posts! I use your recommendations based on age for gifts all the time, and they’re always a hit! Just purchased the reindeer and book off this post 🙂 I appreciate it, love your blog!!
I’m so happy to hear this! Thank you for letting me know, Valerie!! <3
My son just turned 16 months and I can relate to so much of this. We ended breastfeeding when he was about 13.5 months, and while it went smoother for him than I expected, I was surprisingly emotional after it was all said and done. Closing a chapter of his babyhood was so much more difficult than I anticipated it would be. The silver lining was that our son then started sleeping through the night as well (life-changing!), but I definitely miss my nursing boobs too haha
I love when you post Chase updates & it shows how much he has grown – and so quickly!!! He seems like such a sweet little boy! Over the years of reading your blog, it has turned into such a resource for me, whether it be for a recipe or travel tips on where to go/what to see. I cannot wait to become a mom and read back through these posts. 🙂
Thank you so much, Amanda! I really appreciate you reading for so long!! xo
as someone who is going to be a new mom in April I really appreciate your baby/toddler related posts and your candidness about your feelings/emotions about each stage in Chase’s life. It has been so fun to follow along on your son’s growth and to get a first hand perspective of some things I can expect in the future!
I am so thrilled for you, Kaitlin!! <3
So glad he’s doing so well! 🙂 It must feel amazing to get some full blown shut eye with no middle of the night interruptions! Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing! I got teary eyed reading about the end of breastfeeding! I’m 23 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 16 month old. Only in the mornings and at night before bed, but I don’t ever want to stop! I work full time and he is so active and independent- it’s my only real quality time with him! I assume I’ll stop sometime around when the new baby comes. We also FINALLY got him to sleep straight through the night around 13-14 months by doing the dad trick at night- my son has always only slept around 10 hours, but it’s been amazing finally getting to sleep all night!!!
I’m so happy you were open and honest about stopping breastfeeding. Just a few weeks ago my son turned 6 months old, and I began to slowly stop breastfeeding. Although I knew it was time for both of us, I work and it was becoming increasingly more stressful to pump during an already hectic day, I was very emotional about it. More moms need to know that it’s ok to talk about those feelings and they aren’t alone. I’d love it if kept doing the check-ins with Chase, even if there are in bigger chunks of time now that he’s growing up 🙂 Your blog has been an invaluable resource of me as my little guy gets older! <3
My daughter is 13 months and not yet sleeping through the night. She still wakes once a night anytime between 4:30 and 5:45 am for a 4 ounce bottle of whole milk and we can’t decide when to cut it off as she seems hungry and chugs it. And if it’s 5:45 it’s pretty close to morning so I feel like maybe she’s hungry? So hard to know what to do sometimes! I think we’ll try cutting that bottle down to 2 ounces and see what happens.
An interesting tidbit about the walkers, etc.: they actually aren’t recommended by the national pediatric board and have been shown to delay walking by at least a month! Crazy as most people think they help a baby learn to walk but it actually slows them down as they are “walking” with assistance but it doesn’t help them learn to walk alone!
Are we talking about traditional walkers (the kind where the baby sits in the middle and the thing rolls around as they “walk”) or the push-toy kind? My understanding is that it is the traditional walkers that are highly discouraged by the AAP for the reasons you listed (along with being deemed dangerous) but that the push-toys are a good thing as they are a “supportive structure for balancing, while also encouraging leg muscle development and healthy coordination.” I believe I’ve only seen Julie refer to the push-toy kind.
Hi Sarah,
I’m referring both types of walkers. Here’s what I read:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using walkers not only because they can discourage your child from learning to walk on his own, but also because they can be dangerous. Thousands of babies end up in emergency rooms and doctor’s offices from falling down stairs or bumping into furniture while in a walker. Walkers can give parents a false impression that their babies are truly mobile and can control their actions. Some parents even leave their babies alone to navigate their way around the home in a walker.
I’ve seen it written other places as well but this explained it well. It makes sense though. If your child “walks” using a walker or by holding onto your fingers, they aren’t learning to walk on their own. They are learning to walk with support. They need to learn how to balance and move their arms while walking. No judging of anyone who uses them, just thought it was an interesting tidbit. We didn’t use a walker with my daughter or allow her to walk with the aid of our fingers and she learned how to walk very quickly.
