Throwing a Weaning Party

By Kristi Patrice Carter

Weaning is no doubt a major milestone in your child’s life. It is a time when they will be decreasing dependence on the bottle or breasts. Why not make them feel important by throwing them a weaning party?

Kids love to feel important. They are happy when they are in the spotlight and the center of attention. Making the child feel important when achieving a milestone will not only make it less stressful, but fun! One great way to make this happen is to have a wonderful weaning party for your child. The trick is to involve your child in the process. Let them pick out their own theme and explain that this special party is to celebrate their becoming a big boy or girl. Tell them that after the party, they’ll no longer need the bottle because they’ll be a big kid now. If your child is too little to partake in the planning, then give them extra attention to make them feel important. The key is to make the planning a big deal, too. For best results, you can even prepare her for the event a few months in advance. That is, get them really excited about the party and the weaning process before the actual party date, and soon they’ll be bursting with excitement.

At this party, make sure you invite their favorite friends and relatives. Tell everyone to talk about what a big kid your child has become. Ask them to bring her a small token to help your child as important as he or she is. You can even have a cake and give out goodie bags. If the child is older, perhaps you could even play some games. Either way, be as creative as you possibly can be. Make a fun game of throwing the bottle in the trash can and then having everyone clap and make a big deal about it. Then, you can give your child a special prize when they throw it away. In fact, if your child has more than one bottle, you can give them a prize each time they throw one away. Prizes can be something as simple as a snack, toy, or candy depending on your little one’s age. By engaging in creative activities like these, you’ll make weaning fun!

In conclusion, throwing a weaning party is a great way to kick off the weaning process. By enlisting the help of your child, letting them help plan the party, and engaging all your guests into the process, you’ll increase your odds of success and soon your child will be finished with the bottle forever.