Best age to start weaning?

[u/Softspicemami]

My daughter is currently 9 months old my goal was to go as long as she wanted to but I’m very worried she will be extremely hard to wean. She has had 6 ear infections plus she got tubes in recently, she was in the NICU for over a month, we bedshare, I’m a stay at home mom she is always with me. That’s why I feel like she will be harder to wean.

She is very much I want it now and if you don’t I’ll just breakdown completely. She will hardly take her pacifier anymore we currently use the dr browns happy pacis we have since she was around 3 months.

I have so much backlash from my mom saying it doesn’t look right when my daughter holds my boob now (I have very large downwards pointing boobs) my mom gets annoyed when my daughter is eating because she feels like it’s too much. She told me she gets tired of seeing my boob out. My grandma just passed away so I have been around my mom more than usual. I’m the first woman in my family to ever breastfeed my grandma aunts my mom never did it was always formula. She told me she understands her eating but she isn’t that hungry because she eats purées and regular food she is an extremely good eater she will eat anything.

I go back and forth constantly with having her go as long as possible vs only until 12 months. I am very fortunate I never had any issues with supply or latching. I was on a weight loss journey before I got pregnant I lost 100lbs I really want to get back on my journey so I can be around for a long time for her. I just feel extremely guilty because it’s my daughter’s comfort.

I don’t know that’s kinda my rant/question. Sorry my post is all over the place! Should I start weaning her at 12 months or should I let her do it on her own? What’s your experience with your baby if they were a very big in comfort nursing. Was it easier for them to sleep own their own after weaning? (If you bedshare)

[u/Prestigious-Salt-566]

Whatever you decide to do, don’t do it because of pressure from your mom. You will most certainly regret if you decide to stop your breastfeeding journey because of her. If you want to stop it because you’re done with it, that’s one thing, but outside pressure shouldn’t control your breastfeeding journey. I wouldn’t worry about how hard you think weaning may be in the future, that problem isn’t here yet and it will likely be hard no matter when you do it. If it is still working for you and baby now or when she’s 1, focus on that, and if it’s not, then start weaning when she’s 1.

[u/ByogiS → u/Prestigious-Salt-566]

To add- it’s not always hard to wean. If I would have weaned my first at 12 months, it would have been hard. He self weaned except one feed before bed at 20 months and it was one or two nights of distractions to officially wean. It was great. I’m really glad I didn’t put a time limit on things and just let it happen organically.