Love the update, Julie! Was wondering…which vegetables are you having success with for Chase? My little guy (18 months) did really well with vegetables until about a month ago. Now, it is a huge struggle! Maybe some new ideas will help.
I feel the same emotions after nursing. It is such an amazing way to bond with our babies! Though, I will say, I was the opposite with the boob job – was very happy to see those girls recede after a few weeks;)
He loooove cucumbers the most but he also seems to like carrots and – shockingly – raw onions! I will also say that the pureed pouches are probably the way I get the most veggie in him every day (the ones mixed with a bit of fruit). I try not to stress too much about it but I definitely wish he liked veggies more than he does!
Thanks so much, Julie! I have never tried raw cucumber or carrots (only cooked carrots and he spits them out – ha)! The pureed pouches are definitely a fave of ours, too! I’m so glad to know other mamas share the veggie struggle! 🙂
I was a little nervous at first but now that Chase has a ton of teeth (including his molars!) I think he can handle crunchy/raw veggies much better!
Thanks for sharing your info about nursing! It is so nice to read that other moms don’t have babies who sleep through the night. ‘My little guy is 10 months and wakes up every 2-3 hours to nurse. I stay home with him so it’s not the end of the world but now he’s getting top teeth and it’s killing me! I have to wean but have no idea how on earth it is going to happen!
I have missed your Chase updates! My daughter is 10 months and I just love following along with what is ahead and looking back at your observations. Please keep us posted on sweet Chase!!
Thank you for sharing! I always comment with this, but son is so so similar to Chase. They are the exact same age. I feel so much better that mine isn’t the only late walker. He is just like Chase, he can walk unassisted, but is such a fast crawler that he doesn’t see the point in walking. Love seeing your updates, Chase is so sweet and adorable!
Yes!!! He’s a crazy fast crawler that I cannot imagine how fast he’s going to be once walking completely takes over!
Chase is such a cutie!!! Love these updates!
I’m so glad Chase is finally sleeping better for you! I know you’re so relieved! I stopped breastfeeding pretty much right at a year – and it just kind of naturally happened. She just gradually became disinterested, and after having to supplement with formula at 10.5 months, then eating a TON of solid food, she was just kind of over it. I think I had way more anxiety about it than she did!! Adeline also didn’t walk until a week after her birthday – but most of my friend’s kids were walking at like 9 or 10 months! It’s hard not to play the comparison game for sure! Enjoyed reading this update!! You’re doing good, mama!
He is so cute!
Thank you so much for this update! My daughter is 13 months today and is nowhere near walking on her own. We have been trying to encourage her to use her walker toys more, but she’s been hesitant. I too feel like all of my friends who have babies around the same age (including my sister!) had early walkers, and it at time makes me feel like I’m the failure. I know she will walk when she’s ready!
Exactly! It can be so hard to not compare our kiddos when everyone around us has kids achieving a certain milestone, but they will all get there when they are ready!
As a mama with a 10 month old I really appreciate your breast feeding insight. I was curious how you transitioned chase to the sippy? I see he uses the lola cup and the straw – how long did it take for him to get a hang of the straw? I have given my daughter the lola cup but she just chews on it – won’t use it. The regular sippy cups seem to have the milk/water come out so fast that she spits it out. Any tips? Much appreciated!
I love the Chase updates!! My little man will be 13mo next week so it’s a lot of fun reading about what he’s into lately 🙂
I really appreciate the honesty about the end of your nursing journey. I feel like so often the negatives of stopping are shoved in our faces almost like it’s a bad thing. I only made it 6 weeks before I stopped trying, and only one the other side did I realize how all over the place my hormones had been. On some level I do wish it had lasted longer, but I felt all the positives you mentioned above and knew I had made the right decision.
It’s been so fun to watch him grow up! I love his little facial expressions. And I love the way you talk about savoring the moments. 🙂 Good one, Julie!
That picture of him in the bathroom looks just like the Love you Forever book! So adorable
He’s so cute! I love his wispy blonde hair! I just love your baby posts! Especially now that I am due with our first baby in April! They are a helpful resource!!
Thank you so much for sharing this update! I especially appreciated the part about hormones post-nursing — I have a 9 month old, and we just finished weaning, and it seems like nobody really talks about the hormonal transition after breastfeeding. My emotions were CRAZY for about a month (like PMS x one million–pissed one second, sobbing the next, feeling detached the next minute – it was overwhelming!), and I experienced weird breakouts. I also gained some weight, which was a good thing, because I actually lost weight breastfeeding–similar to what you mentioned about energy, honestly, nursing at times made me feel super depleted, weak and tired no matter how much food I ate. Of course, it was worth it for my little boy, but I am also glad to feel more like myself now. Thanks again <3
That mid-woof photo of Chase if probably my favorite photo of him! What a cutie! Thanks for sharing Julie!
Hi Julie,
May I ask what type or brand of milk do you like to use for your son? My grandson turns one soon and his mother is researching the best option for introducing him to milk.
Thank you in advance and I really enjoy your blog.
Linda
Hi Linda! I typically use Fairlife whole milk. I like that it’s higher in protein and lower in sugar than other whole milk brands on the market!
Chase is so cute! Random question, what kind of bread do you use for the PB sandwiches? My son loves PB on ritz or toast, but want to do sandwiches for on the go! We typically have Ezekiel bread but it’s so dry for a sandwich!
Have you tried Dave’s Killer Bread?? I don’t have kids, but I swear it is the best bread out there. So delicious and not dry at all.
Thanks for the update! Sharing it with a friend who has a toddler who was born two days after Chase!
Stumbled upon your blog after someone on Facebook liked your recent post and I’m so glad I did! I wouldn’t normal comment on a blog, but our boys are just so similar I couldn’t resist. My son is 15 months and has some of the exact same likes – dogs, Brown Bear, that same plane and stashing stuff in the seat, and eating fruit – and dislikes – staying inside too long, getting his face wiped. I’m sure a lot of other toddlers enjoy these things but the timing of it really hit home for me. I can also totally relate on the sleeping issues and breastfeeding experience. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats on raising such a healthy, happy, and handsome little guy so far! As a first time mom myself, I know it wasn’t always easy 😉
This post is so sweet and helpful! My little guy is three months old and this is so helpful as I look ahead to all that is in store for our little guy. I agree, breastfeeding is such a special time and bond with our little ones. I know that it will be nice when I stop, but I’m already sad thinking of when I will eventually wean him.
Thanks for the update! I have a 10 month old little girl and enjoy reading about what we have in store.
I would love to know how you got your little guy to drink out of a sippy cup/straw. Thank you!!
My now 15 month old never wanted to drink from a baby bottle, and once it was time to introduce water, she drank from a little cup that I held to her mouth until she finally got the hang of the sippy cup (although she never took large amounts from either). Then one day (she must have been about 11-12 months) we went to eat in a restaurant and forgot her sippy cup. The waiter brought her a covered plastic cup with a straw and omg she loooooved it! I suppose it was just so much easier for her to get the water out, LOL! I would definitely try to get yours to drink from a straw and then you don’t have to bother with the sippy cups at all. Good luck!
I love all of Chase’s uodates! My son is 6 months old, so it’s fun to see what we have coming up. Thank you for the information on breastfeeding. I am starting to wean my son because I don’t produce enough milk for him, and, like Chase, he is on the very small side. Could you do a post on how you weaned? Did you completely just stop a feeding or did you slow him down each feeding? Thank you for the insight on some of the effects of weaning!
This post is so cute!! Thank you for sharing! I especially can relate to the part about Chase waking up at night. My son will be a year old this month and he is STILL waking up at least once during the night – it used to be at 3-4am but the last couple weeks it’s somewhere between 10pm and 12am! I try having my husband go in there but after 40 min, he said he needed is mama… and how can I say no to my baby?! Haha anyway, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone and refreshing to hear that it will get better! I also cried at the part where you said “we thought that might be the weekend I officially finished breastfeeding”. I get so sad thinking about the day I will stop breastfeeding. It’s an amazing bonding experience and just makes me so happy to be able to provide that for my son. On the other hand, I know I will enjoy a little more freedom so he’s not always so reliant on me. And it’s nice to know you’ve gotten your energy back, because I am always so exhausted! Haha alright, sorry for the rambling, but it’s so refreshing to hear your journey. Can’t believe how big Chase is getting – he’s is just the cutest!! 🙂
I loved reading this! Thank you for the update! I have a few questions as my 11 month old is about to go through all these things.
– did you transition chase from nursing to a bottle? Or did you just stop the association of eating/sucking and sleep?
– how long is his nap now that he is down to one per day?
I love how you’re able to pack so much into these posts- I always love them! My son is 15 months old so it’s been fun following along.
My son is 14 months old and I love these posts. Especially helpful was the section on weaning, which I am going to start in the next couple months.r
Love this post!
I love reading your updates! Chase is so cute and it’s fun to hear about him. My son is 15 months old and it’s such a fun age!
WOOHOO for better sleep! So happy for you. Glad he his eating better too. If I’ve learned one thing it’s that things always even out. You’re doing a great job!
Love these updates
Hey Julie! Chase is so adorable! One thing you didn’t mention in this post is Chase’s wubbanub. My daughter is a couple of months older than Chase, and she is so attached to that thing (moreso the animal than the paci). I want to start weaning her off of it, but I know it’s going to be tough. Have y’all done this already? If so, I’d love some tips! Thanks!!
We have a 20 month old who LOVES them! He calls them all Bobby. My plan when we cut out the pacifier is literally to cut off the pacifier part and let him keep the stuffed animals because he really just likes carrying them around. I’m not worrying about it at this point though.
I had that idea too!
A day late, but one thing that our pediatrician recommended that helped my daughter walk better (she didn’t walk until 18 months old) was supportive shoes. Look at toddler running shoes – Stride Rite, Saucony and New Balance are highly recommended for toddlers. This made the biggest difference for our daughter because more stability led to her confidence with trying walking more. Walking for them is all about confidence (as is many of their developmental milestones). Soft shoes (which I noticed in your pictures, like moccasins) really make it hard for a child to gain confidence with their walking. Just a piece of advice I wanted to pass on.
The end of breastfeeding is so bittersweet! The sleeping through the night is amazing though! I have 2 not so good sleepers too so I am living for the day my 8 month old sleeps through the night, but definitely not ready to give up nursing. He is the cutest and I love all the pictures!
Hi, Julie!
I comment almost never, but I really want to say now just how much I have learned from you over the years (Yes, I am a long time reader)! My son is about 2 months younger than yours, and I have to say that instead of googling a problem we had (usually related to sleeping or feeding), I just refer to your posts about your adorable Chase and more often than not, find myself a possible solution.
Reading about Chase was always so interesting to me and often an indication of the things to come, or things happening even at the same time (sleep struggles!), like this time.
I am still breastfeeding, and I love it, but in the past month my son has been waking up in the middle of the night multiple times (after a longer period of good night time sleep!), and even sending my partner every time to soothe him is not really working so well. I felt it in my gut that the breastfeeding impacts this, and after reading your post, I am even more sure it does. I breastfeed 3 times a day, and that might be just too much for a 14.5 month old (especially since he is not gaining enough weight again), because he is not eating enough real food.
Anyways, I really wanted to thank you for being so authentically you, and having such an amazing blog with so much information and great resources!
Sending love from Norway!
I’ve read all of your updates and was hoping you would continue to post them. My daughter is 13.5 mo so we are right behind you on all of this. Still nursing a few times a day here. Sleep is also a little sketchy for us currently but I have hope it will improve at some point.
Hey Julie! Love the updates! Quick question: when you say you think Chase is sleeping better now that you’re not nursing, do you think not nursing at all helped him to sleep better or just not nursing if he woke up…does that makes sense? My 15mo old wakes up at least once a night and it’s so frustrating. She used to sleep SO WELL. I still nurse but we let her cry/fuss if she does wake up and she puts herself back down quickly, I rarely nurse her at night.
I’m wondering if she’ll sleep better if I stop nursing altogether? Is that what you were saying?
She gets a bottle of whole milk before bed. I only nurse her after she wakes up morning/from her nap
Of course you have to do what’s best for your baby but I definitely feel like Chase slept better when I completely stopped nursing. His body seemed to eventually realize he needed to eat more at dinner time and after a small number of restless nights when I was weaning, he began consistently sleeping 12+ hours straight when I was done nursing and that’s been going on for more than a month now. I know it varies for everyone but for us, I think that completely stopping nursing helped his sleep… like he almost knew crying to nurse for comfort was no longer an option or something!
My little guy is 14 months old and is still not sleeping through the night. We’re weaning and I finally dropped his night feeding session last week (it was such an easy way to get him back to sleep) and we’ve almost had a few nights of him sleeping through the night (those 5 a.m. wakeups are rough!) but this gives me hope!